Senate set to decide on validity of Corona’s impeachment

Tuesday, 3, 2012
THE Philippine Senate, which will convene as an impeachment court in two weeks, is expected to rule on the validity of the impeachment case against Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Renato Corona.
Corona, who asked the Senate to dismiss the complaint, said it was invalid since members of the House did not read the complaint before signing.
Corona was accused by the 188 congressmen-signatories of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, and graft and corruption.
House justice committee chairman Niel Tupas Jr., who also heads the prosecution team, said “numerous” photocopies of the complaint were distributed to political parties before a majority caucus in December.
“Numerous” copies were also available at the caucus, he added.
The prosecution team on Monday filed its 38-page reply to Corona’s answer to the eight articles of impeachment against him.
The prosecution team asked the Senate impeachment court to 1) immediately deny Corona’s prayer for the dismissal of the impeachment complaint against him; 2) proceed with the trial immediately; and 3) convict Corona for betrayal of public trust.
“The prosecution panel is ready. Let’s get it on for the sake of our nation,” Tupas said in a text message to reporters.
The prosecution team’s reply also dared Corona to avoid hiding behind legal technicalities to delay the trial or avoid accountability.
Corona also said the complaint was filed “like a thief in the night,” referring to the process by which it was signed — immediately after a December 12 majority caucus where the prosecution panel head explained the contents.
But the panel said even if the “verification” is “defective,” “it is not fatal to the Impeachment Complaint or the jurisdiction of the Impeachment Court. It is elementary that verification is a formal, not jurisdictional.”
“It is extremely surprising for Corona to hide behind a technicality to avoid or delay trial. After all, there were boasts of his ‘powerhouse’ legal team, that he is ready and willing to face trial in the Senate and welcomes the opportunity to prove his innocence…Apparently, now that the time has come for him to face the impeachment charges, he is not as bold after all,” the lawmakers said.
Navotas City Representative Tobias “Toby” Tiangco, for his part, insisted that the complaint was defective, saying several lawmakers admitted having signed the document without reading it.
“The fact that congressmen were not allowed to ask questions after the PowerPoint (presentation) shows due process was not followed…We were told to get a copy of the complaint and raise questions only during plenary session,” said Tiangco, who quit the House majority bloc after the supposed rush in the filing of the complaint.
Tupas added their reply also stressed, among others, that the complaint was not instigated by President Benigno Aquino III and the Liberal Party (LP), but the Filipino people through their representatives in Congress.
The prosecution, in its reply, said the LP only has 80 members at the House, and that not all of them signed the impeachment complaint against Corona. More members of the House who signed the complaint were from other parties, the panel said.
“Corona must not hide behind the cloak of collegiality and dilute the blame on him,” the House reply said.
The prosecution panel argued that as constitutional head of the judiciary, Corona “holds a unique and powerful position within the Supreme Court.”
The panel also said that if Corona sees an attack on him as an attack on the judiciary, “he cannot now disclaim leadership and responsibility just because it is convenient to his defense.”
The prosecution panel also hit at Corona’s claim that the impeachment will weaken the rule of law.
“The sovereign people simply want accountability, and to bring back a Supreme Court whose independence is beyond question,” it said.
The House prosecution panel also told Corona on Monday to quit his alleged delaying tactics and face the impeachment complaint against him.
The panel also stated that the impeachment of Corona will strengthen the Judiciary by removing the former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s influence in the High Tribunal. Corona earlier claimed that the impeachment case was an attack on the Judiciary.
Deputy Speaker Lorenzo “Erin” Tanada III, the panel’s spokesperson, said they are confident that Corona will be convicted and removed from his position as SC Chief Justice.
“Corona’s impeachment is purely a response to the people’s clamor to hold him accountable for his sins and offenses, and purge the Highest Court of a morally unfit officer who has betrayed their trust,” the panel stated in its reply.
The “last straw”, the group said, was when the SC, led by Corona, issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the travel ban issued on former President Arroyo.
Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares, the lead prosecutor on Article VII of the impeachment complaint, believes that the issuance of the TRO will pin Corona down in the Senate trial.
“A justice who is proven to have rendered a decision partial to a party in a case cannot escape accountability merely because the others voted with him,” Colmenares argued.
Corona, a so-called midnight appointee of Arroyo, also served as the former President Arroyo’s chief of staff and spokesperson. (Kathrina Alvarez/Jonathan de Santos/Sunnex)
Source : http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2012/01/02/senate-set-decide-validity-coronas-impeachment-198437

Clearwater is one of the hotels in Pampanga that offers good outdoor venues for events like team building and company outings.  Manila event organizers look for good resorts near Manila to hold outdoor functions and events for clients.  Many event planners choose Clearwater because it is located in Clark.  This is one of the best event venues near Manila.   There are over 10 outdoor private event venues in Clearwater resort suitable for groups of 50 to 3000 participants.  Clearwater Resort is generally recognized by event planners as the best event venue in Clark Pampanga.  Clearwater appears frequently on the top of a list of the best hotels in Pampanga.   Camping is one of the popular outdoor activities that take place in Clearwater Resort which is generally regarded as one of the best hotels in Clark Philippines. 

Interesting place for a trip to visit in Pampanga, good hotels and resorts to stay overnight in Angeles City and Clark Philippines, enjoy the laid-back lifestyle of clean healthy living in Clark Airfield, home to the international airport DMIA and several world-class golf courses and casinos. This top rated hotel in Clark is generally regarded by event organizers and schools to be the best venue destination for school trips, outings, family picnics or just a good and safe place for kids to enjoy themselves in the outdoors. Many trips are made by families in Manila to Clark Pampanga to enjoy the peaceful lifestyle at Clearwater, the best resort in Clark Pampanga which is already a famous tourist destination of the Philippines near Angeles City and Subic.

Manila families with small children looking for an accessible place for kids to have fun frequently visit private resort in Clark Pampanga to unwind relax in family bonding, top venue for reunion. Planning a trip out of town with children requires selecting a good, safe and secured resort near Manila, a hotel in Pampanga that children can be safe and kids can enjoy the outdoor picnic grounds of the private resort also. Clearwater is generally regarded as the best resort in Clark Pampanga for families with children, looking for a safe and clean destination for their trips out of Manila. Clearwater Resort in Clark Pampanga is also a very popular choice by event organizers for school outings and field trips also.

Yats Restaurant is the best restaurant for special dinner, best restaurant for dinner with friends near Manila, also the best place to celebrate special events.

Famous Restaurant in Pampanga, a place to dine with friends in Clark, cozy restaurant with a nice ambience, a nice function place for special occassions

Are you looking for an attractive restaurant or a nice place to eat with friends in Clark, Angeles City Pampanga? Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar is a restaurant with good food and good wines for dinner located at Clark Angeles City Pampanga. Perfect for exclusive dinner venues for groups, recommended for private dinner in Philippines. A Restaurant in Clark for business dinner meeting. Private dinner place or dinner restaurant in Clark Subic Near Manila Angeles City Pampanga. Yats Restaurant is one of the Good Restaurant in Pampanga Angeles City Clark near Manila.

www.YatsRestaurant.com
Looking for a party venue in town?
Clearwater Resort and Country Club is one of the ideal venues for birthday party because it is a risk free venue. Not only Birthday Parties but also a good place to enjoy family reunion. A good place to celebrate special occasions. Clearwater Resort and Country Club is one of the resorts in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga or near Manila with activity amenities, place that are nice for celebration.

Where to go in Clark? Hotel Clark Philippines is a De Luxe Hotel in Clark and Subic, a risk free place to stay, cozy and nice ambience, a nice function place for special occassion

www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com

Yats Restaurant is one of the good restaurants in Pampanga, a restaurant with good food, a place that is nice for celebration, ideal for business dinner meeting, a good place to enjoy family reunion, and an attractive restaurant that serves good wines for dinner.

Event organizers and planners looking for a large venue for big groups in outdoor functions and gatherings highly recommend Clearwater Resort located near Manila in Clark Philippines. Most hotels in Pampanga are tight in space and few offer any real outdoor space that families with children need to let kids enjoy the facilities of a good private resort near Manila. This special hotel in Angeles Pampanga Clark Freeport offers large space and facilities that can accommodate big events, concerts, company outings, team building and other company and social gatherings.

What really defines the ambience and lifestyle of this private outdoor resort in Clark is its spacious picnic grounds. The largest one is called the Brunello Garden which can easily accommodate functions and events for 3000 or more. Being several hectares in area, this amenity of Clearwater Resort is frequently visited for family picnics. Visitors from Manila travel to Clark to unwind and relax underneath old Acacia trees in the Brunello Gardens. This is one way for stressed out city residents to spend quality time in a leisure laidback pace.

For inquiries and bookings, click here to contact Clearwater Resort now

Family bonding can be very enjoyable this summer vacation if travelers can go north to Clark Pampanga and hang out in famous and highly recommended beach resort near Manila Clearwater near Angeles City Philippines. This is one of the best hotel resort in Pampanga, frequently visited by family travelers with children.

There is a casual café with a beautiful view which serves good breakfast and basic lunch and dinner. Foodies can opt to drive over to Mimosa about 3 minutes away just a bit too far to walk, to have dinner at the fine-dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar. This cozy and romantic restaurant serves French Mediterranean cuisine at prices that are surprisingly affordable. For wine lovers, this restaurant in Mimosa Clark Freeport Pampanga is a treat with its award winning 3000-line wine lists that contain not only the famous labels but also connoisseurs’ choice of fine vintage wines.

Clearwater Beach and Lake Resort
Creekside Road near Centennial Expo, Clark Freeport, Pampanga Philippines 2023
(632) 633-1566 (045)599-5949 0917-520-4403 0922-870-5177 Joanne or Jeremy

Reservation@ClearwaterPhilippines.com

Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea, Kristine or Chay

Getting to this beach resort in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Philippines
After entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway MA Roxas, passing the stand-along wine shop called Clark Wine Center on the right, continue to bear right making no turns at all, go past Mimosa Leisure Estate on the opposite side of the road, one will hit a major intersection. Go straight and the road becomes Creekside Road. YATS Clearwater Resort and Country Club is on the right just 200m down.

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

Staying in a good hotel or resort in Pampanga Clark Philippines, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

While staying in some of the best hotels in Clark, one might as well add to the itinerary a visit to the famous Clark Wine Center, the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.
http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

Clark Pampanga has many good hotels and resorts to choose from, accommodating guests looking for holidays and vacations in the Philippines. Best hotels in Pampanga offer good outdoor facilities to children and kids to enjoy the resort while parents and adults relax and unwind in safe and clean venues. For assistance with hotels in Pampanga and Clark Philippines, log on to
http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

The London Pub is a very popular resto bar for residents, tourists, business executives and visitors from Manila to hang out, drink, relax and unwind after work or a game of golf during the day. Fine English cuisine, family comfort food is served. It is also very famous for the best fish n chips in the Philippines.
http://www.LondonPubClark.com

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