Philippine National Police

Legarda, Loren: ‘Guilty’

Rappler.com

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Senator Loren Legarda votes to convict Chief Justice Renato Corona, saying to do otherwise 'lowers the bar of public accountability'

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Loren Legarda found Chief Justice Renato Corona guilty of the impeachment charges filed against him by the prosecution.

Legarda, who is seeking re-election in 2013, said she found it difficult to reach her verdict. She said the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) is key to public accountability.

Legarda said public trust is “earned,” dismising legal arguments that sought to defend Corona’s failure to disclose his SALN truthfully. Of all the pieces of evidence presented by both sides, Legarda cited the case of an employee of the judiciary who was punished for not declaring her property in her SALN as the one that convinced her to convict the Chief Justice.

She said the people are guided by “equal protection of the law.”

If we acquit the Chief Justice “we will tragicallly lift the floodgates of public mistrust” in the judiciary. If the court acquits Corona, “we lower the bar of public accountability,” Legarda said.

During the trial, Legarda refused to show her stand in the Corona trial, except in berating the Land Registration Authority for the inaccurate list of Corona’s alleged 45 properties. She asked the prosecution to apologize for misleading the Senate.

Legarda was among the senators who called on Corona to testify.

A constant topnotcher in senatorial races, Legarda lost her vice presidential bid in 2004. She is a member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) and will likely run under the UNA of Vice President Jejomar Binay. – Rappler.com

Click on the links below for more Rappler stories on the senator-judges’ verdict. 


 

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