Manila judges go on leave as Corona impeachment trial starts

Published January 16, 2012 7:45am

Manila judges have decided to go on leave Monday hours before the impeachment trial of embattled Chief Justice Renato Corona at the Senate.

The Manila Regional Trial Court Judges Association filed a leave of absence to enable its members to go to the Supreme Court, radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported.

Association president Antonio Eugenio asked the public for understanding for the judges' absence Monday, the report said.

Eugenio and his group had showed support for Corona, who was impeached by Malacañang allies at the House of Representatives last December.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court also showed "support" for Corona early Monday, displaying a tarpaulin with the message "Uphold Judicial Independence" on the high court premises in Manila.

The dzBB report said employees and staff were to place black ribbons at the high court compound and wear black shirts to mourn what they called the assault on the judiciary's independence. 'Maximum tolerance'

Meanwhile, police in Metro Manila vowed to exercise maximum tolerance in dealing with groups holding demonstrations for or against the impeachment trial of Corona at the Senate.

The Metro Manila police were given instructions to give equal treatment to both groups, radio dzBB's Sam Nielsen reported.

Some 500 Metro Manila police personnel were stationed around the Senate compound in Pasay City for the start of the impeachment trial, the report said.

But the police said they were instructed not to allow any group to get inside the Senate compound, the report added. – KG, GMA News

Tags: coronaimpeachment, manilaregionaltrialcourtjudgesassociation, manilaregionaltrialcourt