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MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/29 May) – Being an ally of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, many had expected him to vote for the acquittal of impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona.
But Senator-Judge Lito Lapid, saying he simply followed his conscience, judged Corona guilty of culpable violation of the constitution by submitting inaccurate statements of assets, liabilities and net worth.
“Ang ginamit ko lamang po dito ay konsensiya,” he said, adding he did not have a prepared explanation of vote.
In voting for conviction, Lapid said he was convinced by the closing arguments of Congressman Rodolfo Farinas that Corona’s explanation why he did not declare all his assets was just “palusot” (lame excuse).
The senator said the decision was hard on his part as he took his oath of office before the chief justice after winning his second term as senator.
Sounding self-effacing, Lapid said he felt awkward that a high school graduate like himself should judge the highest official of the judiciary.
“Pasensiya na po, pasensiya na po, pasensiya na po,” (I’m sorry) he said before declaring his guilty verdict. (H. Marcos C. Mordeno/MindaNews)
