Press Release
June 5, 2012

Senate cites Enrile for outstanding leadership in Corona impeachment trial

Senators presented to Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile this afternoon a resolution commending him for able leadership as presiding officer in the recently-concluded impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Senate Resolution No. 89, which was based on a privilege speech delivered by Senate Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada last Wednesday (May 30), cited Enrile for his "his resolute, diligent, impartial and just leadership as presiding officer of the Senate sitting as an impeachment court in the matter of the impeachment trial of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court."

In his short response after receiving a copy of the resolution, Enrile said he was "greatly humbled" by opportunity to preside over the Corona impeachment trial which he said, "had such immense historical importance."

For him, Enrile added, it was a "huge honour to serve in this great Senate as the Senate President, let alone preside over the impeachment trial of the third highest official in the land".

He also took the opportunity to admit responsibility for "whatever mistakes I have committed" during the trial, but clarified that he did so "without the slightest of malice."

The Senate President said the holding of the impeachment trial was a historic victory of the country's democratic and legal infrastructure. "In this corner of the world, there is a country, no matter how small, which can render impartial justice," he said.

The resolution said Enrile's "deep, extensive knowledge of the law, the rules and procedures on impeachment trials, the rules of evidence and the rules of court, among others, has enabled him to distil arguments and issues in the impeachment trial patiently but resolutely, liberally but with impartiality;"

"Although as Presiding Officer, he was authorized to rule on all questions of evidence, including, but not limited to, questions of materiality, relevancy, competency or admissibility of evidence, the Senate President showed humility as he sought the counsel of other senator-judges before handing down important rulings in the impeachment trial, the resolution added.

"Knowing that the results of the trial will have an impact on the entire nation, his sound judgment and masterful handling of the impeachment trial has shown our people and the world that Philippine democracy is vibrant, with credible systems of checks and balances, and of public accountability in government properly in place, the resolution further said.

The resolution also said "taking on the solemn task that the sovereign people, through the Constitution, have vested in the Senate as the only institution with the sole power to try and decide all cases of impeachment, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile deftly presided over the conduct of the historic impeachment trial of the Chief Justice4 of the Supreme Court that began on December 14, 2011, with proper decorum, diligence and wisdom."

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