Aquino administration berated for ‘war on judicial independence’ by Corona’s widow

05/15/2016 | 8:21 0 Posted in Business and Finance, Employment, Local Issues

Former Chief Justice Renato Corona passed away. Photo Credit: bloomberg.com

Aquino administration berated for ‘war on judicial independence’ by Corona’s widow

Cristina Corona, the widow of the deceased Renato Corona, the former Chief Justice spoke out against the impeachment of her late husband who was
unconstitutionally removed from his post during the year 2012; these allegations were made on Thursday.

The occasion for these accusations arose when she got an opportunity to air her views at the Supreme Court since a Necrological service
had been organised there; she opined that it was an attack on the judicial machinery of the Philippines as a whole and
should not be seen as a mere personal attack on her late husband.

She asserted that this move should not be seen in isolation since it was a small part of a larger conspiracy to undermine the great
institution of the judiciary and its independence; she went on to add that the conspiracy was not very recent, it was now five years old.

Going further in her attack, she explained that it was a very real war that was being waged on the last remaining institution
that was upholding the basics of democracy.

It was an all out effort by the ruling administrative machinery which had utilized all its might to impeach her husband from his influential
office but, he was very clear in his cherished aim of preventing political interference in the judiciary in general and his work in particular.

Drawing a parallel with extremist disruptive activities, she compared the activities of the Aquino administration as having displayed a far more
damaging impact on the smooth functioning of the judicial machinery, much more than terrorists armed with lethal weaponry could ever have.
The influence and force of the administration was adequately misused to get rid of her husband.

It was the derogatory affect on his beloved institution that C.J Rene was more concerned with rather than the personal toll that it took on him; while the
family witnessed it all in mute horror, he continued to put up a stiff fight.

His fight was against all the demeaning forces that were attempting to curtail the sovereignty and abilities of the judicial apparatus to dispense justice
and uphold the rule of law in an impartial and objective manner as dictated by the law of the land.

She then referred to the sensational disclosure by Jinggoy Estrada, an opposition Senator who publicly revealed some funds were disbursed to
those Senators who had contributed to the conviction of her late husband; it was also a gross misuse of the funds from the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

It was the most shameful instance of corruption in public life that honourable Senators had stooped so low to accept monetary benefits
just to enable the administration to victimise another honourable public servant from his office; Estrada had openly declared that Franklin, who had then been
the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee was the official who had caused the payment of an amount of P50 million each to all the Senators as a
reward for having voted to remove the honest judicial authority Corona from his post.

The scale of the conspiracy and the depth of its organising become quite clear from the pattern of voting by the Senators when 20 out of the 23
Senators present voted in favour of Corona from his office. Mrs Corona also went on to say that her husband always believed in upholding the
truth and the law in spite of advice from his family and friends who warned him that he might earn the wrath of some powerful foes by his rigid stance.

It may be remembered that Tarlac based Hacienda case had been dealt by Corona and the High tribunal had reached a conclusion that
would have been a direct challenge to the most powerful family of the land.

The High Tribunal had issued an order that said that the property should be distributed by its owners, the Cojuangco-Aquino
family. That was the last straw and a direct challenge to President Aquino who lost face.

This was also later admitted by Corona, the Chief Justice in that case, that this case was the motivating
factor for Aquino to seek his ouster from the elevated post.

Mrs. Corona exhorted the members of the judiciary to get together and carry on the fight for judicial independence and
empowerment of the judicial institutions.

Her next appeal was to the electorate since this was the time to ensure that the country and its pillars of democracy got the
leaders that it deserves; namely those who will fight to uphold the democratic traditions and ensure the empowerment of the democratic process.

A perfect tribute was also paid by Associate Judge Arturo Brion who was Corona’s classmate at the Ateneo College of Law, mentioned that
Corona was very firm and unflinching when confronted by forces that were trying to subdue judicial independence.

Brion added that he did not surrender his values but maintained his dignity and that of the judiciary even while suffering.