'You'll never walk alone' sung at mass for Corona

D-DAY MASS. Chief justice Renato Corona and his wife attend mass held infront of old Supreme Court bldg in morning of day his impeachment trial at the Senate begins Monday, January 16, 2012. Photo by David Santos

MANILA, Philippines – Supreme Court and Manila lower court employees converged on Monday morning, January 15, to hear mass offered for impeached chief justice Renato Corona whose trial at the Senate begins in the afternoon.

The chief justice and his wife attended the mass led by Manila auxillary bishop Roderick Pabillo.

The mass started past 9 a.m., shortly after the Monday flag ceremony.

In his sermon, Pabillo said he is not against the impeachment but the judiciary should be respected by the other branches of the government.

The choir sang You’ll Never Walk Alone during communion.

PROTEST. Statue of chief justice Cayetano Arellano, 1st Supreme Court chief justice of the Philippines, was covered with black cloth as part of protest actions vs Renato Corona trial. Photo by David Santos

Black shirts, arm bands and balloons dominated the Supreme Court to symbolize the court employees’ protest against the intervention on the judiciary.

A number of employees displayed plackards and stickers to show their support for the chief justice.

PROTEST. Supreme Court employees gather for mass, bearing placards of protest as impeachment trial of chief justice Renato Corona begins Jan. 16. Photo by David Santos

RESPECT. Court employees call for respect of judicial independence on day impeachment trial vs chief justice Renato Corona starts. Photo by David Santos

A Supreme Court employee who refused to be named told Rappler the “crowd seemed smaller today” compared to the time when the chief justice addressed them upon learning of his impeachment.

When asked for possible reason, she said that “maybe not all are sympathizing with the CJ (chief justice) just like me.”

She turned back and said that she’s returning to work.

Supreme Court spokesperson Midas Marquez was quoted as saying earlier Monday that despite the observance of the “Black Monday” by the courts, there will be “no work stoppage.”

Workers supposedly can opt to file absence in case they decide not to work today. – Rappler.com

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