Judged by a High School undergrad!
By Boyetski
@Boyetski (986)
Philippines
June 4, 2012 10:22am CST
After a 5 month journey of the Impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, Chief Justice of the supreme court of the Republic of the Philippines, the judgement day has come. The judgement will come from the 23 senators of the country. Almost all of the senators have an amazingly decorated speech on explaining why they vote to convict or to acquit.
There's one senator that boast about what she achieved from school, from professional practice and so fort. Others have so much technical knowledge about the law that a layman will have trouble understanding.
But this one senator admittedly have not finished school, not a lawyer and have limited knowledge and understanding about the law yet has the capacity to convict or acquit the highest magistrate of the supreme court of the Philippines.
He explains why he has to convict CJ Corona. Roughly he said that even though he did not finished school and knows nothing about LAWS he can still use his common sense in understanding the evidence and CONSCIENCE to pick the right decision. As he adds up to the 20 votes to convict, the question remains, is it an insult to the lawyers that an undergraduate Judged a Chief Justice...
2 responses
@chan2zexy (508)
• Philippines
4 Jun 12
The people voted for Senator Lapid. Whether we like it or not, his vote counts. If I were in CJ Corona's shoes, I will definitely feel insulted. Knowing CJ Corona's academic achievements. I wasn't able to watch the live coverage. I don't know if basing on one's conscience is enough to convict CJ Corona or not.
1 person likes this
@adee28 (32)
• Philippines
6 Jun 12
Evidence for what offense.. specifically? I thought technically he was guilty of not properly declaring his SALN based on his own testimony. He admitted to it. The senators only have to judge if it is right to remove the chief justice based on this simple violation.
I believe conscience is very subjective and it wouldn't be wise to expect a judge or court to base their decisions on this.
@globalwide (97)
• United States
5 Jun 12
I have no claim to know or understand Philippine politics or laws, not even those of the United States. Although I understand that Philippine law and constitution was based on US Constitution and it's laws. Whether that be the case or not, your question of whether Chief Justice Renato Corona would be insulted by a high school graduate poses an interesting question.
I would consider that a moot issue. Senators are not appointed they are elected to office here in America, as is the case in the Philippines. Also there is no requirement for a senator in America to be a lawyer, which again is also the case in the Philippines.
Senators are elected officials by the people they represent and are the voice of the people. They create laws on behalf of the citizens of their countries and on occasions may introduce bills to impeach public officials. I believe that Chief Justice Corona would concur, and to assume that the lack of academics would somehow berate and impose censure on such an individual would in fact be more insulting to the people whom a Senator serves. Corona would be foolish to claim insult to a system of government that he was appointed to serve.
