Winning battle, but losing war
Without the slightest sign of doubt, hesitation and reservation, Chief Justice Renato Corona proclaimed to all and sundry that he had done no wrong to this country and its people. Fine! But why the herculean effort of the defense panel headed by former Justice Serafin Cuevas to object to every piece of evidence that the prosecution intends to present? True, the basis for the objection, technical as it might be, is well-founded and, as a matter of course, recognized, honored and strictly observed in regular courts. But in an impeachment court whose basic objective is for the truth to come out, little room should be allowed for too many technicalities that effectively delay the proceedings and suppress the truth.
Chief Justice Corona, being a man of no ordinary intelligence, should realize that if through the brilliant effort of his defense panel—particularly Cuevas who sees in every indecisive and amateurish move of the prosecution an opportunity to show his expertise in law and procedure—he is acquitted on the basis of mere technicalities and not on merit, that will be an empty victory. He may win the battle but he will lose the war. For the stigma of public doubt and suspicion will continue to haunt him like a frightening ghost; and little, if any, would be left of his honor and credibility. He will then be unfit and irrelevant to the highest court that he heads.
The truth will set you free (and clean), Chief Justice Corona. If you are true to your words that you have done nothing wrong to this country and its people, do not hamper with technicalities the truth from coming out.
—CARLITO S. VILLANUEVA,
