Sergio Osmeña III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Senator Sergio Osmena III voted for the conviction of Chief Justice Renato Corona Tuesday and said that it was Corona himself who gave the reasons for his conviction.
Osmena said that he looked at four points in deciding Corona’s guilt: “Did Corona violate the Constitution; did he do it knowingly and willingly; does it warrant impeachment; and did he betray public trust?”
The first two were admitted by Corona himself when he testified that he did not disclose his $2 million and P80 million deposits in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth, Osmena said.
On whether the fault had enough gravity to warrant impeachment, Osmena cited several decisions made by the Supreme Court itself, including the case of an interpreter who was removed from office for failing to disclose a market stall.
Osmena said that Corona had also betrayed public trust because he failed to abide by the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of being a judge which the people must see the judge followed.
“Justice must not merely be done but must also be seen to be done,” Osmena said.
He said that justice must also be applied equally to the rich and the poor. “The Senate must bring about a higher standard,” Osmena said.