By ABS-CBN News
President Aquino stepped up his attacks against Chief Justice Renato Corona just shortly after the articles of impeachment against the chief justice were transmitted to the Senate.
"Don't be afraid of the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested; and you will have oppression for ten days. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life." (Revelation 2:10)
Now, will you be obedient to enter the door of suffering which the Lord has opened for you?
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President Aquino stepped up his attacks against Chief Justice Renato Corona just shortly after the articles of impeachment against the chief justice were transmitted to the Senate.
Aquino called Corona as former President Arroyo’s “disciple” (“alagad”), enumerating cases in which Corona had voted in Mrs. Arroyo’s favor.
Aquino cited, among others, Corona’s vote in declaring as unconstitutional the executive order establishing the Truth Commission and the issuance of the temporary restraining order against the travel ban on Mrs. Arroyo.
“Sa ganitong lantarang pagtanggal ng piring ng katarungan, kailangan po nating tanungin ang sarili: hanggang kailan tayo magtitiis, hanggang kailan tayo uunawa, hanggang kailan tayo magpapasensya? Sobra-sobra na ang ebidensya; aasa pa ba tayong magbabago si Ginoong Corona?” Aquino said in a coalition caucus held in a hotel in Mandaluyong City.
“Naging kumbinsido po tayo na pagdating kay Ginang Arroyo, walang tama o maling kinikilala si Ginoong Corona. Walang patutunguhan ang ating pagsisikap kung bago pa man tayo dumulog sa husgado ay kargado na pala ang timbangan. Malinaw po ang katotohanan: Si Ginoong Corona ay itinalaga sa Korte Suprema, hindi bilang alagad ng katarungan, kundi bilang alagad ni Ginang Arroyo.”
Aquino said that Corona is compromising the high court’s integrity by preventing efforts to make the former president accountable. Aquino noted that Arroyo and Corona’s ties go a long way back.
“Para po sa kanya, mukhang sapat na ang samahang ito para paulit-ulit na isangkalan ang integridad ng Korte Suprema. Hindi po ako ang sumisira sa kanyang institusyon; sa kanyang pagtanggi na panagutin si Ginang Arroyo, inuubos ni Ginoong Corona ang dangal ng Korte Suprema,” Aquino said.
Aquino also riled against the Supreme Court’s reversal in recent cases involving cityhood and the Flight Attendants' and Stewards' Association of the Philippines (FASAP), saying these decisions had implications on the lives of ordinary Filipinos.
Aquino described the Court as “pugad ng katiwalian.” (nest of corruption).
“Hindi po tayo magpapamana sa susunod na salinlahi ng isang Korte Supremang pugad ng katiwalian,” Aquino said.
Time to face the music
Directly addressing Corona, Aquino said the impeachment process would allow Corona to answer the charges filed against him.
“Ginoong Corona: Sa Kongreso at Senado, harapin mo ang pinagmulan ng poder mo: Ang taumbayan,” Aquino said.
Aquino took the opportunity to thank members of the House of Representatives who signed the impeachment complaint against Corona. Present were not only partymates of Aquino in the Liberal Party but also members of other parties as well. Legislators previously associated with former President Arroyo were also there.
“Ipinakita ng ating lehislatura ang kakayahang ipagtanggol ang interes ng sambayanan nang walang paliguy-ligoy, nang may katapatan sa tungkulin, at nang may pagkilala sa pagdurusang dinaraanan ng taumbayan, na siya ninyong kinakatawan,” Aquino said.
PNoy confident Senate will convict Corona
Aquino is also confident that impeachment case Corona would prosper in the Senate.
“…May kumpyansa ako doon sa mga hinain na kaso…. ‘Yung articles of impeachment embodies ‘yung paniniwala nating kakulangan sa pamumuno ni Ginoong Corona at ‘yung mga pinaggagawa po na naaapektuhan ang sambayanan. So it follows. Kung matibay ‘yung kaso at inaasahan natin ‘yung mga senador, ang mga hinalal na kinatawan ng ating taumbayan, ay susunod naman sila sa tugon ng ating mga boss,” Aquino told reporters after the coalition caucus held in a hotel in Mandaluyong.
Aquino did not directly say if he would personally convince the senators to vote for Corona’s impeachment.
“I know what I’m supposed to do. And I will do what is necessary to fulfill my oath of service to the Filipino people,” Aquino said.
Mum on role in impeachment drive
Neither did Aquino give a direct answer on whether he had a direct hand in the impeachment of Corona.
“Nang-awat pa ako at some point in time at dumating nga ‘yung punto na napakarami na ng ebidensya na talagang napasang-ayon na ako na talagang hindi na pwedeng panatilihin ‘yung suffering o paghihirap na nai-inflict sa ating bayan,” he said.
Aquino said Corona’s impeachment should not create a “chilling effect” on other justices of the high court.
“Simple lang naman po ito e: kaya n’yo bang panindigan ‘yung desisyon ninyo? Kung tama ang ginawa ninyo eh ‘di maski saang korte sila dalhin ay kayang panindigan ‘yon. Pero kung hindi kayang panindigan, doon ka siguro kakabahan. Okay? Sabi nga ng mga nakakatanda sa atin: bato-bato sa langit, ang tamaan na lang ang mamroblema,” he said.
If given the chance to appoint one, Aquino believes that the next chief justice would not be beholden to him.
“Bakit hindi ninyo tingnan ‘yung mga na-appoint ko na? Mayroon bang beholden? Have they voted every time in our favor? Or perhaps even the perception of what I would have wanted as far as a decision is concerned?” Aquino said.
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To the Chief Justice: Be not afraid of the arrows that fly swiftly. Stand firm as you let everything be as they have wished and planned to happen. In the eyes of many, you maybe condemned already. But remain sober and be humble as you can be, for the test is intended not primarily for you but rather the test is mainly for those who hate you. Though at your own expense they may gain favor with the masses and the temporal reward may not be to you, yet even so, remain obedient to the process which you will be undergoing through. This is the best way you can serve the Lord. After all of this, people may hate and despise you, yet it is the Lord who is the only source of true justice. Endure the pain, for in the future, their own blindness will be healed by the Lord, and in that day your spirit will thank the Lord for opening you an opportunity to be used as an instrument by the Lord to heal many even though you go through a painful way.“Nang-awat pa ako at some point in time at dumating nga ‘yung punto na napakarami na ng ebidensya na talagang napasang-ayon na ako na talagang hindi na pwedeng panatilihin ‘yung suffering o paghihirap na nai-inflict sa ating bayan,” he said.
Aquino said Corona’s impeachment should not create a “chilling effect” on other justices of the high court.
“Simple lang naman po ito e: kaya n’yo bang panindigan ‘yung desisyon ninyo? Kung tama ang ginawa ninyo eh ‘di maski saang korte sila dalhin ay kayang panindigan ‘yon. Pero kung hindi kayang panindigan, doon ka siguro kakabahan. Okay? Sabi nga ng mga nakakatanda sa atin: bato-bato sa langit, ang tamaan na lang ang mamroblema,” he said.
If given the chance to appoint one, Aquino believes that the next chief justice would not be beholden to him.
“Bakit hindi ninyo tingnan ‘yung mga na-appoint ko na? Mayroon bang beholden? Have they voted every time in our favor? Or perhaps even the perception of what I would have wanted as far as a decision is concerned?” Aquino said.
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"Don't be afraid of the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested; and you will have oppression for ten days. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life." (Revelation 2:10)
Now, will you be obedient to enter the door of suffering which the Lord has opened for you?
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