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Bacolod City, PhilippinesMonday, May 28, 2012
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Editorial

And now the end is near

Daily Star logo
Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.
NINFA R. LEONARDIA
Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ
Editor

CHERYL CRUZ
Desk Editor
PATRICK PANGILINAN
Busines Editor

NIDA A. BUENAFE

Sports Editor
RENE GENOVE
Bureau Chief, Dumaguete
MAJA P. DELY
Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA
Administrative Officer

Anytime now, we may know the result of the impeachment trial of the country’s Chief Justice of the Supreme Court that had been triggered by the overwhelming vote of the House of Representatives who initially filed eight complaints against him.

The hearing that was held in the Senate, with its members acting as judges, as ordered by the Constitution, had been going on for more than 40 days, during which witnesses from both the prosecution, represented by the accusing members of the House of Representatives, and the defense, that included some of the country’s top trial lawyers and a former justice himself, were grilled on what they know about the charges against the Chief Justice, and presentation of evidences, both for and against him.

The Senate-Court will be winding up the case today and possibly until tomorrow, after which its members will vote on whether the respondent deserves to remain in office or not.

The hearings had climaxed with the appearance of the accused himself which, apparently, had only muddled matters because of his behavior, particularly during his first appearance.

As far as the prosecution is concerned, they are focusing only on three articles out of the eight they originally included. These were the ones they probably believe had the strongest points against the Chief Justice. These are his failure to disclose his statement of assets, liabilities and networth which they claim was a betrayal of public trust; his having allowed the Supreme Court to act on the basis of a mere letter from a lawyer that made it flip-flop on the case of Philippine Airlines employees and management; and his alleged granting of a temporary restraining order that would have allowed former President Gloria Arroyo, who appointed him, to leave the country and avoid prosecution after charges had been filed against her.

Both lawyers and non-lawyers in the country have aired their opinions on this celebrated case, a rare one because the decision of the Senate-Court will be a final one. The whole country, and probably, even the international community, will see how the Philippine Senators will deal with this case and what it will mean to the reputation of our judiciary.*


Email: visayandailystar@yahoo.com