Palace mum on Carpio as PNoy pick for chief justice if Corona is ousted

Malacañang on Sunday kept mum on reports President Benigno Aquino III wants Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio to be the next chief justice if Renato Corona is convicted by a Senate impeachment court and removed from his post.   Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said it is too early to speculate on Corona’s replacement as his impeachment trial has yet to start in January 2012.   “I think that’s a little too far ahead. If and when the announcement is proper it will be made,” she said on government-run dzRB radio.   She said the Palace would rather wait as the matter of Corona’s replacement is “a little too far down the road.”   “At this time we’re facing the impeachment trial. Hintayin natin," she said.   Earlier media reports had cited “sources” who said Aquino wanted Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio to succeed Corona.   Carpio is linked to “The Firm,” a law firm initially allied with Aquino’s predecessor Gloria Macapagal Arroyo but later parted ways with her. — LBG, GMA News