Corona accepts verdict

MANILA, Philippines – Outgoing Chief justice Renato Corona said he is saddened by the decision of the impeachment court, but added he has long accepted the “burden.”

Corona, who was convicted by the impeachment court through a vote of 20-3 on Tuesday, May 29, said his fate was now up to God and the Filipino people.

He apologized to his family and supporters for placing them in a difficult situation, as the impeachment trial dragged on for almost 5 months. He also sought their forgiveness for failing to successfully “defend the truth.”

He thanked senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Joker Arroyo and Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr for voting to acquit him. Twenty other senators, however, voted to convict him for failing to declare $2.4 million and P80 million in his statement of assets, liabilities and networth.

Corona maintained that his conscience is clean and that he is a victim of politics. 

“Hindi kaila sa akin na gagamitin ng Pangulo ang buong puwersa ng gobyerno, kasama na ang mga ahensiyang dapat sana ay malayang nagpapasiya – ang Kamara, ang BIR, ang LRA, ang AMLC, ang Ombudsman, at iba pa [It’s no secret that the president will use all government machinery – Congress, the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Land Registration Authority, the Anti-Money Laundering Council and the Ombudsman against me],” he said.

He said that now that the trial is over, the government and the nation should move on and focus on addressing the pressing problems of the country. – Rappler.com