Enrile: Corona trial took toll on me

MANILA, Philippines - More than a year since the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile admitted yesterday that the process took its toll on him on an emotional level.

Speaking at the launch of three books commemorating the historic event yesterday, Enrile once again defended the outcome of the trial, which he said was accepted by everyone.

A coffee table book entitled “The Honor of the Senate – 44 Days of an Impeachment Trial” was written by Palanca Awards for Literature hall of famer, lawyer Nicolas Pichay, who serves as the director of the legislative research office of the Senate.

It was launched alongside two booklets: “The Senate Vote” and “45 Prayers of the Impeachment Court,” detailing the individual votes cast by the senator-judges and their explanations and the prayers they delivered over the course of the trial.

Senate Secretary Emma Lirio-Reyes said the books would only be available to the Senate itself and to other government agencies.

Enrile commended the House of Representatives, led by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., for their “industry, assiduousness and care in crafting the articles of impeachment and assembling the evidence that led to the conviction of the respondent in this case.”

Battle within

With the members of the prosecution team from the House present, Enrile said that he, as the “accidental and fortunate presiding officer” of that trial, was faced with a battle within himself.

Enrile did not hide that he was acquainted with Corona and even considered the former chief justice as a friend.

“I must tell you that there were moments when I was torn between the emotional pressure of friendship and the demands of duty to country and to God,” Enrile said.

“There were many pressures that were made to bear on us, not only from friends, from supporters and from other adversaries but from various sectors of our society that almost tend to really shatter our capability to withstand the rigors of close affinities with the persons involved,” he added.

However, Enrile said that prayers, coupled with conscience and conviction allowed the senators, who served as judges, and the congressmen, who served as the prosecutors, to “withstand the pressure and render true justice.”