Saguisag: Corona’s free use of lawyers unethical

Citing a provision in the Code of Judicial Conduct, former Senator Rene Saguisag on Monday accused Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona of unethical conduct for retaining the services of lawyers for free.

“Under Rule 504 of the Code of Judicial Conduct, a judge or any member of his family shall not accept any gift or favor. So here, he is not the only one complicit, even his lawyers serving pro bono are,” Saguisag pointed out.

Speaking at Monday’s Kapihan sa Diamond Hotel, Saguisag cited how the Clinton couple, during the American president’s impeachment trial, paid for their legal bills using the proceeds of their respective autobiographies.

“But really, they (Clintons) had high-powered lawyers who were not serving for nothing. Here, they are serving pro bono, so each one of them is embroiled in violation of Rule 504 of the Code of Judicial Conduct,” he said.

Saguisag stressed, “He (Corona) cannot accept discounted penthouses, discounted diplomas and free legal services. These are prohibited under (Rule) 504.”

According to Saguisag, he had heard rumors of Corona’s resignation after he is acquitted by the impeachment court.

“Rene (Corona) is very badly damaged goods today. He is merely floating on the waters of the law. There is a scuttlebutt … that once he is acquitted he probably will resign anyway. That rumor is going around because he can be charged again,” he said.

Saguisag explained that another impeachment complaint could be initiated against Corona next year if the current one fails.

Akbayan Representative Walden Bello raised doubts that Corona could serve effectively as Chief Justice after he is acquitted.

Bello maintained that even if Corona were cleared he would not have the moral ascendancy to continue to serve.