Corona won’t challenge removal, says lawyer

Chief Justice Renato Corona

MANILA, Philippines—Renato Corona has decided not to challenge the verdict of the Senate impeachment court removing him as chief justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, his lawyers said Thursday.

“The decision of the Senate impeachment court is a close chapter. No more filing of appeal to the Supreme Court,” defense counsel Rico Quicho told INQUIRER.net in a text message.

Tranquil Salvador III, after speaking with the ousted chief justice on Thursday morning in his hospital room at The Medical City in Pasig, told reporters he was surprised of the decision.

“He said he’s already on high ground when he waived (the confidentiality on) his bank accounts and disclosed what he had to disclose,” Salvador said.

“He felt that he had closed this book on the chapter on his life. But it didn’t mean that he would no longer pursue his (legal) profession,” Salvador added.

On Tuesday, voting 20-3, the Senate acting as impeachment court found Corona guilty of culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust for not including in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth his $2.4-million deposit in four bank accounts and P80 million worth of deposits which he said he hold in trust.

Corona, 63, became not only the first chief justice but also the first highest official of the country in history to be removed from office by an impeachment court.

Still confined at The Medical City, his lawyers said he is set to be discharged by weekend.