News Update Corona impeachment part of efforts to ‘dismantle Arroyo apparatus’ – Palace

In response to Chief Justice Renato Corona’s verbal attack against President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday, a palace spokesperson said the impeachment of the Supreme Court’s lead magistrate was part of the government’s efforts to remove the layers protecting the scandal-ridden former administration. “What we are doing right now under the Aquino administration is trying to dismantle the Arroyo apparatus of trying to protect her from accountability,” said palace spokesman Edwin Lacierda. Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who appointed Corona to his current post a few weeks before leaving office in 2010, is under hospital arrest for poll fraud. “We have removed the (former) Ombudsman, we've appointed many women of unquestionable integrity before the other constitutional commissions, and we believe that Mr. Corona is a stumbling block to our reform,” Lacierda added. An Aquino dictatorship The reply from the Palace came just minutes after Corona delivered an impassioned speech warning about an “Aquino dictatorship.” “At ngayon, sasabihin ko po sa kanilang lahat: ako’y tumututol sa walang-tigil na pang-aalipusta, pangduduro at pananakot. Ako’y tumututol sa dahan-dahang binubuong diktadura ni Pangulong Benigno Simeon Aquino III,” Corona said before a crowd of judiciary personnel who went on a “court holiday” which Justice Secretary Leila de Lima saw as meriting study for possible legal action. Last Monday, Corona became the first Chief Justice impeached by the House of Representatives on the strength of 188 signatures of Representatives, who, in the Articles of Impeachment they submitted to Congress, accused Corona of culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption and betrayal of the public trust. Lacierda said Corona is one of the “stumbling blocks” in its accountability campaign. The chief justice said President Aquino is becoming a dictator while Corona styled himself as the “first defender of justice” in the country. Lacierda, in a news conference held after Corona had spoken, said if dictatorship were Aquino’s true goal, “We should’ve done that the moment we entered office.” He said Corona should just face the charges filed against him before the Senate as the constitutionally mandated impeachment court. “The charges will stick. The evidence against him will stick,” said Lacierda, adding that President Aquino has yet to hear Corona’s speech as was being interviewed by a foreign magazine at that time. “The totality of the conduct of Corona betrays a lack of objectivity, impartiality,” Lacierda said. 'An independent court' Corona said Aquino’s allies in the House of Representatives foisted the impeachment case against him only so Aquino could take over the high court with justices who would do his bidding. But Lacierda rejected the chief magistrate’s claim, saying that the Palace was not looking to control the judiciary. “We don’t want a friendly court; we want an independent court,” he added. Lacierda revealed that the appointment of Corona’s wife Cristina, as a board member of the Camp John Hay Management Corporation will be raised as a factor that compromised any objectivity the chief justice may have had. He said the Palace perceives Corona “as someone we cannot rely on to observe the rule of law.” “If when there is clearly a lack of genuine rule of law, we have to speak up,” he said. “Saan po papasok dito ang kanyang impartiality? Saan papasok dito ang objectivity?” said Lacierda. Corona has taken offense to the inclusion of his wife in the impeachment tribulation. “Nguni’t ang kasukdulan ng pambabastos, sa aking pananaw, ay ang pagdawit ng aking may-bahay sa reklamong ito. Baka akala nila na sa ganitong paraan ako po’y madaling susuko. Mapalad po ako na mayroon akong isang mabait at matatag na kasama sa buhay, na siya ring pinagkukunan ko ng lakas at inspirasyon. Mahal na mahal kita, Tina.” Corona said. — ELR/VS/YA