PNoy intensifies attacks vs Corona

MANILA, Philippines – Chief Justice Renato Corona is already impeached, but President Aquino offered no let up in his attacks against the magistrate.

“Malinaw po ang katotohanan. Si Ginoong Corona ay tinalaga sa Korte Supreme hindi bilang alagad ng katarungan kundi bilang alagad ni Ginang Arroyo,” the President said in his speech on Tuesday before congressmen who voted to impeach the chief justice a day earlier.

“Sa ganitong  lantarang pagtanggal ng piring ng katarungan, kailangan na nating tanungin ang  sarili. Hanggang kailan tayo magtitiis, Hanggang kailang tayo uunawa? Hanggang kailan tayo magpapasensya? Sobra sobra na po ang ebidensya. Aaasa pa po ba tayong magbabago si Corona?,” the President said.

“Naging kumbinsido po tayo na pagdating kay Ginang Arroyo, walang tama o walang kiniklala si Ginoong Corona,” he said.

“Walang patutunguhan ang ating pagsisikap, kung bago  pa man tayo dumulog sa husgado ay kargado na pala ang timbangan,” he said.

A total of 188 congressmen endorsed the impeachment complaint against Corona. The grounds are betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the constitution, and graft and corruption.

Thank you, congressmen
The President also thanked the congressmen for “following the people’s will” in transmitting to the Senate the articles of impeachment against Corona. Many of them are President Aquino’s colleagues when he served three terms as congressman himself.

“Ipinakita ng lehislatura ang kakayahayang ipagtanggol ang interes ng sambayanan na walang paligoy-ligoy, ng may katapatan sa tungkulin, at may pagkilala sa pagdurusang dinaraanan ng taong bayan na sya nyong kinakatawan. Doon po maraming maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat,” he said.

“Dumadaan po tayo sa isang proseso upang pigilan ang patuloy na pagdurog ng iisang pariwarang mahistrado sa Korte Suprema…. Hindi po tayo magpapamana sa susunod na salinlahi ng isang Korte Supremang pugad ng katiwalian,” the President said.

‘Hindi tayo likas na palaaway‘
In his speech, President Aquino also sought to correct criticisms that he is a bully in waging war against the Supreme Court.

The President said they have tolerated a number of Supreme Court decisions in the past. He cited the SC decisions declaring the Truth Commission unconstitutional, the court’s flip-flopping on the Flight Attendants’ and Stewards’ Association of the Philippines (FASAP) and the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), and the TRO on the impeachment complaint against former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.

“Hindi po kami sang-ayon pero pinilit naming sundin ang kanilang desisyon bilang paggalang sa institusyon ng Korte Suprema,” he said.

“Pinilit pa rin nating makisama sa Korte Suprema sa ilalim ni Ginoong Corona. Umasa tayong mananaig ang katarungan kaysa sa pagkakatali niya kay Ginang Arroyo,” he added.

SC’s TRO on the DOJ’s watchlist order was the last straw. “Agad pong ibinaba ang TRO na hindi man lang dininig ang panig ng gobyerno,” he said.

“Nakita naman ninyo, hindi tayo likas na palaaway,” he said

The President called on the chief justice to face the impeachment case against him. –Rappler.com