A conviction might also create the filing of criminal charges against Corona from the Office with the Ombudsman.
The impeachment court ended its trial from the Chief Justice yesterday after hearing the oral arguments of the prosecution as well as the defense panels.
A guilty verdict on some of the charges is sufficient ground for his removal from office. But he is able to go for only reprimand or suspension if found guilty.
Today’s verdict also brings out on the curtain over a political drama driven by President Aquino’s anti-corruption campaign. Aquino has openly declared his want Corona’s removal from office.
The impeachment trial of Corona began on Jan. 16 or after 188 people in home of Representatives dicated to impeach him.
Aquino has stated that detaching the Chief Justice is an important part of his crusade to completely clean in the government.
Corona, 63, is charged with protecting former President now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from prosecution, in addition to lacking integrity and amassing an individual fortune over the limits of his salary - that she did not declare as needed by the Constitution.
Sixteen votes - about two-thirds from the chamber - must unseat Corona.
After 43 trial days, the Senate sitting as impeachment court will render its decision around the impeachment case of Chief Justice Renato Corona.
Around this posting, Senators Edgardo Angara, Alan Peter Cayetano and Pia Cayetano, Franklin Drilon, Francis Escudero, Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada, TG Guingona, Gringo Honasan, Panfilo Lacson, Lito Lapid, Loren Legarda, Sergio Osmena III, Kiko Pangilinan, all have voted for Corona's conviction.
Senators Joker Arroyo, Miriam Santiago, and Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. meanwhile voted for Corona's acquittal.
"This just isn't justice, political or legal. Definitely not what the law states..it is simply naked power, because it was at 1972," Arroyo said because he defended his vote.
Corona was impeached from the House of Representatives in December after 188 congressmen signed the impeachment complaint.
Even though the senator-judges will determine three articles of impeachment, the prosecution and defense teams made a decision to focus their closing statements on Article II with the impeachment complaint.
The prosecutors said they've strongly proved that Corona is “morally unfit” to keep as chief justice since he lied about his SALN to hide his wealth.
The defense, however, insisted how the non-disclosure of a few of Corona’s accounts doesn't constitute an impeachable offense because he made it happen in “good faith.”
