The horrible style of Article II
The heading of Article II of the Impeachment Complaint against Chief Justice Renato Corona, in all caps and in bold, states: “RESPONDENT COMMITTED CULPABLE VIOLATION OF THE CONSTITUTION AND/OR BETRAYED THE PUBLIC TRUST WHEN HE FAILED TO DISCLOSE TO THE PUBLIC HIS STATEMENT OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND NET WORTH AS REQUIRED UNDER SEC. 17, ART. XI OF THE 1987 CONSTITUTION.”
The body, on the other hand, has four paragraphs: Par. 2.1 recites Article XI, Section 17 of the Constitution; Par. 2.2 alleges failure “to disclose to the public his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth as required by the Constitution”; Par. 2.3 alleges that “it is reported that some of the properties of Respondent are not included in his declaration of assets, liabilities and net worth...
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Viva Vidal
Supreme Court Clerk of Court, lawyer Enriqueta Esguerra Vidal, deserves everyone’s congratulations and the country’s gratitude.  She demonstrated last January 18^th during her testimony before the impeachment court trying the case against Chief Justice Renato C. Corona that she was, in the manner of St. Thomas More, the court’s good servant, but the law’s first.   Click for Complete Article
 

Betrayal of Public Trust: Views from the High Court
Looking to the decisions so far rendered by the Supreme Court to shed light on the meaning of “betrayal of public trust”, as a ground for impeachment, is not very encouraging.  Despite the many cases mentioning the phrase, no decision can be pointed to that fixes its precise metes and bounds. 
Examples of breach of trust abound, such as engaging by a public official in a marital relationship with a private contractor bidding for projects handled by his office, or borrowing by a superior officer of money at concessional rates from a subordinate and thereafter refusing to pay the debt contracted and offering the subordinate support for her promotion, but no case have I found that deals precisely on what constitutes betrayal by an officer removable only by impeachment and conviction.  Click for Complete Article
 

Betrayal of Public Trust: the framers’ intent
Seven of the eight articles of impeachment filed against Chief Justice Corona cites as basis “betrayal of public trust”.  What exactly is “betrayal of public trust”?
The 1935 Constitution, in Section 1 of its Article IX of on Impeachment stated, as grounds for removal on impeachment only “culpable violation of the constitution, treason, bribery, or other high crimes.”  The 1973 Constitution, in Section 2 of its Article XIII on Accountability of Public Officers, added a fifth, namely, “graft and corruption.” “Betrayal of public trust” was the latest addition to the grounds that was effect by 1987 Constitution (the current constitution) in Section 2 of its article on Accountability of Public Officers, renumbered as Article XI. Click for Complete Article