Senators: It's time to show compassion for Corona

MANILA, Philippines - Although they voted to convict Renato Corona, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Sen. Edgardo Angara yesterday called on the government to ease up on the possible filing of charges against the ousted chief justice.

“I think the man is punished enough by being ousted from a very high position and being perpetually disqualified from holding any public office. I think we should end there,” Angara said.

“If there is some person who thinks he was aggrieved, like some of his family members, that is a separate matter. Using state power to prosecute and pursue him, I think that is

over-stretching already,” Angara said, referring to the family feud between Corona’s wife Cristina and her cousins over Basa Guidote Enterprises Inc.

Angara stressed he doesn’t want to see a vindictive government going after Corona.

Enrile said he is leaving it up to the government to pursue charges against Corona but thinks the Aquino administration should “exercise compassion” to start the healing process following the divisiveness caused by the impeachment trial.

“We should exercise compassion,” he said.

During the impeachment, Enrile noted the prosecution failed to prove and present evidence pertaining to alleged illegal wealth. “Anyway, the prosecution failed to prove any ill-gotten wealth against Corona that could prove corruption. There was none,” he said.

Enrile said the impeachment court merely decided on the issue that Corona failed to declare in his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs) his $2.4 million and some P80 million in bank accounts.

On the issue of possible tax charges, Angara and Enrile conceded Corona might have to face such charges since it is the obligation of a citizen to pay taxes.

“But pursuing criminal cases to send him to jail as such, I think, the Filipino people would draw a line already,” Angara said.

Senate Minority Leader Alan Cayetano said Corona should be charged if warranted.

“There is no pity, there is no compassion to speak off. All of these have no place in the justice system... It shouldn’t be a choice of men. We are not a country of men, but a country of laws,” he said.

While it is not a simple task, Cayetano said Corona should be allowed to get well.

But charges should be pursued if there is evidence, the senator added.

The House of Representatives, as the prosecutors in the impeachment trial on Corona, no longer has any role in the possible prosecution of the former chief justice.              

Prosecution panel spokesman Marikina City Rep. Romero Quimbo said the decision to prosecute Corona would be up to the executive branch.

“Our duty in the House of Representatives, that is, to remove the chief justice, is done. Any other matter with regard to filing new cases is completely out of our hands,” Quimbo said.

“But let me stress that the same due process must be accorded to him as it was (during the impeachment trial) where he (Corona) was afforded right to counsel and to be heard in court,” he said.  – Christina Mendez, Paolo Romero