The impeachment of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona was invoked by House Committee on Human Rights Chairman Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. of Manila as he underscored the weight of the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) issue in the fourth impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte.

An endorser of the fourth impeachment complaint against Duterte, Abante pointed to the Corona case as proof that accountability mechanisms hinge on compliance with constitutional requirements.

“During the time of Chief Justice Corona, isa lang naman nakapag-convict sa kanya… He was not able to declare all his assets in his SALN,” Abante said, recalling the precedent set by the Senate impeachment court in 2012.

Corona was convicted after the Senate voted 20–3 under Article II of the Articles of Impeachment for culpable violation of the Constitution, citing his failure to declare $2 million and P80 million in deposits in his SALN.

The Manila lawmaker raised the comparison as he discussed allegations in the complaint, including the alleged “failure to truthfully and fully declare assets, liabilities and net worth.”

For Abante, impeachment proceedings — while political in structure — must ultimately be anchored on proof.

“The impeachment proceeding is political … but it is about evidence, it’s about facts,” Abante said.

He stressed that the process should not be reduced to partisan maneuvering, adding that lawmakers and senators must weigh the evidence presented.

The solon said that, as in previous impeachments, the outcome will depend on whether the allegations are supported by sufficient facts.

“If there’s enough evidence, there’s enough facts and there’s enough evidence to warrant the impeachment of the vice president, so be it,” Abante said.

Abante reiterated that the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, will ultimately determine the merits of the case, while members of the House will serve as prosecutors.