Now, court employees to wear red, not black

Long considered the symbol of protest, the color red will take the place of black as Supreme Court employees, judges and supporters launch on Monday novena Masses for embattled Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Jojo Guerrero, president of the 3,000-strong Supreme Court Employees Association (Scea), said thousands of court workers and Corona’s followers were expected to turn up and wear red shirts at the start of a nine-day religious activity at the high tribunal’s compound on Padre Faura, Manila.

“Court employees will wear red shirts every Monday to show our support for the Chief Justice,” Guerrero said.

“We chose red to show that we are extra vigilant and fully supportive of our chief magistrate,” he said. “The color symbolizes courage and bravery to continue the fight for judicial independence.”

Guerrero and his group headed the “Black Monday protest” to register their opposition to Corona’s impeachment, which they described as the “death of democracy” in the country.

Earlier, the group also led a similar activity in assailing Malacañang’s decision to cut the proposed budget of the judiciary and its refusal to settle the unpaid special allowances and salaries for retired and active judges and court personnel.

“Even during the budget issue, (Malacañang) really wants to control the judiciary. And we cannot just sit and allow that to happen without a fight. We are behind the Chief Justice in this battle,” Guerrero said.

Guerrero said the Solidarity 4 Sovereignty (S4S) and several judges will also join the 4:30 p.m. Mass to pray for protection “from the attacks of a de facto dictator.”

Saying the protests would not hamper court operations across the nation, he pointed out that participation in the activities was purely voluntary.

“But we can no longer contain this as the emotions of our members are already running high,” he said.

According to Guerrero, some of their members even proposed marching to the Senate to dramatize their support for Corona and their opposition to the ongoing impeachment trial.