The Corona Trial: So What Did You Learn?

Correct Answer: contempt

Correct Answer: public trust

Correct Answer: Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC)

Correct Answer: Temporary Restraining Order (TRO)

Public officers and employees are required to submit their Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Networth under the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. This law sets the standards of behavior and ethical conduct that public officials and employees must adhere to. It aims to promote transparency, accountability, and integrity in public service. The law requires public officials and employees to disclose their assets and liabilities to prevent corruption and ensure that they are not engaged in any unlawful activities.

The statement is false because it states that five senator-judges voted to acquit former Chief Justice Corona, but it does not provide the names of the senator-judges who voted to acquit him.

The Senate is tasked with trying and deciding all impeachment cases. Impeachment is the process of accusing a public official of wrongdoing, and if the House of Representatives votes to impeach, the case is then sent to the Senate for trial. The Senate acts as the impeachment court, where they hear evidence, examine witnesses, and ultimately decide whether to convict or acquit the accused official. This process ensures that the decision is made by a separate body from the one that brought the charges, providing a system of checks and balances.

Correct Answer: Secretary of Justice Leila de Lima

The explanation for the correct answer, which is True, is that Article II of the impeachment complaint accuses former Chief Justice Corona of betrayal of public trust for not disclosing his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth as mandated by the Constitution. This failure to disclose is considered a culpable violation of the constitution and a betrayal of public trust. Therefore, the statement is true.

Correct Answer: co-mingled

The given statement is true. Chief Justice Corona left the court before he could be discharged due to his defense lawyers claiming that he was suffering from hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia is a condition characterized by low blood sugar levels, which can cause symptoms such as dizziness, confusion, and fainting. As a result, it is plausible that Chief Justice Corona may have left the court early due to his health condition.

Correct Answer: Judicial and Bar Council

All public officers and employees are required to submit a declaration under oath of their assets, liabilities, and net worth or SALN upon assumption of office and as often thereafter as may be required by law. This requirement applies to both the public and private sectors.

The defense counsel sought the disqualification of Senator-judge Franklin Drilon from the impeachment trial because he was accused of open partiality or bias towards the prosecution.

Impeachment proceedings may only be initiated against the same official once in 1 year. This means that if the official has already faced impeachment proceedings within the past year, they cannot be initiated again until the next year. The limitation of initiating impeachment proceedings only once in a year ensures that the process is not abused or used as a means of constant harassment against the official.

Correct Answer: Senior Justice

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

Correct Answer: Associate Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno

The verdict in an impeachment trial is not subject to judicial review by the Supreme Court. Impeachment is a political process, and the Constitution gives the power of impeachment solely to the House of Representatives and the power to try impeachments solely to the Senate. The Supreme Court does not have the authority to review or overturn the verdict of an impeachment trial.

Former President Joseph E. Estrada was impeached in the Philippines. This refers to the process of removing a high-ranking official from office due to alleged misconduct or violation of the constitution. In 2000, Estrada faced impeachment charges for corruption, bribery, and betrayal of public trust. The impeachment trial led to his eventual removal from office. This event marked a significant moment in Philippine political history.

The defense argued that the Chief Justice was not obligated to declare the Columns Unit in his SALN because there was no formal acceptance of delivery of the condo unit from the property developer to the Corona couple. This means that since the condo unit was not officially transferred to them, they did not have ownership or possession of it, and therefore it did not need to be declared in the SALN.

Senator Santiago characterized the nature of impeachment proceedings as "quasi-political and quasi-judicial." This means that impeachment proceedings involve elements of both politics and the judiciary. It suggests that while there are political considerations involved, such as the potential impact on public opinion and political alliances, there is also a need for a fair and impartial assessment of the evidence and legal standards. This characterization acknowledges that impeachment is a unique process that combines political and legal aspects.

The statement is false because it states that the Chief Justice signed a waiver to be submitted on the condition that a majority of the complainants and Senator-judge Escudero first sign their own waivers. However, the passage does not mention anything about the Chief Justice signing a waiver on this condition. Therefore, the statement is incorrect.

The Senate, acting as an impeachment court, did not allow the prosecution to present evidence concerning the Chief Justice's alleged accumulated ill-gotten wealth, assets of high values, and huge deposits in bank accounts. This suggests that the court either deemed this evidence irrelevant to the impeachment proceedings or found it to be insufficiently substantiated.

Correct Answer: Basa-Guidote Enterprises Inc. (BGEI)

The correct answer is true. The explanation is that the impeachment complaint included five articles, and one of those articles (article V) alleged that respondent Corona committed a culpable violation of the constitution through wanton arbitrariness and partiality. This was demonstrated by consistently disregarding the principle of res judicata and making decisions in favor of gerry-mandering in the cases involving the 16 newly-created cities, as well as the promotion of Dinagat island into a province. The prosecution later withdrew this article from being presented as evidence.

A subpoena ad testificandum is an order that requires a person to testify before a specific authority, in this case, the impeachment court. Failure to comply with the subpoena can result in punishment. This means that the person must appear before the court and provide testimony or face potential consequences.

Correct Answer: False, it also includes those of their spouses and of unmarried children under eighteen (18) years of age living in their households.

The explanation for the given answer is that betrayal of public trust as a ground for impeachment does not require willful and intentional violation of the Constitution. It can also include violations committed unintentionally, involuntarily, in good faith, or through an honest mistake of judgment. Therefore, the statement is false.

The term "to impeach" an official means to accuse them of misconduct in office. Impeachment is a formal process used to hold government officials accountable for their actions while in office. It is a way to investigate and potentially remove officials who have been accused of wrongdoing or abusing their power. Impeachment does not automatically result in removal from office, but it is the first step in the process. The accused official will then face a trial, where evidence will be presented to determine whether they are guilty of the accusations.