Corona denies asking for P50-M retirement pay

Former Chief Justice Renato Corona. SENATE POOL

MANILA, Philippines—Former Chief Justice Renato Corona branded as “demolition job” and “malicious lie” the reports saying he was asking for a P50-million worth of retirement benefits from the Supreme Court.

“I do not know of anybody in government who ever received that kind of retirement pay. The signatories of the press release who are supposedly experienced senior government executives should know that retirement pay is determined by law and is never dependent on what the retiree wants,” Corona said in a text message to reporters.

Corona believes that it is his right to receive his retirement benefits because it is clear that an impeachment conviction is limited only from removal from office.

“The Constitution is very clear that impeachment is only limited from removal from office,” he said.

As such, accessory penalties are not included, such as forfeiture of retirement benefits. In addition, the decision of the Senate Impeachment Court does not include the forfeiture of his retirement benefits.

The FSGO, in a press release issued over the weekend, called on the Supreme Court to take a “principled stand” on the retirement benefits of the former chief justice.

FSGO includes allies of President Benigno Aquino III in the likes of Carina Constantino David, Wigberto Tañada and Edilberto de Jesus.

Corona was appointed Associate Justice of the Supreme Court in 2002 and named Chief Justice in 2010. Prior to his stint at the Supreme Court, he also served as one of the Cabinet secretaries of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Corona, by a vote of 20-3, was the first chief justice to be removed from office through impeachment for betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution due to his failure to truthfully declare his assets in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth from 2001 to 2010.

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