Bayan Muna Representative Teodoro Casiño said Corona’s impeachment was a “foregone conclusion.”
The eight grounds of the impeachment case versus Corona are:
1.) Betrayal of public trust due to subservience to Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during her presidency, from the time of his appointment as Supreme Court justice to his midnight appointment as Chief Justice. Examples are his partiality in the Megapacific contract decision, Fernando Poe Jr. case, the Lambino versus Comelec case (people’s initiative), David v Arroyo and Neri v Senate (executive privilege.
2.) Culpable violation of the Constitution for non-disclosure of the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth.
3.) Undue closeness to Macapagal-Arroyo as shown by the appointment of the Chief Justice’s wife to a seat in the Bases Conversion and Development Authority.
4.) Betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution when he issued a status quo order ante that had suspended the hearings of the House justice committee on the impeachment case against previous Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.
5.) Voting on the cityhood cases and the creation of the province of Dinagat.
6.) Creation of the ethics committee to look into the plagiarism case against SC Justice Mariano del Castillo, which resulted in clearing Del Castillo of any liability.
7.) Temporary restraining order on the travel ban on Mrs. Arroyo.
8.) Refusal to account for judicial development funds, special allowances and other court collections.
House Majority Leader Neptali “Boyet” Gonzales said he was confident that the impeachment complaintwould be transmitted to the Senate by Tuesday.
Once they get the required number, Gonzales said they would transmit the complaint directly to the Senate without going through the House plenary for either rejection or adoption.
House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman agreed that under the rules, a complaint may be transmitted directly to the Senate once the required number or signature was reached.
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