MANILA, Philippines - Ousted chief justice Renato Corona feels vindicated by the claim of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) had offered P50 million each to several senators after his conviction.
In a text message to The STAR last night, Corona said: “I thank God for the vindication he had given me today.â€
Corona said he was not surprised at the revelation, adding that Estrada merely confirmed what he and many Filipinos had known all along.
“Since the start, I have said that the allegations of Malacañang against me are not true and all they said about me were lies,†he said.
Speaking from his hospital bed, Corona said he knew the truth would eventually come out.
“The exposé of Senator Estrada about what really happened during my impeachment trial is clear that the ouster of the chief justice was a violation of the Constitution,†he said. Corona said his impeachment trial was a sham, and that it arose from the decision of the Supreme Court under his leadership to distribute the Cojuangco-owned Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac to farmers.
“This vindictive regime has continued to harass and persecute me and my family, using the entire government machinery and resources against one man who dared stand up to it,†hesaid.