MANILA, Philippines?Amid talk of a plot to unseat him, Chief Justice Reynato Puno Wednesday spoke about the need for a ?moral force? in the country.

Puno said it was not the legal system that could solve the country?s problems but the moral system.

Before speaking to a group of businessmen Wednesday night, the Chief Justice said religious leaders should step forward and act as ?moral forces? in ?redirecting the destiny? of the country as it was suffering from moral decadence.

Puno also said he was ready to face any attempt to impeach him.

?It is very obvious that the main problem of the country is moral decadence. This is the root cause of the density of power, corruption problem,? Puno told reporters before talking to the Anvil business group at the Ortigas Center in Pasig City.

?You look at it more deeply. You look at it from its various dimensions. That?s why ? it?s time for the moral forces of the country to manifest themselves. They should cease to be an invisible force. They should play a dominant role in redirecting the destiny of our people,? he added.

At a meeting with Fr. Robert Reyes earlier in the day, Puno noted that the country had too many laws but was lacking in morality.

Reyes said Puno merely smiled and did not say anything when he (Reyes) mentioned that Malacañang was behind the talk of the plot to ease the Chief Justice out of the Supreme Court to make way for Charter change that many critics believed was meant to extend the term of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The impeachment talk stemmed from the Chief Justice?s alleged non-promulgation of a decision of the high court dated July 15, 2008, which supposedly upheld the disqualification of Negros Oriental Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong due to questions about her citizenship.

The complaint would allegedly be spearheaded by the President?s party mates in the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Partner of the Free Filipino, Kampi), whose candidate, Olivia Paras, lost to Limkaichong.

Paras is the wife of former Rep. Jacinto Paras, a Kampi member.

A complaint against Puno was filed by one Louis Biraogo with the high court, who claimed that his allegations were based on a copy of the un-promulgated Limkaichong decision that was sent to him by a Supreme Court insider.

Ready to face impeachment

Puno said he was prepared to face up to any attempt to remove him from office through impeachment.

?It is not in our hands. If they proceed with that move, then let it be,? Puno said. ?We cannot prevent it. We?ll meet it when it happens. I?m in perfect peace.?

However, he said he was concerned that the reported moves to have him impeached could have devastating effects on the independent judiciary.

Bigger stake

?I like to think that I?m just an incident in this fight. The bigger stake is the independence of the judiciary. If we lose the independence of the judiciary ? If we lose the independence of the judiciary, democracy could die,? Puno said.

He said that the case that was supposedly being used to drag his name into the controversy was decided by the entire Supreme Court.

?The court itself has already explained what happened to the case. And this is a position taken collectively by the 15 justices,? he said.

?So, if they think there is fault in that collective stand of the 15 justices why don?t they complain about the entire court. Why are they trying to pin the blame on a single person when the entire court has explained that this is not my decision alone but the decision of the entire court,? he added.

Palace discourages move

Malacañang Wednesday discouraged reported efforts to unseat Puno, saying he should be spared from the impeachment process.

?The efforts to impeach Chief Justice Reynato Puno over allegations that he committed a leadership lapse contribute to the growing trivialization of the impeachment process,? Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita read from a statement.

?Impeachment has been the most popular political blood sport, a yearly ritual our degenerated national politics cannot seem to live without,? he said, referring to the experience of Ms Arroyo.

At the Anvil business group meeting, Puno said the country needed ?leaders with moral character.?

Confucius

Taking off from the political and ethical teachings of Chinese philosopher Confucius, Puno said the country?s leaders could not afford to lose the people?s faith.

?The wisdom of Confucius? answers speak for themselves. More than economic prosperity, more than military might, government needs the trust of the people in order to govern effectively,? Puno said.

He said the country?s two EDSA revolutions ?are testaments to the lesson that governments that forfeit the trust of the people have unhappy exits.?

Puno said a leader should be able to lead by his own example.

?There is thus an unbending obligation on the part of those who lead government to provide its moral ballast. A government that is morally fragile cannot withstand the evils that will buffet it. To be sure, a government afflicted with moral leprosy deserves nothing but the graveyard,? Puno warned.

Forgiving leaders

?We need leaders with moral character. History tells us that people will forgive leaders for lapses in ability but will not forgive those who slip in character. Character is who we are when no one is watching,? he said.

At the meting with Reyes, Puno spoke mostly about his childhood in the province and how his own father worked hard not only to provide for the family but also to instill in his children values such as obedience and respect.

Reyes said Puno appeared to be reflecting on the erosion of the Filipino?s moral values.

Reyes said that it was Puno, a Methodist, who pointed out that the ?justice system is based on our morality which is based on our spirituality.?

Reyes said that apparently, Puno would not make any bold move amid the talk of impeaching him to favor the Cha-cha movement.

?He just wants to let it (issue) pass quietly and die a natural death,? Reyes said.

Don?t make issue bigger

In fact, how their meeting came showed how Puno did not want to make the issue any bigger, Reyes said.

Reyes told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that he contacted Puno?s office on Monday to inform him that he would be holding a Mass in front of the Supreme Court with some farmers from Hacienda Yulo in support of the Chief Justice.

?The Chief Justice did not warm up to the idea,? Reyes said.

But the priest persisted and told Supreme Court spokesperson Midas Marquez, if he (Reyes) could personally see Puno to hand him their letter of support.

?He (Puno) agreed to see me with some farmers. I only asked for five minutes but he gave me 40 minutes of his time,? Reyes said. With a report from Christian V. Esguerra