At least three senators, including Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, maintained on Tuesday that the guilty verdict handed to then-Chief Justice Renato Corona cannot be appealed before the Supreme Court. "Our position is that our judgment is not appealable and I don't think they can show that we violated any rule or that we abused our discretion," Enrile, who presided over the trial, told reporters. He issued the statement after former Assemblyman Homobono Adaza and lawyer Alan Paguia asked the Supreme Court to hold oral arguments for and against the guilty verdict of the Senate last week. Enrile said everyone is entitled to go to the Supreme Court but that from their understanding, their decision cannot be appealed. He specifically cited Section 3 (6) of Article XI of the 1987 Constitution which states: "The Senate shall have the sole power to try and decide all cases of impeachment...No person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of all the Members of the Senate." Senator Panfilo Lacson echoed Enrile's sentiment and said that the petitioners are wasting their time. "Maski 1,000 apela ang i-file nila, we will always maintain [na] ang impeachment court [has] the sole power to try and decide on impeachment cases. Ewan ko kung saan nila kukunin ang justification para ipa-nullify nila ang decision ng impeachment court. Mismong ang respondent [nga] tinanggap na niya at ayaw niyang iapela," Lacson said. For his part, Senator Franklin Drilon added that the case was settled when the Supreme Court en banc appointed Antonio Carpio as acting chief justice. "The SC recognized that there was a vacancy arising from the dismissal of ex-CJ Renato Corona as a result of the impeachment. Otherwise, if the SC did not recognize the validity of dismissal of Corona, they should not have appointed an acting CJ. The fact that there is an acting CJ means that the petition has absolutely no merit," Drilon said. Aside from this, Enrile questioned Adaza's authority to challenge their decision. "I don't know whether Adaza has any standing in the court to question the decision because he is not a lawyer for the respondent unless he is authorized by the respondent," he said. The defense team had already said that they will no longer challenge the Senate verdict. Lacson, for his part, said the petitioners probably just want attention. "Baka kulang lang sa pansin, nagpapapansin. Maraming dahilan eh." Palace agrees with senators In Malacañang, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that while they respect the right of Adaza and Paguia, they are one with the senators in saying that the verdict is unappealable. “That is their right as taxpayers. Certainly, it will be discussed in the SC but as far as we are concerned, as far as the Senate is concerned, the Senate stands by its decision and they believe it is not subject to any appeal or any petition for certiorari,” Lacierda said. — with Amita Legaspi/RSJ, GMA News