Impeachment: The Process Is More Important Than The Outcome

Or more exactly, it is how all parties stick to the rules that are supposed to guide the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

After watching the first few days of the impeachment trial, I've come across some pretty lame descriptions of what should be a serious deliberation over facts and laws.  Some described the developments in the impeachment trial in terms more appropriate to the sport of basketball or boxing.  But what is more disturbing is that some observers have given up any pretense of being neutral and objective, and have taken to cheering or booing for one side or another.

What it all looks like is a bunch of squatters egging on two people who've decided to slug it out in the middle of the "looban".

Years ago, in the Senate, one senator observed that elections in the US and Europe often terminated with the losers openly declaring support for the winning party or personality.  In the Philippines, he observed, the losing party always declares himself cheated and brands the victor a cheater.

Now, considering all of this, I think things are the way they are in the Philippines because most people are ignorant or doubtful of the rules that guide processes such as impeachment trials and elections.  What most probably understand better are fight analogies, where there should be a winner and a loser,