Corona says his family being harassed by Aquino gov’t

MANILA, Philippines—Chief Justice Renato Corona revealed that his family is being harassed by the Aquino government in the course of the impeachment trial.

Speaking before 800 judges, lawyers and law students in his hometown Batangas on Wednesday said his house is under surveillance and modes of communication tapped.

While he did not give specific details on the said surveillance and wiretapping incidents, Corona described this by quoting famed historian Gregorio Zaide, as “ambitious, no mercy, no-conscience presidency aimed at establishing dictatorship with powers concentrated in the same hands.”

Batangas 2nd District Representative Hermilando I. Mandanas also attended the event. Mandanas is one of the three original House Liberal Party stalwarts. He had earlier been stripped of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee chairmanship a day after refusing to sign the impeachment complaint against the Chief Justice.

He had been replaced by a member of the ruling party, Rep. Isidro Ungab of Davao City.

Mandanas said the impeachment complaint itself is “political harassment.”

“The Constitution, a sacred document (banal na kasulatan), has been exploited for partisan politics and the first victim of the administration in this impeachment process is the House of Representatives (referring to the 188 congressmen who signed),” Mandanas said.

The Batangas lawmaker then urged the audience not to vote for these congressmen in next year’s election to express the fight for truth and justice.

“As an elected member of the people, our nation is faced with a crisis of true leadership,” Mandanas said.

This is Mandanas’ first public appearance with the Chief Justice after the latter was impeached by the House of Representatives on December 12, 2011.