SC dismisses petitions against Corona’s impeachment

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court has junked the petitions questioning the validity of the impeachment trial against dismissed Chief Justice Renato Corona. 

In a 3-page resolution, the SC said the removal of Corona on May 29 and the appointment of his successor, Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno on August 24, has made the case moot.

The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, convicted Corona for failing to disclose P180 million in peso and dollar bank deposits in his statement of assets, liabilities and networth. 

Those who moved for the nullification of the impeachment trial included Danilo Lihaylihay, lawyers Vladimir Cabigao, Vicente Millora, and Oliver Lozano of the Lawyers League for a Better Phiippines, Rev Bernardo Magno, former Assemblyman Homobono Adaza, and Atty. Allan Paguia and Herman Laurel and Rodolfo Salandanan. 

The SC, voting 13-0, also dismissed the petition filed by Corona himself, saying it has become moot and academic.

“[A]n issue or a case becomes moot and academic when it ceases to present a justiciable controversy so that a determination thereof would be without practical use and value. In such cases, there is no actual substantial relief to which the petitioner would be entitled to and which would be negated by the dismissal of the petition,” the SC said then. – Rappler.com