The Senate sitting as an impeachment court on Tuesday found Chief Justice Renato Corona guilty as charged under Article 2 of the impeachment complaint.
The votes have been taken on Article 2 of the eight articles in the impeachment complaint filed by the House of Representatives on December 12 last year.
Article 2 states that:
“RESPONDENT COMMITTED CULPABLE VIOLATION OF THE CONSTITUTION AND/OR BETRAYED THE PUBLIC TRUST WHEN HE FAILED TO DISCLOSE TO THE PUBLIC HIS STATEMENT OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES, AND NET WORTH AS REQUIRED UNDER SEC. 17, ART. XI OF THE 1987 CONSTITUTION.”
With 20 senator-judges voting for conviction as against only 3 voting for acquittal, it was very clear that majority thinks the Chief Justice failed to disclose all of his assets in his SALN.
Sixteen votes are required to convict, eight to acquit. The impeachment court’s decision is final and executory.
Tuesday’s event is historical. Corona is the first Chief Justice who was thrown out of his job through an impeachment trial.
A replay video of the senators’ explanation of their respective votes will be embedded here upon availability online.
