Most Filipinos believe Senate will convict Corona, online survey shows

MANILA, Philippines – Most Filipinos believe that the Senate acting as the impeachment court will convict embattled Chief Justice Renato Corona come D-day on Tuesday, an unofficial online poll conducted by Inquirer.net showed on Monday.

The Senate is scheduled to render its decision on the impeachment case of Corona on Tuesday mainly on his alleged failure to declare $2.4 million in deposits and P80.7 million in “comingled’’ funds in his statement of assets liabilities and net worth (SALN).

In the survey question “What do you think will the Senate ruling be on impeached chief justice Renato Corona?”, 71.72 percent of respondents (33,683 votes) said that Corona will be convicted. Meanwhile, only 28.28 percent (13,280 votes) of the respondents said that Corona will be acquitted.

A total of 46,963 votes were cast as the unofficial poll closed at 7:02 p.m. Monday.

During the oral arguments on Monday, defense lawyer Eduardo de los Angeles requested for the acquittal of Corona, arguing that “not every violation of public trust is an impeachable offense” and that the chief justice’s non-declaration of dollar accounts in his SALN were justified by the confidentiality of his accounts.

Meanwhile, prosecution team member Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas highlighted the contradicting “palusot” (excuses) which Corona used in his statement and the chief justice’s concealment of 98 percent of his total cash deposit.