THE FACE-OFF, SLEEPING BEAUTY AND THE LONG WEEK OFF

Childsh Aguirre earned the ire of Sen. Defensor-Santiago

THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL - DAY 26, FEB. 29, 2012
by Wilfred Avila

A quarter past two in the afternoon, the Senator-Judges filed into the Senate Hall to begin the 26th day of the longest impeachment trial ever. Well, to be precise, the only impeachment trial ever in Philippine historywith Senator-Judge Pia Cayetano leading the prayers for a wisdom filled afternoon. Twenty Senator-Judges were present for this hearing.

As the trial began, Minority Floor Leader Sen. Alan Cayetano stood first and said that he undertook some research related to immunity of Supreme Court Justices. He wanted the Senate, as a body, to further discuss the Supreme Court's resolution barring employees from testifying in the impeachment hearings and releasing of documents required in the deliberations. He further said that he prepared a legal study based on cases he researched. He ended by stating that this could be taken up in a caucus.

Chief Justice Corona Fights Back

SC Chief Justice Corona dares Noynoy Aquino

CJ Renato C. Corona
17 February 2012

I am calling on our President not to meddle, pre-empt and influence the Senate Impeachment Court. There is a process to these impeachment proceedings, and that is written in our Constitution and the Rules of the Senate.

Wasn't it you who chose this step and brought it to the Senate? Let us not allow this hearing to go far from the Impeachment Court and use media to judge me. Let us allow the case to move forward based on the Rule of Law and its rightful process. As you once said, "it is best if we all watch and keep silent first."

Vote on SC TRO Draws the Line

PS Bank's petition for TRO on FCDU was granted by SC

Last February 9, 2012, the Supreme Court en banc decide to grant PS Bank's petition for temporary restraining order (TRO) on the public disclosure of Chief Justice Corona's dollar accounts with the bank.

The issuance of TRO triggered a debate among senator-judges on whether the Supreme Court can exercise its innate power to do judicial review on matters being discussed by the impeachment court.

TanDem's Statement on Corona Impeachment

Tanggulang Demokrasya

There's been a growing number of organizations voicing out their opposition against the railroaded impeachment of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona. Among these organizations is Tanggulang Demokrasya or TanDem.

TanDem is a network of different people's organizations and Netizens. It has been on the forefront of unearthing the cheating and manipulations done in the country's first automated election system.

On Shaky Grounds

SC Chief Magistrate Renato Corona

The railroaded impeachment of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona is but the culmination point. No matter how hard Malacanang deny having any part on the Impeach Corona move, the truth is too glaring to be dismissed.

We all know how Aquino himself, personally laid the groundwork that led to the indespicable action of ravenous and pork-crazed members of Congress. Didn't Aquino on at least two occasions, pointed to Corona as the remaining stumbling block to his much-hyped yet empty "tuwid na daan?"

Isn't it much of a coincidence that following his attack on Corona his minions in Congress held a secret meeting at the house of Rep. Boyet Gonzales to discuss the draft impeachment complaint against Corona they will pass around to congressmen to sign. The caucus called by Speaker Belmonte last Monday was a mere cover-up for the Gonzales resident covert meeting last weekend.

Creeping Martial Law

Is Noynoy a dictator in the making?

This week is proving to be an exciting one. For the first time, a possibility of a full-blown Constitutional crisis is looming. It starting with the expressed desire of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to seek medical services outside the country after three bone surgeries. Legally there's no impediment to her right to travel.

The Supreme Court decided to grant the Arroyo couples a temporary restraining order against their inclusion in the watch list order (WLO), thereby barring them to leave the country. Despite the SC TRO, de Lima stood firm on her decision that the WLO stands.

Sec. de Lima is at the risk of facing contempt charges (and even disbarment). But we all know that she is merely following Noynoy Aquino's strict and specific orders. If there's one thing Aquino wants to get done, it is seeing the former president behind bars. The marching orders have been given and are being followed to the letter.