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PNoy: Fight for judicial reforms isn't over with Corona ouster
By AMITA O. LEGASPI, GMA News
The fight for judicial reforms isn’t over even if “the thorn in the side that plagues the highest position of the judiciary has been pulled out,” President Benigno Aquino III said in a statement he delivered on live television in the aftermath of the Corona impeachment trial.
“Ngayong nabunot ang tinik sa pinakamataas na puwesto ng ating hudikatura, tapos na ba ang laban?” said the President.
The fight for judicial reforms was not a personal grudge against convicted Chief Justice Renato Corona. If it was then the fight is indeed over, Aquino said.
“Ang hangad natin ay ayusin ang sistema. Kaya’t hangga’t meron pa rin nakaambang tanggalin ang piring ng katarungan tuloy pa rin ang laban,” he added.
On Tuesday, the Senate sitting as an impeachment court convicted Chief Justice Renato Corona for betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution.
“Pagtutuunan po natin ng pansin ang paghahanap ng may integridad, may sariling pasya, mahusay at tapat na magtitimon sa ating hudikatura,” Aquino said, explaining how the new chief justice would be selected.
“Mayroon po tayong siyam-na-pung araw para pag-aralan ito, hindi po natin mamadaliin ang pagpili dahil ayaw nating magkamali at bumalik na naman sa dating sitwasyon,” he added.
Aquino said Corona brought the trial and the resulting verdict upon himself.
“Sariling mga pasya ni Ginoong Corona ang nagbunsod sa paglilitis na ito. Siya ang pumiling ‘wag magdeklara ng katotohanan sa kanyang SALN (Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth),” he said.
“Siya ang gumamit ng kanyang pamilya para magpalusot sa kanyang salapi at ari-arian. Siya mismo ang nagkaladkad ng pangalan ng kanyang mga mahal sa buhay upang pagtakpan ang sariling mga kasalanan,” he added.
He said Corona represented the bad side of the judiciary.
The President said there was a deep connection between former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Corona, who was appointed by the former two days after the 2010 elections.
He said he questioned Corona’s appointment but still asked the latter to be fair.
“Ang sagot pa nga niya sa akin, huwag daw akong mag-alala, dahil lahat ng magiging desisyon ay aayon sa batas. Sa paglaon po, naging malinaw sa atin na imbis na siya mismong dapat nagbibigay-linaw sa batas, ang siyang nagpapalabo nito,” Aquino said.
He cited the SC decision against Executive Order 1 declaring as unconstitutional the creation of the Truth Commission and status quo against EO 2 or midnight appointees.
He said he tried to tolerate these decisions because he did not want to be on the warpath with the SC, but that ended when Corona used his power to save Mrs. Arroyo.
“Mukhang hanggang nasa puwesto si Ginoong Corona—gaano man kalakas ang kaso, gaano man katibay ang ebidensya—ay hindi masasakdal ang kanyang padrino. Ito na nga po ang huli at sukdulan,” Aquino said.
The President said through the verdict, it was proven that reform is possible and he is not alone in seeking to bring order into the system.
“Posible palang magkaroon ng justice, at hindi puro just-tiis ang litanya sa ating bansa. Napatunayan nating mangingibabaw ang katotohanan, laban sa pagkukubli; mananaig ang tapat, laban sa tiwali; at magtatagumpay ang tama, laban sa mali,” he said.
He thanked the Senate impeachment court, especially presiding officer and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile for his sharp mind and being impartial; the House prosecution team led by Iloilo Rep, Niel Tupas, Ilocos Norte Rep. Rudy Farinas and Speaker Feliciano Belmonte; and even the defense team for helping bring out the truth. — VS/ELR, GMA News
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