Chief Justice says he thought of resigning

Chief Justice Renato Corona

Chief Justice Renato Corona on Thursday said he had considered resigning to put an end to President Benigno Aquino III’s criticisms and avoid a difficult impeachment trial.

Addressing government lawyers at the Manila Hotel, the embattled Corona also disclosed that he thought of inhibiting himself from the cases involving former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“I know there was an easy way out of this—to inhibit or to resign. If I resign, maybe there would be peace for me and the insults thrown at me would cease,” Corona said in English and Filipino.

“But after a long and deep reflection, I told myself, ‘Is this really how it should be? That if someone wants something, he could easily get it?’” he continued.

“I thought it was time for me to say that enough is enough,” Corona said, drawing applause from the state lawyers.

Corona was to deliver his speech before the members of the Public Attorney’s Office, an agency of the Department of Justice, at around 2 p.m., but he arrived several hours later. He explained that he had started preparing for his defense.

“It hurts to be accused of something that is not true. I expect all sorts of accusations to be thrown at me which the media would pick up,” he said.

“I know that the impeachment trial will not be easy because there will be lies against me. They will not only insult me, they will also peddle lies about me,” he added.

While the trial would be painful for him and his family, Corona said he was “willing to go through that.”

“This is not just a personal fight for me… I have to fight for the rule of law,” he said. “I ask you to bear with me, to stand with me. This is a fight for all freedom-loving Filipinos. I love you all.”