Aquino looking for Corona’s replacement

MANILA, Philippines—President Aquino is looking for a potential replacement for Chief Justice Renato Corona, one that Malacanang says the President Aquino does not know personally but is a proven person of integrity and probity such as Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, a spokesman said Tuesday.

Edwin Lacierda, Mr. Aquino’s spokesperson, said the President has asked his legal advisers to come up with a list of possible nominees for chief justice as Corona faces an impeachment trial by the Senate in January.

“We’re just preparing for a contingency. This is just a contingency,” Lacierda said at Tuesday’s regular news briefing at Malacañang.

Lacierda said the list was only for the President’s appreciation as he looks for the chief justice’s replacement in the event Corona is convicted of the impeachment charges.

“Just for the President to look into perhaps…. He is not a lawyer, he needs to rely on his legal team…. Number 1,  he needs someone who are in the likes of Maylou Sereno,” Lacierda said.

“Just to let you know Maylou Sereno was not known to the President. He will look into their qualifications and see if there are people who are worthy to be members of the Supreme Court, making sure that they are men and women of probity, integrity and independence,” he added.