MANILA, Philippines – The prosecution defended President Benigno Aquino III’s statement against Chief Justice Renato Corona who, he said, should leave his post in the wake of the evidence stacked against him in the ongoing impeachment trial.
In his speech at the anniversary of the Tagumpay ng Bayan at the La Consolacion College on Thursday, Aquino lambasted Corona for staying on, saying it was clear that the chief justice’s sworn statement does not match the properties that were revealed to be his.
Marikina Representative Romero Quimbo asked why the appropriateness of the president’s speech was being questioned when the chief magistrate could openly attack the Aquino administration. “Bakit kapag ang presidente [ang nagsalita], ang katanungan ay whether it is appropriate?”
Aurora Representative Juan Edgardo Angara said that he supported Aquino’s comments that justice in the country should not only apply to those who have access to wealth and power.
“Dapat maintindihan na ang impeachment process ay laban sa hindi tapat na government officials,” Angara said.