Cebu judges divided over Corona impeachment
Court hearings went on normally in Cebu City and Mandaue City yesterday, a lukewarm response to the travails of Chief Justice Renato Corona in Manila, where court employees showed up in black shirts and staged a “work holiday.”
A straw vote conducted on Tuesday showed that Cebu judges were divided, almost down the middle, over the impeachment trial of Corona.
The informal survey, held by judges gathered at Marco Polo Plaza, showed that 50 judges believe the impeachment would adversely affect the judiciary while 46 answered in the negative.
In Lapu-Lapu City yesterday, no court hearings were conducted in Branch of 27.
Court officials denied they were on “holiday.”
Judge Meinrado Paredes of the Cebu Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 13 confirmed receiving a text message last Tuesday from the Office of the Court Administrator in Manila to declare a court holiday the following day. But he said the instruction was withdrawn later.
Paredes said the Supreme Court seemed to be conducting a loyalty check during a seminar on the new Bench Book sponsored by the Philippine Judicial Academy in the hotel.
Paredes said the estimated 100 judges from the Regional Trial Court and Municipal Trial Court in Region 7 were asked to vote on the impeachment trial and whether it would strengthen the judiciary or undermine its independence.
A total of 46 said it wouldn’t while 50 said it would weaken the judiciary.
Paredes said he was among the 46 judges who supported the impeachment trial since it would give Corona a chance to present his side. He said Corona should “fight his own battle” and not drag the entire judiciary in the charges against him.
“Impeachment is a constitutional process. If an official like the chief justice commits offenses, there’s no other way of removing him except impeachment,” he said.
Paredes said he only hopes the “senators will be impartial in conducting the impeachment trials.” “They should set aside politics,” he said.
Paredes also criticized the Chief Justice’s speech yesterday for making personal attacks on Aquino instead of bringing up legal matters.
“He sounds like a politician, he should run for president,” Paredes said.
Associate Justice Gabriel Ingles of the Court of Appeals Cebu City station said court personnel shouldn’t abandon their work just to show support to Corona.
“In the first place, we are in this kind of service because we are paid by the people. Public service should not be prejudiced because of the interest of particular members of the judiciary,” Ingles said.
He said the impeachment complaint is directed at Corona alone, not the entire judiciary. “It (impeachment) is not an attack against the institution itself,” Ingles said.
Ingles said an administrative complaint can be filed against judges or even members of the High Court who shall not conduct hearings simply to support a cause.
“It’s the taxpayers who pay our salaries,” he said. When asked why he didn’t wear a black shirt, Ingles said “I don’t believe in their cause. I don’t see the reason to wear black.”
In Lapu-Lapu City, a female court staffer confirmed that RTC Branch 27 presiding judge Toribio Quiwag suspended scheduled hearings yesterday and left the chamber.
Two other branches, 53 and 54, of Lapu-Lapu RTC had normal operations.
“We are practicing for our Christmas party,” said Judge Allan Francisco Garciano of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities in Lapu-Lapu City.
The hearing of the drug case against Kenyan national Asha Atieno Agutu was also deferred by a trial court judge in Lapu-Lapu City. Ogutu is set to take the witness stand today.
Lawyer Earl Bonachita, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Cebu City chapter, said they have to respect the sentiments of Corona in his speech.
“He is entitled to be presumed innocent,” he said.
As for court employees who went on “holiday,” he said, “Court employees are there to serve the public. If ever they express support, it should not disrupt court proceedings.”
