Hospitalized Corona missed watching his verdict on TV

Chief Justice Renato Corona

MANILA, Philippines – Convicted Chief Justice Corona on Tuesday opted not to watch the nationally televised last day of his trial at the Senate, which handed down a historic guilty verdict for his failure to declare $2.4 million in bank accounts.

Radio reports said doctors had advised Corona to take a rest instead of watching the final day of the proceedings of the impeachment court that could aggravate his condition.

Corona remained under observation at the Medical City in Pasig due to low blood sugar.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police on Tuesday said it was prepared to secure hospitalized Corona if convicted, depending on instructions of the Senate, which voted 20-3 to oust the Chief Justice.

“We will do our mandate as events develop. As of now, of course, we need to wait for the actual verdict,” PNP Director General Nicanor Bartolome said in an interview at Camp Crame, hours before the impeachment court was to decide on Corona’s case.

He said the PNP had monitored no security threats surrounding the impeachment trial, which entered its final phase on Tuesday, but that it continued to observe the process very closely and would anticipate protest rallies that might arise from the verdict.

“We will continue to monitor anything that may happen as a result of the conclusion of the impeachment proceedings,” Bartolome told reporters.

He expressed optimism for a “peaceful conclusion” to the impeachment trial.

“I think that’s all that we have been looking for … hopefully, until this is done, it will be orderly. The PNP is always ready if there will be any eventuality… and just like you, we are also hoping that this will result in a peaceful conclusion,” Bartolome said.