Calls mount for Corona to go on leave
Wednesday, 18 January 2012 00:00
CALLS for Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona to go on leave pending his impeachment trial in the Senate continue to grow to prevent the entire judiciary from being dragged into the case. Former Senator Rene Saguisag, in a television interview, said the impeachment case is directed at Corona alone and this prohibits him from using the resources of the Supreme Court. "The Chief Justice should stop using court personnel, time and resources. There are a lot of pending cases in the Supreme Court," said Saguisag, noting that the main function of the courts is to decide cases. Records from the High Tribunal showed that there are more than 600,000 unresolved cases in the trial courts all over the country.
Saguisag said the priorities of the courts should "not be disturbed just because of one man" even as he criticized Corona's speaking before a rally of court officials and employees at the Supreme Court grounds before proceeding to the Senate on Monday. "What happened yesterday was saddening. That's why it is very important for us to know if he (Corona) should go on leave. Let the court do its task, decide cases, and not really waste the time in support of one person," he said. The former senator also pointed out that court personnel should not abandon their work just to show support for Corona while several cases that should be decided are put on the backburner.
He said public service must not be prejudiced because of the interest of one person alone. "You cannot go on mass leave or strike. How about the detainees whose cases should be dismissed on that day? They should weigh in favor of the Filipino people, not of one person," said Saguisag. Several sectors earlier asked Corona to take a leave of absence so he can focus on the impeachment trial. The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)-Cebu Chapter, in a separate statement, said it has passed a resolution appealing to the chief magistrate to go on leave while the impeachment case against him is being heard by senator-judges.
"It is still the call of the Chief Justice whether he would go on leave or not, but we believe that it would be best that he concentrate on his defense," said the five former IBP presidents in a manifesto issued prior to the start of the impeachment proceedings. Even the Former Senior Government Officials (FSGO), composed of former Cabinet members under six presidential administrations, backed calls for Corona to go on leave to preserve the Supreme Court as an institution.
"CJ Renato Corona must go on leave so as not to further undermine the credibility of the Supreme Court," said the FSGO in a statement issued earlier. "Believing that public office is a public trust, we hold sacred the principle of good governance. For public institutions to have good governance, their leaders must be of unquestioned integrity," it added.
Meanwhile, House Deputy Speaker and Quezon Rep. Lorenzo "Erin" Tanada III, one of the spokesmen for the prosecution panel, said that the chief magistrate "should be accountable and transparent in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) as a public official." This is in connection with Tuesday's trial where Article II of the Verified Complaint for Impeachment will be tackled. Article II alleges that Corona committed culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayed the public trust when he failed to disclose his SALN as required under Section 17, Article 11 of the 1987 Constitution.
"Those who keep secrets are the only ones who fear the truth. We in the House prosecution team are ready to bring to light the evidence proving Mr. Corona's ill-gotten wealth," said Tanada. "We have witnesses who will testify that he, in fact, owns not just five properties, which he claims, but more," he said. Tanada also reminded the public to be constantly updated about the trial so that "each and every Filipino will be informed" in order to be part of "strengthening our democracy." Ultimately, he said, "this exercise will genuinely ensure that everyone will realize that no one, not even the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, is above the law." PNA
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Fire Fox or 
Google Chrome.`