Nation divided on CJ

Survey Has No Bearing – Senators

MANILA, Philippines — Forty-seven percent of Filipinos believe that Chief Justice Renato C. Corona is guilty of the charges against him, while 43 percent cannot categorically say whether the chief magistrate is guilty or not, a Pulse Asia survey result released Tuesday revealed.

The survey drew mixed reactions. The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, says it has no bearing when they will decide on the impeachment case.

But the prosecution panel from the House of Representatives welcomed it, saying it was proof that it submitted substantial evidence against Corona, while Supreme Court Spokesman and Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez branded it as premature.

The survey, conducted February 26 to March 9 with 1,200 respondents nationwide, also showed that 5 percent say the Chief Justice is innocent, while 5 percent of the respondents have no response.

In that particular survey, the respondents were asked: “Sa mga ipinaparatang na pagkakasala kay Chief Justice Renato C. Corona, masasabi ba ninyo na siya ay (Of the charges Chief Justice Renato Corona is accused of, would you say that he is)… innocent (definitely innocent or probably innocent); or guilty (probably guilty or definitely guilty)?”

Of those who believed the SC Chief Justice is guilty, 15 percent said they are certain about his guilt, while the rest said he is probably guilty.

Of the 5 percent who believe Corona is innocent, 4 percent said he is probably innocent and 1 percent said he is definitely innocent.

Pulse Asia noted that practically same percentages across geographic areas (Metro Manila, rest of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao) and socio-economic classes (upper to middle class ABC, masa or class D, and the poorest class E) either think the Chief Justice is guilty (from 37 to 52 percent).

Almost all areas and classes also expressed indecision on the matter (43 to 48 percent).

However, the survey found that 54 percent of respondents in Mindanao said Corona is guilty, while significantly fewer residents (31 percent) were undecided on the matter.

Concerning how senator-judges will hand down their verdict, respondents were asked: “There are some people who believe and those who doubt that the senators who will judge the impeachment case of Chief Justice Corona will be fair. Of the following, which one is the closest to your own view? Will be fair and will not favor any one or will not be fair and will favor someone, or you don’t know.”

In this category, 69 percent believe that the senators will be fair and will not favor anyone when they finally decide on the impeachment case against Corona. Pulse Asia said this is the majority sentiment in all geographic areas (63 to 74 percent) and socio-economic groupings (66 to 71 percent).

Twenty-two percent said the senator-judges will not be fair, a view that is more pronounced in Mindanao (30 percent) than in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon (18 to 19 percent). Nine percent were undecided.

Filipinos Convinced

The prosecution spokespersons said the survey results only showed that most Filipinos are convinced that prosecutors had presented overwhelming evidence to warrant the removal from office of the country’s top magistrate.

“It only shows that the people monitoring the impeachment proceedings are convinced by the evidence presented by the prosecution,” Deputy Speaker Erin Tañada said. “This shows that the evidence that we’ve presented is substantial to sway the minds of the people that the Chief Justice is guilty,” he added.

Rep. Romero Quimbo, another prosecution spokesman, said the survey was a reflection of the sentiment of the public.

“The Chief Justice is accused of betrayal of public trust and the operative word there is the public, and it is important how we see the public in a snap shot,” Quimbo pointed out.

Marquez noted that the survey was done ahead of the presentation of the defense panel.

“It’s premature because the impeachment case is still pending. We don’t know the basis of the respondents in saying that he’s guilty or innocent. The defense isn’t through yet,” Marquez said.

“I hope it is not taken and released to influence the senator-judges from deciding one way or the other,” he said.

No Bearing

Although the survey showed that the Corona issue has divided the nation, senators said public opinion would have no bearing on how the impeachment court will decide whether to acquit or convict the Chief Justice.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, presiding officer of the court, said no amount of public surveys can influence how the impeachment body will decide on Corona’s case.

“I will decide it according to the evidence and nothing more,” Enrile said.

“If we are to rely on surveys to convict or not convict a person charged in our courts, then we do not need the courts. All we have to do is conduct surveys whenever somebody is charged,” the Senate leader added.

To prove his point, Enrile cited the death of Jesus Christ as the “classic case of surveys” wherein public opinion was the basis for his judgment.

“I’m not concerned about surveys when it concerns the administration of justice. We are administering justice here and the classic case of surveys that was wrong is the man on the cross who was the product of a survey,” Enrile said.

He was judged by a survey and until now people are worshipping him,” Enrile said.

“The culpability of the chief justice will not be determined by surveys or by public opinion. It will be decided by the senator-judges individually and collectively,” said Sen. Gregorio Honasan II.

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III also agreed that senator-judges are the ones that would evaluate the merits of the case and thus should not be pressured by public opinion.

Meanwhile, the prosecution strongly opposed the request of the defense panel to subpoena the statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth of President Benigno S. Aquino III, Senate President Enrile, House chief prosecutor Rep. Niel Tupas Jr., Vice President Jejomar Binay, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, Senators. Edgardo Angara, Manny Villar, Miriam Defensor Santiago, Joker Arroyo, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Health Secretary Enrique Ona, Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio De los Reyes, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson, Tourisim Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas, and his predecessor Jose de Jesus, Presidential Legal Counsel Eduardo de Mesa, National Anti-Poverty Commission Chairman Jose “Joel” Rocamora, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino, Civil Service Commission Francisco Duque, Commission on Elections Chairman Sixto Brillantes, and former Commission on Audit Chairman Reynaldo Villar. (With a report from Rey G. Panaligan) –ELLALYN B. DE VERA, HANNAH L. TORREGOZA, and ROLLY T. CARANDANG, Manila Bulletin