Belmonte says impeachment trial now at ‘end game’

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. sees this point of the impeachment proceedings to be the “end game”, following Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales’ revelation over Chief Justice Renato Corona’s alleged $10 million deposits.

In a press briefing on Tuesday at the Senate, he said that they were now “in the end game and in one or two days, we look forward to his (Corona’s) taking the stand.”

“He can take this opportunity to say more.”

Belmonte said that they were “very convinced” that they have presented enough evidence before the impeachment tribunal for Corona’s conviction. He said that by presenting the Ombudsman, the “defense made it worse for themselves.”

On Corona’s statement that Morales’ testimony was a “lantern of lies”, Belmonte said that it would have sufficed for the chief magistrate to say “hindi totoo yan (that’s not true).”

House majority leader Neptali Gonzales II brazenly told reporters that it “will be extremely difficult for any senator to acquit him (Corona)” but Belmonte said that the chief justice should still be given a chance.

The House speaker however said that at this point, Corona has no choice but to testify.