Aquino violated no rules in Corona case ‘meddling’ – lawmaker
Former Chief Justice Renato Corona AP FILE FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – No rules of court were violated even when President Benigno Aquino III supposedly meddled in the impeachment trial of then-chief justice Renato Corona, a congressman and then prosecution judge said Tuesday.
Cavite fourth district Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. made this statement after Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. in his privilege speech alleged that Aquino talked to him personally and pleaded to convict Corona over false statements of net worth.
Revilla blew the lid off the president’s supposed meddling affairs after he was charged with plunder for involvement in a billion-peso racket involving lawmakers’ discretionary pork barrel funds.
Then a member of the prosecution team against Corona, Barzaga said the rules of court ensuring propriety on judges do not apply on legislator-judges.
This is because an impeachment trial is “political in nature,” he said.
“I don’t think there would be any violation on the rules of court (as) pointed out by critics (because these) are not applicable in impeachment proceedings in so far as the propriety of the judge is concerned,” he said in the majority floor’s press briefing Tuesday.
“We have to emphasize that the impeachment proceedings are actually political in nature,” Barzaga added.
He added that a supposed intervention by the president does not betray public trust, especially as Revilla’s vote in the trial is only one of 20 total votes for conviction.
“Betrayal should be a betrayal of trust of such magnitude which should go the heart and soul of the nation. But the vote of Senator Revilla is not crucial,” he said.
Barzaga added that a communication between the president and Revilla does not mean separation of powers was breached.
Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. confirmed the meeting between Aquino and Revilla but noted it was not to influence the legislator-judge to convict Corona.
For his part, House Majority Leader and Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali Gonzales II said he does not want to speculate on the incident without factual basis.
He added that “what is important is Senator Revilla (cast his vote) on what he thinks is right.”
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