No moral ascendancy to be SC chief

When he was pilloried in the media for accepting his patroness’ midnight appointment as chief justice, then Supreme Court Associate Justice Renato Corona went on a media blitz—his wife in tow for theatrical effect—appealing for sobriety and fairness. He practically begged to be given a chance to prove his intelligence and independence. President Aquino relented and backed off from his earlier threat not to recognize Corona as chief justice. Big mistake!

More than a year later, Corona’s record speaks for itself. According to Sen. Franklin Drilon, Corona has a perfect 19-0 voting score in favor of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.  (Inquirer, 11/30/11)  And despite calls for his inhibition from more cases involving Arroyo, Corona refuses to pay heed and is brazening it out. It proves the public perception once and for all that Arroyo was setting up the Supreme Court to continue serving her and her family beyond Arroyo’s occupancy of Malacañang.

What can the people expect then of a Supreme Court controlled by a chief justice who has no moral ascendancy whatsoever?  Add to that the fact that he derived his authority from someone who stole the presidency as the evidence of electoral cheating and rigging mounts every day.  As a most trusted lieutenant of Arroyo, in-charge of—or at least very much in on—many of her affairs then (legal, extralegal or downright illegal), Corona should be ashamed of himself for having virtually allowed himself to be used as overall counsel for the kleptocratic Arroyo regime.

But then again, perhaps, Arroyo’s  total shamelessness has already rubbed off on her  many minions.  God help this country!

—GEORGE DEL MAR, [email protected]