from a report by Lynda Jumilla
ABS-CBN News
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MANILA, Philippines – Analysts believe politics and not evidence will be the deciding factor when the Senate hears the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.
As soon as the impeachment case reached the Senate, all eyes turned to the senator-judges and how they will decide on the fate of Chief Justice Renato Corona.
Lawyer and law professor Harry Roque was among the first to come out with his fearless forecast.
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“Kung bukas na ang impeachment, naniniwala ako na 10 pa lamang ang boto para matanggal si Corona… at 4 ang siguradong boboto pabor kay Corona. Siyam pa ang undecided,” he said.
Roque expects a conviction from Senators Franklin Drilon, Francis Pangilinan, Ralph Recto, and TG Guingona, who are all partymates of President Benigno Aquino.
Others expected to vote for Corona’s conviction are Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile – whose leadership was allegedly threatened recently – and his lieutenants Tito Sotto and Gringo Honasan, as well as Antonio Trillanes, Jinggoy Estrada, and Panfilo Lacson, who are all sworn enemies of former President Arroyo.
Proxy fight
“Aminin naman natin na proxy fight ito. Ang naglalaban laban pa rin, pwersa ni Gloria at ang pwersa ng Pangulo,” Roque said.
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On the other hand, Roque expects an acquittal from Arroyo partymates Bong Revilla and Lito Lapid, as well as Aquino’s critics Bongbong Marcos and Joker Arroyo.
Roque believes 9 senators are still undecided, or at least hard to read.
They are Senators Miriam Santiago, Edgardo Angara, Loren Legarda, Manny Villar, Pia Cayetano, Alan Cayetano, and even Aquino allies Serge Osmeña, Koko Pimentel, and Chiz Escudero.
Sixteen votes are need to convict Corona and remove him from office. Eight are are needed to acquit.
Roque expects the undecided will be a target of intense lobbying from both camps.
Politics over evidence?
Meanwhile, Roque and political professor and analyst Ed Tayao agree that political considerations will prevail over legal evidence in the senators’ decision-making.
“Foremost consideration (in voting) for sure is 2013 elections for the reelectionists,” Tayao said.
He said senators are politicians and not judges, and the impeachment is a political, rather than legal process.
Trillanes and Escudero acknowledged this, and the latter appealed to his colleagues.
“I will not be led into thinking or believing that this is a legal trial. This is a matter of policy, a political process,” Trillanes said.
“Dapat nakabatay na ‘yon sa ebidensya na ipriprisinta at sa batas na umiiral base sa mga alegasyong ginamit laban kay Chief Justice Corona,” Escudero said.
Corona’s trial proper will begin in January.
Many things can still happen to shape the senators’ decision or change their mind. – ANC
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