QUEZON City, Philippines (Eagle News) — Malacañang on Tuesday denied allegations President Rodrigo Duterte had a hand in the ouster of Liberal Party senators and their ally from committee chairmanships and the president pro-tempore post.
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said the President was unlike former President Benigno Aquino III, who used his position to remove a sitting Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
Panelo was referring to then-Chief Justice Renato Corona, who was impeached in 2012 for his supposed failure to disclose his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.
Twenty senators then found Corona guilty of betraying the public trust and committing a culpable violation of the Constitution, charges that were lodged against him by the House of Representatives on Dec. 12, 2011.
These senators were Edgardo Angara, Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Frankin Drilon, Francis Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, Teofisto Guingona III, Gregorio Honasan, Panfilo Lacson, Lito Lapid, Loren Legarda, Sergio Osmeña III, Francis Pangilinan, Aquilino Pimentel III, Ralph Recto, Ramon Revilla, Vicente Sotto III, Antonio Trillanes IV, Manuel Villar, and then-Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.
