The Supreme Court’s unanimous decision granting the full retirement benefits of the late chief justice Renato Corona, despite his impeachment in 2012, is quite unsettling. It sends the wrong signal to public officials that it is all right to be dishonest for as long as they serve at least 15 years in government.
By ELLEN TORDESILLAS
WHILE almost every lawyer in town and a nurse want to be included in the list of candidates for the position of Supreme Court Justice, vacated by the recently convicted Renato Corona, it’s good to see two people declining.
BY VERA FILES
Two decades after its creation by the Constitution, the Judicial and Bar Council remains an institution critics say is riddled with “systemic deficiencies” and even defects, and is badly in need of reforms.
By CAROLYN MERCADO and STEVEN ROOD
THE Philippine Judiciary is on edge. Five months of rigorous scrutiny by the public and media as a result of the trial of impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona created a high degree of expectation that major reforms are forthcoming. Ensuring that Corona’s conviction and the appointment of a new chief justice will lead to a lasting improvement of the country’s judicial system is putting tremendous pressure on the high court.
By LALA ORDENES THE conviction of Renato Corona, the first time in the country’s history a chief justice is removed from office by impeachment, has thrown the Supreme Court and even the Judicial and Bar Council into uncharted waters, forcing the High Tribunal to contradict itself and act against its own pronouncements.
Editorial cartoon by VINCENT GO
THE Senate voted to convict Chief Justice Renato Corona. He has accepted his fate and given up his post. Now what?
Kahapon po naging saksi tayo sa isang napakagandang patunay na umiiral ang ganap na demokrasya sa ating bansa. Dalawampung senador ang bumoto upang matanggal bilang Punong Mahistrado ng Korte Suprema si Ginoong Renato C. Corona. Mulat tayo sa kung saan nag-ugat ang lahat nang ito. Sa matagal na panahon, namayani ang agam-agam na ang piring
FULL text of the record of the Senate sitting as impeachment court on May 29. Senator-judges explain their votes on the impeachment case of Chief Justice Renato Corona.
LISTEN to Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile’s explanation of his vote in favor of conviction in the impeachment case against Chief Justice Renato Corona.
LISTEN to Senator-judge Manny Villar’s explanation of his vote in favor of conviction in the impeachment case against Chief Justice Renato Corona.