Businessmen urge Chief Justice Corona to testify in impeachment trial

MANILA, Philippines — The Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) has urged Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona to voluntarily appear and testify before the impeachment court in order to clear his name of the allegations made against him.

FPI chair Jesus Arranza explained in a statement that “since the prosecution had already rested its case, now is the appropriate time for the Chief Justice himself to testify and not through third parties.”

“I am quite confident that the Chief Justice will be able to show justifiable reasons for his actuation,” Arranza said. “But it is important that he testifies himself because the acts complained of in the articles of impeachment involve the Chief Justice’s alleged acts,” Arranza said.

“At the start of the hearing, the Chief Justice and his legal team had assured the public that the Chief Justice will be able to adequately explain his side at the proper time, and that the Chief Justice was innocent of the charges,” he added.

He further noted that he trusted the integrity, impartiality and objectivity of all the senator-judges.

Arranza, however, is hoping that the “impeachment process will soon be completed so that the country can move on.”

Corona was impeached and subjected to a trial on charges that he failed to disclose his wealth in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth; that he had shown partiality to former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, especially in her appeal to be allowed to travel abroad while her graft cases were pending here; and that he lacked competence and integrity in the performance of his duties as could be seen in the flip-flopping decisions of the Supreme Court, among others.

The House prosecution panel has rested its case and said it would no longer present evidence in five other articles of impeachment.