Cebu lawyers urge Corona to go on leave

CEBU CITY, Philippines—A group of lawyers in Cebu called on Chief Justice Renato Corona to take a leave of absence during the pendency of the impeachment case.

In a resolution dated Jan. 3, 2012, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Cebu City chapter “respectfully encouraged” Corona to go on leave so he could concentrate on his defense and to dispel any doubt from his critics that he was using the Supreme Court as a shield from his alleged acts of culpable violation of the Constitution.

The IBP Cebu City chapter also maintained that the Senate, which has been vested with the power to try and decide all impeachment cases by the Constitution, be given a chance to conduct the impeachment trial and resolve it based on the evidence.

Considering that Corona might have been subjected to trial by publicity, the IBP Cebu City chapter noted that the Senate would be the best forum where he could fully defend himself.

The IBP Cebu City expressed their full support to the judiciary, the executive and the legislative branches of government as “independent and venerable institutions of a democratic government.”

However, group maintained that a system of checks and balances was “necessary to ensure that ours (the state) remains to be a government of laws rather than of men.”

The IBP Cebu City noted that they recognized the impeachment process as provided by the Constitution as a means to maintain the integrity, loyalty, patriotism, trust and accountability of impeachable public officials.

It also asked the Senate to conduct the impeachment trial with utmost impartiality and to afford Corona all his constitutional rights such as due procession, presumption of innocence, among others.

The IBP Leyte chapter, however, did not come up with a common stand on the issue, said IBP Leyte president Roy Perez in a phone interview on Tuesday.

Perez said that he personally believed that Corona’s taking a leave would be in the best interest of both the Chief Justice and the entire judiciary.

“But since the trial has just started, it appears that the Supreme Court and the entire (judiciary) branch are not yet affected. But if, in the long run, the impeachment he faces will start to affect his work as the administrator of the Supreme Court, then he should take a leave of absence,” Perez said.

The Peace Advocates of Negros (Pan) expressed support for the impeachment of Corona and called for his resignation.

“Impeachment is a constitutional process exercised by the people through their representatives. It is directed, not on the institution, but against a member of the Court,” according to a statement from the Pan issued on Tuesday.

“We have to restore what has been lost:  the Rule of law, the Independence of the Judiciary, and the credibility of the Supreme Court,” it said, stressing that “Corona must go”.

The group claimed that “Corona and his cabal of justices have shown despotism.”

“They have shown the tyranny of their number in questionable decisions clearly rendered contrary to law and the Constitution, relying on the fact that their decisions, right or wrong are final and cannot anymore be questioned,” Pan said.

Meanwhile, Corona continued to draw support from court employees. On Monday, the court employees in Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Antique, Leyte and Capiz wore black or purple t-shirts as a show of support for Corona.