"It is our obligation and responsibility to closely and diligently examine the evidence and the facts presented before us, to determine whether such evidence and facts sufficiently and convincingly support the charges, and ultimately, to decide the fate of no less than the Chief Justice of the Highest Court of the land, and the head of a co-equal branch of our government... the conduct of this trial and its outcome will necessarily have a serious impact on the entire nation. Its success or failure to achieve the purpose for which the Constitution has provided this mechanism as part of our system of checks and balances and of public accountability, may spell the success or failure of our democratic institutions, the strengthening or weakening of our sense of justice as a people, our stability or disintegration as a nation, and the triumph or demise of the rule of law in our land.” (Excerpt from the Opening Statement of Senate Pres. Juan Ponce Enrile as Presiding Officer of the Senate, sitting as an Impeachment Court, to try and decide on the impeachment case against Chief Justice Corona.)