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Impeachment trial for top Philippine judge begins | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The Philippines has begun its first-ever impeachment trial of the chief judge of the Supreme Court. | |
The 23-member Senate will decide whether Chief Justice Renato Corona should be unseated for breach of public trust and violation of the constitution. | The 23-member Senate will decide whether Chief Justice Renato Corona should be unseated for breach of public trust and violation of the constitution. |
Congress impeached Mr Corona in December, accusing him of showing bias towards former President Gloria Arroyo. | Congress impeached Mr Corona in December, accusing him of showing bias towards former President Gloria Arroyo. |
Mr Corona has denied the allegations. | Mr Corona has denied the allegations. |
He told local TV station ABS CBN that "only death" could remove him from office. "If they want to remove me from my post, they should kill me," he said. | He told local TV station ABS CBN that "only death" could remove him from office. "If they want to remove me from my post, they should kill me," he said. |
The trial could take several months. | |
"We are going through a process to stop a rogue magistrate from completely crushing the sacred institution of the Supreme Court," said President Benigno Aquino, as quoted by news agency AFP before the trial. | "We are going through a process to stop a rogue magistrate from completely crushing the sacred institution of the Supreme Court," said President Benigno Aquino, as quoted by news agency AFP before the trial. |
Arroyo tussle | Arroyo tussle |
Mr Aquino was said to have marshalled allies in Congress to impeach Mr Corona largely because he was seen as protecting Mrs Arroyo from prosecution. | Mr Aquino was said to have marshalled allies in Congress to impeach Mr Corona largely because he was seen as protecting Mrs Arroyo from prosecution. |
In the impeachment vote, 188 of the 284 members of the House of Representatives backed the resolution to put Mr Corona on trial in the Senate. | In the impeachment vote, 188 of the 284 members of the House of Representatives backed the resolution to put Mr Corona on trial in the Senate. |
He was impeached on a total of eight counts, which also included failure to disclose assets and corruption. | He was impeached on a total of eight counts, which also included failure to disclose assets and corruption. |
Mrs Arroyo appointed Mr Corona - who was her former chief of staff - shortly before she finished her term in office. | Mrs Arroyo appointed Mr Corona - who was her former chief of staff - shortly before she finished her term in office. |
The appointment was questioned by Mr Aquino, who has since accused Mr Corona of trying to block efforts to investigate corruption allegations against Mrs Arroyo. | The appointment was questioned by Mr Aquino, who has since accused Mr Corona of trying to block efforts to investigate corruption allegations against Mrs Arroyo. |
In November the Supreme Court under Mr Corona lifted a travel ban on Mrs Arroyo, after which she tried to leave the country, saying she needed medical treatment. | In November the Supreme Court under Mr Corona lifted a travel ban on Mrs Arroyo, after which she tried to leave the country, saying she needed medical treatment. |
Mr Arroyo was arrested shortly after that on charges of rigging Senate elections in 2007, a claim she strongly denies. | Mr Arroyo was arrested shortly after that on charges of rigging Senate elections in 2007, a claim she strongly denies. |
Local media reports citing opinion polls say there is strong public support for Mr Aquino's anti-corruption drive. | Local media reports citing opinion polls say there is strong public support for Mr Aquino's anti-corruption drive. |
But critics say Mr Corona's trial is a result of Mr Aquino overstepping constitutional boundaries. | But critics say Mr Corona's trial is a result of Mr Aquino overstepping constitutional boundaries. |
Meanwhile, the employees of the Supreme Court have expressed their support for the chief judge, according to local media reports. | Meanwhile, the employees of the Supreme Court have expressed their support for the chief judge, according to local media reports. |
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