After Corona, Senator Arroyo fears Malacañang will investigate senator-judges

MANILA, Philippines—Senator-judge Joker Arroyo on Monday expressed apprehension on the alleged concerted effort to pin down Chief Justice Renato Corona saying sooner or later a senator-judge will be on his shoes if an order from Malacañang will be defied.

Arroyo, in his manifestation during the hearing, emphasized the investigations being conducted against Corona—the inquiry conducted by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) apart from the ongoing impeachment trial.

“In short, three investigations simultaneously have been conducted against the Chief Justice. I raise this point my esteemed colleagues, we are acting as judges…As of now, it is Chief Justice Corona and then tomorrow it is one of us if we offend Malacañang,” Arroyo said during the trial.

“If we do not follow Malacañang, they can proceed against us for the information gathered through the AMLC. It is a disturbing thought,” Arroyo added.

Arroyo made the manifestation after Philippine Savings Bank (PS Bank) President Pascual Garcia III revealed that from September 2010 to November 2010, the AMLC has started looking into the account of the Chief Justice.