Aquino to act vs high court justices who violate Charter

Chief Justice Renato Corona

MANILA, Philippines — President Benigno Aquino III said in a television interview Friday night that he would take action against other Supreme Court justices if they would violate the Constitution or commit impeachable offenses.

Aquino made the statement in response to GMA7 news anchor Mike Enriquez who asked him in an interview if he would also move against the other justices appointed by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo if decisions by the Supreme Court
continued to go against the administration.

“If they violate the Constitution, if there is an impeachable offense,” the President answered.

Aquino said it would be good for the issues raised against Chief Justice Renato Corona to be resolved at his impeachment trial in the Senate starting in January.

“So now that there is accountability, we brought back the issue that there can be no impunity. There is accountability,” President Aquino said.

Aquino had a series of speeches against Corona after the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order on restrictions imposed by the Aquino administration on Arroyo, who was then facing an electoral sabotage complaint before the Department of Justice.

Aquino took issue with Corona for supposedly showing partiality toward Arroyo in cases involving her that had been brought to the high court.

A joint panel of the DoJ and the Commission on Elections has found probable cause against Arroyo and filed the electoral sabotage case against her at the Pasay City Regional Trial court.

Arroyo is now detained at the Veterans’ Memorial Medical Center.

The House of Representatives, led by President Aquino’s allies in the Liberal Party, impeached Corona and immediately delived the articles of impeachment to the Senate for trial.

Mr. Aquino thanked his House allies for Corona’s impeachment.