“I will say this very frankly and I hope they (SC justices) understand and if they will question the jurisdiction of the impeachment court and reverse our decision, we will defy them. Who will enforce their order? “ Enrile said in an ANC interview.
He added that the impeachment proceedings were outside the jurisdiction of the judiciary and that the senators only fulfilled the mandate given to them by the 1987 Constitution.
“In fact I told the lawyers of the defense when the Chief Justice walked out, ‘If you want to create a revolution, start now and go to the street.' We must temper the law with certain degree of compassion but there must be a firm hand in order to maintain the balance between competing forces,” Enrile said.
Enrile also admitted that without Corona’s admission that he has undeclared $2.4 million and P80 million deposits, it would have been “very difficult” to convict Corona.
Enrile and 19 other senators found Corona guilty of Article 2 (failure to declare all assets in the statements of assets, liabilities and net worth) of the impeachment articles filed by the House of Representatives. Only three senators -- Miriam Defensor Santiago, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Joker Arroyo -- voted for themagistrate's acquittal.
Even before Corona’s walkout from the witness stand the first time he testified in court, Enrile revealed that he had anticipated that such an incident could take place. After his more than three hours of opening statement last week, Corona left the witness stand without permission from Enrile.
The defense counsels said Corona, a diabetic, felt unwell owing to low-blood sugar.
“I studied this case more than the prosecutors and the defense did. I studied the possibility [of a walkout] and I instructed the Senate sergeant-at-arms that in the event of any commotion, any disturbance, any effort on the part of anyone to walk out of the court room, to restore order and to close all gates so I issued the order to close all gates,” Enrile said.
The Senate president also disclosed that he had kept a list in his wallet that categorized senators who would vote for Corona’s conviction, acquittal as well as those who were “uncommitted”.
Enrile’s list showed that he listed nine senators to vote a “guilty verdict”, three to acquit Corona and nine as undecided.
“I had this a long time in my wallet. I made this list during the trial. Turned out that the three senators [who acquitted Corona], I was right here and quite right here [those who voted to convict], “ Enrile said. He said he listed himself as “uncommitted”.
