The Corona Trial: So What Did You Learn?

Article 7 of the impeachment complaint alleges partiality in granting a ______________ in favor of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her husband Jose Miguel Arroyo in order to give them an opportunity to escape prosecution and to frustrate the ends of justice.

Private Prosecutor Vitaliano Aguirre is the private prosecutor who was cited in ________ for disrespecting the impeachment court when he covered his ears while Santiago was scolding the prosecution panel.

Prosecution witness ________________testified that respondent Chief Justice Corona had influenced the court in allowing the temporary restraining order relieving the prohibition of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to leave the country.

Ombudsman Carpio-Morales testified that, upon her request, she received a report from the ____________________ supposedly containing information concerning the dollar transactions of respondent Chief Justice Corona.

By virtue of a long standing rule, practice and tradition of the Supreme Court the _________________will serve as acting Chief Justice in case that the Chief Justice is removed, becomes incapacitated or is not in the country.

The ________________ is the constitutionally created body tasked to recommend appointees for vacancies that may arise in the composition of the Supreme Court and other lower courts.

In his testimony Chief Justice Corona justified his nondisclosure in his Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Networth (SALN) of his peso accounts because these were supposed to be ___________ funds.

Among the senator-judges who voted in the impeachment trial, five (5) of them voted to acquit former Chief Justice Corona namely: senator-judges Santiago, Arroyo, Escudero, Lapid and Marcos.

• True

• False

Article XI, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution stipulates: “Public office is a____________. Public officers and employees must, at all times, be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency; act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives.”

Using the dissenting opinion by ____________________Secretary de Lima said that Chief Justice Corona corrected the draft of the decision, and instructed Supreme Court spokesperson Midas Marquez to mislead the public by stating that the restraining order was still in effect even if Arroyo was not able to abide by it.

Other than the Constitution, under what law are public officers and employees required to submit their Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Networth?

• Bank Secrecy Law

• Code of Professional Responsibility

• Foreign Currency Deposit Act

• Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees

Which body is tasked to try and decide all impeachment cases?

• The House of Representatives sitting as an impeachment court

• The Senate sitting as an impeachment court

• The Supreme Court sitting en banc

• The Civil Service Commission

Article II of the impeachment complaint charges former Chief Justice Corona of betrayal of public trust for having 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.

• True

• False

While testifying respondent Chief Justice Corona left the court before he could be discharged because, according to his defense lawyers, he was suffering from hypoglycemia.

• True

• False

Under the Constitution what type of officers and employees are required to submit a declaration under oath of his assets, liabilities, and net worth or SALN upon assumption of office and as often thereafter as may be required by law?

• All officers and employees of the public and private sector

• All public officers and employees

• All public officers with specified rank

• Only public officers who may be removed by impeachment

Former Chief Justice Corona justified the non-declaration of his dollar deposits in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN) by saying that under the Foreign Currency Denominated Act or R.A. 6426 said dollar deposits are absolutely confidential.

• True

• False

How many times may impeachment proceedings be initiated against the same official in 1 year?

• Twice

• Once

• Thrice

• As many as there are complainants

What was the reason why the defense counsel sought the disqualification of Senator-judge Franklin Drilon from the impeachment trial?

• Because he was not qualified to sit as senator-judge

• Because he was accused of open partiality or bias towards the prosecution

• Because of conflict of interest

• Because he was accused of not observing the Rules of Impeachment

The verdict in an impeachment trial is subject to judicial review by the Supreme Court.

• True

• False

Other than Chief Justice Renato Corona which other high ranking official of the Philippines was impeached?

• Ombudsman Aniano Desierto

• Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

• Former President Joseph E. Estrada

• Former Chief Justice Hilaro Davide

The defense argued that while the Columns Unit was registered in the name of the Corona spouses, the Chief Justice was under no obligation to declare it in his Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Networth (SALN) because there was no formal acceptance of delivery of the condo unit from property developer Ayala Corp. to the Corona couple.

• True

• False

How did Senator Santiago characterize the nature of impeachment proceedings?

• A criminal prosecution

• Quasi-political and quasi-judicial

• Strictly political in nature

• Administrative proceedings

Before he finally signed an unconditional waiver to the impeachment court allowing authorities to publicly release details of his peso and dollar accounts, the Chief Justice first signed a waiver to be submitted on the condition that at least a majority of the 188 complainants and Senator-judge Escudero first sign their own waivers.

• True

• False

What kind of evidence did the senate, acting as an impeachment court, not allow the prosecution to present?

• Evidence referring to the Chief Justice’s failure to disclose his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth

• Evidence relative to his alleged failure to include some of his properties in his declaration of his assets, liabilities and net worth, in violation of the anti-graft and corrupt practices act.

• Evidence concerning his alleged accumulated ill-gotten wealth, assets of high values and huge deposits in bank accounts

• Evidence relative to the alleged undervaluation of his properties as declared in his SALNs

Among the five (5) articles in the impeachment complaint that the prosecution withdrew for presentation of evidence is article V which alleges that respondent Corona committed culpable violation of the constitution through wanton arbitrariness and partiality in consistently disregarding the principle of res judicata and in deciding in favor of gerry-mandering in the cases involving the 16 newly-created cities, and the promotion of Dinagat island into a province.

• True

• False

What is the meaning of subpoena ad testificandum?

• An order for a person to testify before the ordering authority, the impeachment court in this case, or face punishment

• An order for a person to bring physical evidence before the ordering authority, impeachment court in this case, or face punishment.

• An order for a person to submit himself to the jurisdiction of the ordering authority, or impeachment court in this case

• An order to the custodian of a person to produce such person before the court and present proof of authority

Under section 8 of RA no. 6713 or The Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees” only the assets, liabilities, net worth and financial and business interests of public officials and employees have to be disclosed to the public.

• True

• False

Betrayal of public trust as a ground for impeachment means willful and intentional violation of the Constitution and not violation committed unintentionally or involuntarily or in good faith or thru an honest mistake of judgment.

• True

• False

The term “to impeach” an official literally means –

• To summon before a court or tribunal to answer for a criminal offense

• To accuse of misconduct in office

• To remove from office

• To present evidence against an erring official