Palace dares chief justice to specify alleged attempts to ruin court

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang on Friday dared Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona to specify the alleged moves to undermine the judiciary that the executive branch might be involved in.

In a news briefing on Friday afternoon, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda denied that the Aquino administration was involved in any move to discredit the judiciary particularly the Supreme Court.

Lacierda said President Aquino didn’t mean to snub Corona during the former’s inauguration last June 30.

He also denied that the administration squeezed the budget for the judiciary under the 2011 General Appropriations Act.

Lacierda was reacting to Corona’s allegations on Thursday that some sectors were out to discredit the judiciary.

Corona went on to mention Mr. Aquino’s alleged snub during the inauguration and the purported cuts in provisions for the judiciary in the 2011 budget.