PNoy is Corona’s “corona de espinas”

Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona

It is the dream of every lawyer to hold the prestigious position of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and for Renato Corona to have attained it is his “coronacion de Gloria” (crowning glory), but occupying it under the term of President Benigno Aquino, PNoy, makes it tenuous, as if what has been bestowed on him was “corona de espinas” (crown of thorns).

The crux of the matter is that PNoy feels strongly that Corona, who was a midnight appointee of outgoing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, has no qualms in showing his bias for his patron in ruling on cases concerning her.

“If there’s a public servant who is paying back the favor not to the people where our powers spring from but to a patron who inserted him to his position, can the people rely on him to protect their interest?” Aquino told a forum, where the chief justice was sitting two seats away from him.

For one who has made the fight against graft the cornerstone of his mandate, can you blame PNoy for his incessant attacks on Corona every time he has a chance to do it?

If Corona is showing notorious partiality for Arroyo, wouldn’t he be predisposed also to playing favoritism for her cronies or accomplices who might be implicated in the charges that she is facing now or in the future?

Note that Arroyo, who is under hospital arrest now on charges of rigging elections in 2007, also faces investigation on several allegations of corruption during her nine years in office.

How then could PNoy be successful in his anti-graft and corruption drive if you have justices whose motivation is simply to pay their “debt of gratitude,” and be damn if injustice has been committed?

The public’s perception now is that PNoy’s continuous tirade at Corona is a signal for the Aquino allied Congress to make the necessary move for an impeachment proceeding against the Chief Justice, if warranted.

And, why not? I would rather that this legal proceeding be resorted to than allow the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) hierarchy mediate and settle the difference between Aquino and Corona. From their pronouncements alone, these bishops and archbishops are just as biased and prejudiced against PNoy. After all, they have an axe to grind.

This is not about personal animosities. It is about justice and propriety; morality and order.

Senators Franklin Drilon and Francis Pangilinan both agree that “impeachment is a constitutional remedy” to resolve the conflict between the President and the Chief Justice.

Sen. Francis Escudero also affirms, saying, the filing of impeachment against any official is within the constitutional role of the House of Representatives and the Senate, convening as impeachment court.

So what are we waiting for and get this controversy over with?

This is the only way we can move on with the majority of ordinary citizens, and not the corrupt and conscienceless few,treated with fairness and justice.