League of Cities backs Corona impeachment

MANILA, Philippines—The League of Cities of the Philippines has thrown its support behind the impeachment of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona and his impending trial by the Senate, citing the need for reform in the high tribunal.

The LCP, which is composed of the chief executives of the country’s 122 cities, said in a statement that Corona “directly” participated in “irregularities that grossly violate the Supreme Court’s own Rules of Procedures.”

The group was referring to the court’s decision—after flip-flopping a few times—to convert 16 municipalities into cities, despite their failure to achieve the criteria.

Mayor Ed Hagedorn of Puerto Princesa City said the court’s decision had the effect of reducing the internal revenue allotment for cities already in existence, thus also lessening their budgets for disaster control and management and payroll, among other things.

Hagedorn heads the Southern Luzon chapter of the LCP.