Arroyo ally defends guilty verdict on Corona

MANILA -- Some Lakas-CMD members have been surprised by his guilty verdict on ousted Chief Justice Renato Corona but Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. said he never allowed anyone to influence his decision.

Revilla cast the deciding 16th vote last Tuesday as Corona, a perceived ally of the senator's party-mate ex-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, was forced to vacate his position in light of the charge that he failed to properly disclose his cash assets.

"My vote is a personal decision based on my own understanding and study of the pieces of evidence submitted to the impeachment court, as well as of the testimonies of the witnesses and of the accused himself. No one influenced me in rendering that verdict, not even my party," the senator said.

On Wednesday, House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez said he had conveyed to Revilla the adverse position of Lakas-CMD on the impeachment trial. He said, however, that Revilla’s decision should not be taken as the sentiment of the party, which he heads.

"It was one of toughest decision in my life but I have no regrets when I made that decision," Revilla said.

Arroyo, former chairman of Lakas-CMD, might have expressed sadness over Corona's ouster, according to Suarez.

The former leader, currently detained for a poll sabotage case, has yet to issue a statement on the matter.

Corona was appointed by Arroyo as Associate Justice in April 2002 and Chief Justice in May 2010, or weeks before she was mandated to step down from office. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)