"Kamatayan lang. Kung gusto nilang tanggalin ako dito, patayin nila ako," Corona said when asked what it would take for him to resign his post.
He added that his own life is a small sacrifice to defend the institution that he serves.
Corona will go on trial at the Senate today after being accused of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution and graft and corruption.He is the first chief justice of the country to be impeached.
Former justice undersecretary Ramon Esguerra, a member of Corona's defense team, said the embattled chief justice is leaving the trial up to God but is determined to clear his name.
"He leaves it to God but he is determined to fight this out and clear his name and be able to tell our people that he is hiding nothing from them and he respects the process and the institution that will try him and he will meet all the allegations against him head on," he said.
Esguerra said public perception will play a major role in the impeachment trial, noting that Corona had been prejudged even before the trial.
He also said the defense panel wants Corona to appear in the trial so he could face his accusers. He said 12 defense lawyers will attend the trial.
Corona has enlisted the help of the country's legal luminaries to defend himself, including a retired Supreme Court justice, who will be pitted against an 11-member prosecution team backed by 59 volunteer private prosecutors. Esguerra said 12 of some 30 members of the defense team will attend the trial.
The prosecutors have said they would like to wrap up their case in three weeks, in an effort to achieve a quick ruling.
Presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte said the impeachment trial was evidence of "a vigorous democracy at work" and showed the government was prepared to use the law to hold public officials to account.
Corona Name 3 persons who want him out
Chief Justice Renato Corona on Monday admitted that he is a roadblock to 3 different people, whom he said are gunning for his removal as the country's top magistrate.
Hours before the historic impeachment trial at the Senate, Corona faced his supporters anew at the Supreme Court, saying he will stand firm against those who would want to bring down the independence of the judiciary.
He cited 3 who want him removed from office because of their alleged hidden agendas.
He said the first person wanted to stop the distribution of the Hacienda Luisita to landless farmers in Tarlac. He earlier accused Malacanang, especially the President’s allies at the Liberal Party, of planning his ouster from office after the Supreme Court decided to distribute to the farmers the sugar estate in Tarlac.
He said he is also a roadblock to a person "who really wants to be vice-president by 2016 but lost the election in 2010."
Finally, he said he is opposed to a person that "wants to be chief justice before 2018."
In his speech, Corona denied that he owns 45 real estate properties which were allegedly acquired when he joined the Supreme Court in 2002. He said he only owns 5 real estate properties.
He also criticized those who questioned his doctorate from the University of Santo Tomas, saying that his critics are just jealous.
The impeachment trial comes at a time when the 2013 election is nearing. Some quarters are saying that the odds are against Corona since some re-electionists would not want to go against popular votes.
If he is not acquitted, Corona may serve until 2018. This early, however, Malacanang already wants a shortlist of his replacement. Sources said the list includes the names of Senior Justice Antonio Carpio and Justice Lourdes Sereno.
source: ABS-CBNNews.com
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