I hail the members of Congress who voted to impeach Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona. Their action does not signify an unmerited attack on a co-equal branch of government as the Chief Justice claims. Rather, their action represents a people’s desire to restore the credibility of the Supreme Court and straighten out the judiciary.
With the looming trial of former president Mrs. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for electoral sabotage, there is a need to ensure that the justices who will ultimately decide her fate be above suspicion of partiality. The ideal situation would have been for the justices who were appointed by Mrs. Arroyo to have enough decency and delicadeza to voluntary inhibit themselves from continuing with their function or even to quit their post. However, in the evident lack of these virtues from these justices, the people have the right, through their elected representatives to take the proper action to protect their institution and interest.
Chief Justice Corona misleads the people by encouraging the fallacious idea that at stake is the integrity and independence of the judiciary which is being attacked by the executive and legislative branches of government for purely political reason. In effect, he wants a domain wherein he reigns supreme and unchallenged whatever his comportment and decisions may be. Towards this end, he rallies Supreme Court employees to stand behind him in his fight.
But Supreme Court empoloyees are Filipinos too. Their ultimate duty is not to the Chief Justice but to their country. They have no obligation to listen to him if they are not so inclined.
It is an arduous and uphill struggle versus the forces of selfishishness and unpatriotism to strive for a clean and honest government. At this point in our struggle, if we are to succeed, we must get rid of our “Corona” of thorns.
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