Little guys rally ’round Big Man

The most powerful man in the Philippine judiciary, facing an impeachment trial that could lead to his ouster from office, at least could find comfort in his own backyard.

Court employees, many in black shirts with purple ribbons or armbands, on Monday came out by the dozens and, in one place, by the hundreds, to express support for embattled Chief Justice Renato Corona.

In a Mass outside the Supreme Court building in Manila, they sang him the song “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”

A few kilometers away, outside the Senate building where his impeachment trial was about to begin, another crowd demanded Corona’s head, calling for his removal from the Supreme Court.

But at the Supreme Court, the crowd was visibly for Corona. Some 1,000 people—including Corona, some of his fellow justices and employees—packed the courtyard  to try to boost the Chief Justice’s spirit.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, celebrating Mass in the courtyard, said that while he was critical of some recent court decisions, he was concerned that Corona’s impeachment would jeopardize the balance of power among the executive, legislative  and judicial branches of government.

Checks and balances

“I am very concerned that we have good governance in the country. A part of that is to have proper checks and balances. The independence of each branch is to be safeguarded and it is for this intention that we pray together,” Pabillo said in his homily.

“It is very unfortunate that independence for the Lower House is no longer there because of pork barrel. We pray in this Mass that the Senate would be more independent,” he said.

Pabillo added: “May this impeachment be not just a political exercise determined by political alliances but a search for truth about what is right and what is just … We pray for the judicial system not so much that it may win but that it may not be intimidated and be courageous.”

While Pabillo made it clear he was there for the entire judiciary, it was clear that court employees were present to show support for Corona. Wearing black and purple shirts, they carried placards reading, “CJ, you are not alone. The entire judiciary stands behind you.”

Another placard slammed President Benigno Aquino III: “P-Noy, you’re now the Constitution.”

The crowd sang “You’ll Never Walk Alone” and “The Impossible Dream,” a protest song popular during the antidictatorship struggle against Ferdinand Marcos in the 1980s.

Advance warning

Outside the Senate building,  protesters belonging to militant groups called for Corona’s ouster, accusing him of being a pawn of former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The protesters came from the Gloria Panagutin! Movement and the Bantay Gloria Network, which have banded together to support the impeachment proceedings against Corona.

“The impeachment process should not also distract us from the bigger goals of holding (Arroyo) accountable and addressing the many problems of the nation, especially on the economic front,” said Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr.

Asked what was the significance of some placards which read “No to Aquino-controlled Supreme Court,” Reyes said it was “an advance warning to the government.”

Representatives of migrant workers and farmers took turns in lambasting Corona, labeling him Arroyo’s ally in the high court.

Pro-Corona group

Supporters of Corona massed up near the Film Center, a block away.

A pro-Corona group, calling itself Umalma Ka, asked the government to adhere to the rule of law, instead of railroading processes to oust the Chief Justice.

Some of its members wore masks showing of President Aquino sporting an Adolf Hitler-style moustache.

Vigil and fast

A church official called on those attending the Corona trial to join a group of “prayer warriors” holding a vigil and fast outside the Senate.

In an interview with reporters, Fr. Edu Gariguez, executive secretary of the Church’s National Secretariat for Social Action, supported the vigil and fast “for the sake of truth and justice” being held by Aksyon para sa Kapayapaan at Katarungan.

The group said its members would fast from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day until the impeachment court reaches a verdict.

Aquino in Tarlac

In Concepcion, Tarlac province, where he was on a visit, Mr. Aquino said he expected the Senate to rule based on the evidence presented against Corona. “I believe the evidence to be presented is very strong,” the President told reporters.

Asked to comment on anti-Aquino posters in some rallies, the President said the country was under a democracy. He also said: “Many are just forced to attend the Masses and meetings (in favor of Corona). But at the end of the day, the issue here is not about personalities.”

Black day

It was a “black” day at the Manila Regional Trial Court branches.

“We are in mourning,” Presiding Judge Silvino Pampilo Jr. said, referring to the hundreds of court employees and several judges  wearing black.

Banners bearing Corona’s picture and the words “Uphold Judicial Independence! Stand by Chief Justice Renato Corona!” were posted at the doors of some of the courts.

But there was no work stoppage.

At the Quezon City Hall of Justice, a Mass was held to pray for the judiciary. Some court employees wore shirts of various  shades of purple and black as they went about their work.

“Let us pray for the independence of the judiciary. We are also praying for those parties involved in the impeachment trial,”  Executive Judge Ma. Luisa Padilla of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court told the Inquirer. She said the Mass was not held to favor anyone.

In the provinces

At least 30 judges and employees of the Regional Trial Court in Angeles City, Pampanga province, traveled to Manila to join the gathering at the Supreme Court.

In San Fernando and Angeles, court employees showed their backing for Corona by wearing black shirts and armbands. They said they would  support Corona “until the end.”

In Bulacan province, court employees also wore black but said court proceedings were not disrupted. In Nueva Ecija, judges and employees also wore black and purple.

In Isabela province, court employees in the towns of Ilagan, Echague, Cabagan and Roxas and the cities of Santiago and Cauayan were also in black.

In San Pablo City, Judge Agripino Morga said he and other employees offered a prayer during the flag-raising ceremony for the “enlightenment of the President, the members of the House prosecution panel and the Senate.”

In Masbate City, Judge Manuel Sese said there was a minimal show of support for Corona because he was associated with Arroyo. “Anyone associated with Arroyo becomes very unpopular if not abhorred (in Masbate),” he said.

In Naga City, Executive Judge Pablo Formaran III said the judges  supported the call for a “fair, objective and impartial” impeachment trial of Corona.

In Davao City, several court employees were seen wearing black but  refused to make any comment, only saying they were going to watch the impeachment proceedings. In Cagayan de Oro City, court employees also wore black shirts, purple ribbons and armbands.

With reports from Philip C. Tubeza, Miko Morelos, Christine O. Avendaño, Jocelyn R. Uy, Jeannette I. Andrade, Jaymee T. Gamil,  Julie M. Aurelio, in Manila; Tonette Orejas, Jun Malig, Carmela Reyes-Estrope, Armand Galang, Cesar Villa and Greg Refraccion, Inquirer Central Luzon; Villamor Visaya Jr., Inquirer Northern Luzon; Maricar Cinco,  Delfin Mallari Jr., Juan Escandor Jr., Jonas Cabiles Soltes, Madonna Virola and Mar Arguelles, Inquirer Southern Luzon; and Cai Panlilio and Germelina Lacorte, Inquirer Mindanao