CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – A prosecutor in the impeachment trial against former Pres. Estrada has expressed fears that the pro bono services of topnotch lawyers now in the defense panel of Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona would taint the impartial image of the high court in case the magistrate is acquitted by the Senate.
This city’s Mayor Oscar Rodriguez, who was member of the House prosecution team in Estrada’s Senate trial, said such a situation could have been avoided had Corona declined the voluntary services of prominent lawyers and instead hired members of his legal team.
The Filipino value of “utang na loob” would burden Corona in cases being handled not only by his defense lawyers but also by the law firms to which they belong, he said.
Rodriguez said the only alternative to keep intact the image of impartiality of the Supreme Court would be for Corona to resign regardless of the outcome of the impeachment trial.
Rodriguez said that while Corona could inhibit himself in cases involving his pro bono lawyers and their law firms, doubts on the impartiality of the Supreme Court could also extend to other members of the Supreme Court who publicly manifested their support for Corona in the impeachment case.
In the case of Hacienda Luisita, the impartiality of Corona has already been put under question.
The Hacienda Luisita Inc. has sought his inhibition from its petition to reconsider the Supreme Court’s decision last Nov. 22 ordering the distribution of lands at the Cojuangco-Aquino estate after the chief justice claimed the impeach move against him was motivated by the verdict.
Rodriguez expressed fears that similar doubt on the Supreme Court’s impartiality might reign should Corona be cleared and opt to stay on as chief justice now personally indebted to so many prominent lawyers and law firms.
During the flag-raising ceremony and inter-faith Mass at the Supreme Court last Monday before the start of the impeachment trial at the Senate, nine justices were noted to have been present along with other court employees who openly declared their support for Corona.
The justices included Arturo Brion, Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, Jose Perez, Jose Mendoza, Roberto Abad, Presbitero Velasco Jr., Lucas Bersamin, Martin Villarama and Bienvenido Reyes.
Three of them- Velasco, Abad and de Castro – even wore black to show their support for the embattled chief Justice during the affair attended by sympathetic judges and court employees who filed their leaves of absence.
Posters were also put up by various judges associations during the ceremony, showing partiality to Corona.
Rodriguez said the only alternative for Corona to save the credibility of the courts is to resign as chief justice, even as he expressed doubt that the magistrate would be cleared by the Senate.
