Santiago, Guingona wary of constitutional crisis

Posted at 02/08/2012 10:01 PM | Updated as of 02/09/2012 10:04 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Senators Miriam Defensor Santiago and Teofisto Guingona III on Wednesday warned of a constitutional crisis that may result out of the petition filed in the Supreme Court by impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Corona wants the high court to nullify the impeachment complaint against him and stop his trial.

He also wants the immediate issuance of a temporary restraining order on the Senate, after the impeachment court decided to subpoena his bank accounts with BPI and PS Bank.

Corona said the subpoenas violate the bank secrecy law.

He also filed a motion seeking the inhibition of 2 of his colleagues, Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and Associate Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, from hearing his petitions.

Corona mentioned the alleged animosity of the Carpio and Seneno against him which may affect their decision on his petitions.

Independence

Santiago on Wednesday insisted that under the Constitution, the impeachment court has higher authority than the Supreme Court and justices should not interfere in Corona's impeachment trial.

Guingona echoed Santiago's stand.

He said that while Corona has the right to seek avenues of justice, the Senate is independent as an impeachment court.

"The impeachment process is the people's way of making public officials accountable. The people through the Constitution reposed this power to Congress," he said in a press statement.

"Since the impeachment court is independent and a class of its own, the Supreme Court should not impose its will on this body. Because at this point, we are not a co-equal branch of government," he explained. "We are co-equal bodies if we are legislating. But at this point, we are not legislating. We are exercising a judicial function as an Impeachment Court. Sana po makita ng Korte Suprema ang puntong ito."

"[The] Senate, as an impeachment court, has the sole power to try and decide on impeachment cases," he added.

Guingona said he is confident that the Supreme Court will know what to do regarding Corona's petition."May tiwala pa rin ako sa Korte Suprema, na alam nito ang tamang dapat gawin at tutulungan tayo ng Korte Suprema sa paghahanap ng katotohanan." - with a report from Niko Baua, ABS-CBN News


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3 comments

it's because of cgma!

some will do anything because, they owe. corona is the great wall of cgma.


wala po akong tinatago, sabi

wala po akong tinatago, sabi po ninyo. .then all documents, bank records must be shown to everyone in this planet if you are not hiding anything Kagalang galang . .you are obviously panicking at makikita na yung mga dapat nakatago . .Mabuhay po ang Senado. . Mabuhay ang ating bansa .


Corona wants the high court

Corona wants the high court to nullify the impeachment complaint against him and stop his trial.

He also wants the immediate issuance of a temporary restraining order on the Senate, after the impeachment court decided to subpoena his bank accounts with BPI and PS Bank.

Corona said the subpoenas violate the bank secrecy law.

He also filed a motion seeking the inhibition of 2 of his colleagues, Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and Associate Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, from hearing his petitions.

Corona mentioned the alleged animosity of the Carpio and Seneno against him which may affect their decision on his petitions.

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Akala ko ba sasagutin nya ng punto by punto ang mga allegations sa kanya? Bakit biglang nagabago ang ihip ng hangin, di na ba kayang salagin ng punto by punto dahil buking na buking na?

Sa Real Properties nga naman, ang palusot market value at assessed value lang ang nafilled-up, though required na ilagay ang acquisition cost.

Eh paano sa cash? Di na magagamit ang Market value at assessed value na palusot?

Bakit naman kailangang mag-inhibit ang dalawa? Para majority na susuporta sa kanya specially yung mga appointees din ni GMA? Tumakbo na sya sa sarili nyang bahay (SC) para innullify, tapos nga naman kagad ang kaso, fortunately sa taong bayan, di sya sakop ng SC, kaya no bearing sya...

Kung mataas talaga ang integrity nitong si Corona, wala syang dapat ikatakot kahit ilabas pa lahat ng evidences dyan na sinasabi ng mga topnotch lawyers nya na irrelevant and immaterial kasi di nga naman akma sa SALN eh, hehe...

But I agree with Guingona, palagay ko alam ng SC na dapat nilang respetuhin ang Impeachment Court, I don't think they will do any dumb action, they should also be after to the truth!

I wonder who among the people are enjoying in the corruption legacy or I should not wonder because the answer is clear for those making tons of money out from it