It is no longer Sen. Frank Drilon lawyering for the prosecution. Their lead counsel is now President Noynoy Aquino himself as he blasted Chief Justice Corona and even the Senate in a speech at La Consolacion College at Mendiola, Manila.
The President sideswiped the Senate and was implying people power when he asked “Are we going to let a few decide for all of us?” This is a veiled threat that he will not accept a Senate verdict to acquit Corona. Recall the previous talk of a plan “B”.
In his most vicious attack yet on Corona, the President said the following:
1. “The question is simple. Can we trust Mr. Corona?”
2. “Chief Justice Renato Corona’s failure to fully declare his multi-million peso bank accounts is sufficient basis to remove him from his post.”
3. “You (Corona) are not above the law. You cannot toy around with the country’s laws just because you head the judiciary.”
4. On Corona’s promise to declare his dollar deposits in due time, the President asked “When is the due time? I think that is already overdue.”
5. “It is as clear as daylight. Mr. Corona, you are under oath when you declared your SALN and this does not reflect your true assets. P3.5 million does not equal P31.5 million. So what is the truth, Mr. Corona?”
6. “We will have a hard time implementing reforms in the judiciary should the impeachment court favor Corona.”
7. “As the truth comes out, the reasons why Mr. Corona is hiding his SALN in a vault are becoming clear. It’s clearer than the light of day Mr. Corona, that the declaration you swore isn’t consistent with what has been discovered to be your assets.”
8. “If you did nothing wrong, you have nothing to hide. Until now, he continues to hide his dollar accounts.”
It is clearer than the light of day that President Aquino is lawyering for the prosecution, is now also a spokesperson for the prosecution, and is publicly pressuring the Senate to vote to impeach CJ Corona.
Is this the fair trial he promised? Isn’t it improper to go into specific issues and details being discussed at the impeachment court? Didn’t he publicly pressure the Senate when he called on them to overrule the SC TRO against the opening of dollar deposits?
In the light of all of this, it is not far-fetched that P100 million, maybe much more, will be offered to get the conviction he so badly wants. Will the Senate wilt? The independence of the Senate is now a real issue.
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