PNoy Admits Meeting Senators in Corona Impeachment

President Benigno Aquino III admitted on Tuesday that he met other senators aside from Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., who lambasted Aquino during his privilege speech on Monday saying the president personally asked him to vote for Corona’s conviction in 2012.

Aquino said he met with other senators to talk about the impeachment case of then Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona. He said he met with Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Teofisto Guingona III, and Ralph Recto.

Aquino quickly said that he met with the senators-judges only to verify reports that they (senators) were being pressured for votes during the impeachment trial of the former chief justice.

Aquino added he wanted to “lessen” the pressure on the senator-judges during the impeachment hearing.

“Napakaraming reports na confirmed na may mga sector na ang bigat nung pressure na ineexert dito sa mga senador para i-decide ang kaso hindi sa merito ng kaso … parang ang daming sinasabi na i-exhonorate mo si Corona at ito ang mapapala ninyo,” Aquino said.

Aquino also said he wanted to ensure that senator-judges will decide on the merit of the case (impeachment) rather than from outside factors. “What i was trying to do was basically to ensure that they decide on the merits of the case rather than any outside factor,” he said.

“Tama ba naman na tatabi na lang ako habang lahat itong mga sektor na ito eh talagang nananakot namemressure, kung anu-anong ginagawa dun sa mga senador? Palagay ko naman natural lang na itanong ko sa kanila, i-confirm ko at maparamdam ko naman sa kanila na mayroong handang sumuporta sa kanila,” Aquino said.

Source: Gma News Online