'Corona's conviction an indication of Aquino's dictatorial tendencies'

MANILA, Philippines - Only three senators cast votes to acquit Chief Justice Renato Corona – Joker Arroyo, Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

But as far as Arroyo is concerned, Corona’s conviction is an indication of the dictatorial tendencies of the present Aquino administration.

“Today, we are one step (closer to) violating the Constitution and passing a Bill of Attainder. No one can stop us if no one stops us, if no one will stop ourselves,” he said.

Arroyo said the move to convict Corona was not about the Constitution.

“This is not justice, political or legal. This is certainly not law. For sure it is not the law of the Constitution. It is only naked power as it was in 1972. I would not think that I would see it again so brazenly,” he said.

Echoing the statements made earlier in the trial by presiding officer Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Arroyo defined a Bill of Attainder as “a law passed by one house and approved by the other, creating an offense when there was none, investing a crime out of actions – willful or not, that were innocent when they were performed.”

He said it is a legislative act of convicting an accused of acts – in the very measure by which he is condemned, through a vote instead of a trial on the basis of accusations taken as proof.

According to Arroyo, the impeachment should not be used for political assassination.

“Impeachment is a political process, not a political assassination. An impeachment must always uphold the due process, that no citizen, high or law, can be denied,” he said, adding that Corona was removed from office all because he submitted an erroneous SALN.

Santiago and Marcos both argued that Corona was not given due process during the past five months of trial.

Santiago’s argument is anchored on the Constitution, which provides that in all criminal prosecutions the accused shall be presumed innocent until the contrary is proved.

She said the burden of proof was on the prosecution.

As an appointed judge in the International Criminal Court (ICC), Santiago said she has adopted a very high standard of overwhelming preponderance of evidence.

“My standard is very high, because removal by conviction on impeachment is stunning penalty, the ruin of a life,” Santiago said.