Corona attends last of novena Masses at SC Saturday

MANILA, Philippines—Beseeching Heaven’s assistance in Latin, supporters of Chief Justice Renato Corona  held a Tridentine Mass at the Supreme Court on Saturday, the last of novena of Masses for the beleaguered head of the judiciary.

Corona attended the Latin Mass late Saturday afternoon with his wife and more than 100 supporters, including former Philippine Commission on Good Government chief Camilo Sabio.

When asked after the Mass about the World Bank report finding mismanagement and questionable disbursements from a World Bank loan for a judicial reform program, Corona said: “It’s hard to answer that because I haven’t read it.”

The report was dated Dec. 28, 2011.

Corona also said that he had yet to decide whether to attend the opening of his impeachment trial in the Senate on Monday.

Asked again about the World Bank report that proceeds of the WB loan were used by Supreme Court justices to pay a travel agency of lawyer Estelito Mendoza, Corona said, “I haven’t read that. You are forcing me to answer.” He then went up the stairs into the Supreme Court building.