Sen. Gregorio Honasan
MANILA, Philippines – Senator-Judge Gregorio Honasan voted “guilty” on embattled Chief Justice Renato Corona and joined senator-judge Francis Escudero in a call for the chief magistrate to step down from office.
Although admittedly “looking for reason to acquit [Corona] based on compassion and the precept that a man is innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt”, Honasan said that he believed that Corona was no longer fit to continue leading the Supreme Court.
He said that the impeachment trial was “not about personalities and notion of partisan politics [but] whether the chief magistrate is fit for the job, his understanding of the law absolute and beyond question.”
“What is clear is that based on doubt cast… [Corona] is no longer fit to decide over the high court. May duda na sa kakayanan. Doubt is opposite of faith and faith is the source of hope. I vote to ask the chief justice to step down from the pedestal… so he may once more walk among the people.”
“Bumalik na siya dito sa atin para maranasan niya ang bunga ng kanyang pagkukulang.”