After Corona, you’re next, Arroyo – militants

MANILA, Philippines—Members of the militant group Akbayan jumped for joy Tuesday upon hearing the Senate sitting as an impeachment court ruled to convict Chief Justice Renato Corona.

“We are very happy that the midnight appointee has finally been judged,” Obet Belantres said, citing the impeachment court’s 20-3 voting, in favor of the prosecution team.

Belantres said that it was the chief justice who placed himself to where he is right now after he admitted in court that he didn’t file his $2.4 million, and P80 million bank accounts in his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth.

He said that this development puts the Filipinos a step closer to obtaining justice against the “biggest syndicate in our country” that is former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

VICTORY Members of the militant group Akbayan raise placards that read “convict” during a rally at the Senate Tuesday.

The group, estimated to be around 1,000, arrived at the Senate area around 1 p.m., carrying colourful banners that read “convict Corona,” and “tama na palusot (no more lame excuses), convict Corona.”

They stayed and waited Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile made his “guilty” vote.

Meanwhile, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said that while they welcome the decision of the Senate to convict Corona for culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust, the group said that the fight for accountability in government has a long way to go—practically not ending with Corona’s conviction.

“It still remains to be seen if the end of this process will even lead to the accountability of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and other officials guilty of plunder and gross human rights violations.” Bayan said in a statement.

The group said that they are now calling on the Aquino administration to stop “making excuses for its continuing failure to convict Arroyo for crimes of plunder, human rights violations and wholesale election fraud.”

They said that the Aquino administration should not consider this as its “crowning glory” because it has not done so much outside the impeachment, “in terms of political and economic reforms, respect for human rights and the cause of justice.”

“There is no “daang matuwid (straight path)” for many of our people who continue to reel from poverty, oppression and injustice. In fact, even as the impeachment verdict is handed out, the Philippine government is again making excuses before the United Nations Human Rights Council on why impunity in human rights violations continues in the country,” Bayan noted.

Bayan said that they supported the impeachment of Corona mainly because of the key role it played in abetting Arroyo’s “schemes to evade accountability.”

“The challenge for all government officials to disclose their bank records, foreign and domestic, should stand. The Chief Justice is likely not the only government official to use foreign currency deposit accounts to conceal presumably ill-gotten wealth,” Bayan said.

Originally posted at 08:28 pm | Tuesday, May 29,  2012