Category: Supreme Court

The downside of having a young SC chief

Published by Ellen on June 14, 2012

As of yesterday, reports said the Judicial and Bar Council, which screens nominees for positions in the Judiciary, for appointment by the President, has received 14 nominations for the position vacated by the recently convicted former Chief Justice Renato Corona.

The latest addition to the growing list are anti-graft crusader Frank Chavez and former Makati representative and writer/TV commentator Teodoro “Teddy Boy” Locsin Jr.

Chavez was nominated by Manuel Baviera of the Whistleblowers Association and Locsin was nominated by lawyer Brigido Dulay and ABAKADA party-list president Jonathan Dela Cruz.

The published names of nominees include Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza, Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares and women’s rights advocate Katrina Legarda,retired Judge Manuel Siayngco Jr.;University of the Philippines’ College of Law dean Raul Pangalangan, Ateneo de Manila University law school dean Cesar Villanueva, Inquirer columnist and former former Laguna Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Marianito Sasondoncillo, lawyer Nepomuceno Aparis,Rafael Morales, a managing partner of the Sycip, Salazar, Hernandez & Gatmaitan law firm.

JBC partly to blame for problems in judiciary

Published by Ellen on June 14, 2012

This is a three-part series by VERA Files which we hope you will find useful as we monitor the selection of the next Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

JBC partly to blame for problems in judiciary

(First of three parts)

The Judicial and Bar Council is now the focus of national attention as it begins the process of recommending a replacement for ousted Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona. The process, if done right, is expected to help restore public confidence in the High Tribunal.

Yet many in the legal profession and in the judiciary, as well as in civil society, say the JBC needs reforming, because it is partly responsible for the problems in the judiciary, exemplified by the rise and fall of Corona, a “midnight appointee” who was eventually impeached and convicted for violating the Constitution and betraying public trust.

Guilty!

Published by Ellen on May 29, 2012

Statement of President Aquino included in this article.

Update:Carpio is Acting Justice

Presiding Judge Juan Ponce-Enrile — 'Culpable violation of the Constitution'

In a vote of 20-3, the impeachment court declared Chief Justice Renato Corona “Guilty” of having committed “culpable violation of the Constitution and/or betrayed the public trust when he failed to disclose to the public his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth as required under Sec. 17, Art. XI of the 1987 Constitution.

Under the Rules of Impeachment, there is no appeal. He is thus immediately removed as chief justice
The charge was number two of the Articles of Impeachment. The senate-turned-impeachment court did not find it necessary to vote on the two other charges.

Those who voted “Guilty” were: Edgardo Angara, Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Franklin Drilon, Francis Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, Teofisto Guingona III, Gregorio Honasan, Panfilo Lacson,Lito Lapid, Loren Legarda, Sergio Osmeña III, Francis Pangilinan, Aquilino Pimentel III, Ralph Recto,Tito Sotto, Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr., Antonio Trillanes IV, Manuel Villar, at Juan Ponce-Enrile.

Those who voted “Not Guilty” were Joker Arroyo, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, and Ferdinand Marcos,Jr.

Fariñas’ ‘Palusot, most compelling in closing arguments

Published by Ellen on May 28, 2012

Fariñas: Several ‘palusots’ in CJ defense
ABS-CBN News Online

House prosecutor Rodolfo Fariñas on Monday described as “palusot” (excuse) Chief Justice Renato Corona’s explanations on why he did not declare some of his assets, including multimillion peso and multimillion dollar accounts, in his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

Fariñas said Corona made several excuses in his impeachment trial: that he was being persecuted because of President Aquino’s loss of Hacienda Luisita, that he had been collecting dollars since the late 60s, that he need not declare his dollar deposits and peso deposits because it would violate Republic Act 6426 and because they are commingled funds.

Ombudsman denies being ‘used’ by Palace

Published by Ellen on May 25, 2012

by Jon Carlos Rodriguez, ABS-CBNnews.com

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales on Friday denied the allegations made by Chief Justice Renato Corona that she was “used” by Malacañang to present documents from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) regarding the chief justice’s dollar accounts.

“I was never ever used by Malacañang,” Carpio-Morales told reporters in a press conference.

“Hindi ako magpapagamit. I have been trying to be impartial. I have been trying to be fair. I have been trying to be impervious to influence and I’d like to believe I succeeded,” she said.

Carpio-Morales said she felt “maligned” by Corona’s statements against her, adding that she will let the public judge who between them is telling the truth.

“He asked me if I have a conscience. Yes, I have a clear conscience. I hope he has a conscience and it is as clear as mine,” she said.

Coronas’ cash: US$2.4M plus P80M

Published by Ellen on May 25, 2012

Chief justice says he won’t resign

By Ira Pedrasa, ABS-CBNnews.com

Corona returns to Senate — Corona returns to the Senate

Chief Justice Renato Corona on Friday admitted having US$2.4 million, including interest earnings since the early 1970s, plus P80 million in co-mingled funds.

“I never, at any time, had 10, 11 or 12 million [US] dollars,” Corona said, denying a claim by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales that he had “transactional balances” of $10 million-$12 million in his dollar accounts.

Answering questions from senator-judges, Corona said his dollar accounts now total $2.4 million. He said he began investing and trading in dollars since the late 1960s when he was still working with the private sector.

Corona faces conviction

Published by Ellen on May 24, 2012

Corona attempting to leave Senate2 — Blocked from leaving the Senate

The walkout by Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona sealed his fate: he will be convicted.

During his three-hour narration, wherein he didn’t mince words against those he perceived were maligning him including President Aquino, whom he scornfully referred to as “hacienderong Pangulo”, he kept on complaining about his detractors undermining the rule law and bastardizing due process.

“Binababoy nila ang proseso ng Saligang Batas para yurakan ang aking mga karapatan,” he said.

As chief justice, Corona should be the embodiment of the rule of law. His office enforces judicial code of conduct and the Code of Professional Responsibility for lawyers. He knows that a witness, which he was on May 22, does not leave the witness stand without being discharged by the Presiding judge.

Corona disassembles

Published by Ellen on May 22, 2012

Update: Impeachment court won’t wait for Corona, who is now at the ICU of Medical City. Enrile gives defense up to Friday to present their evidence. Oral arguments will be on Monday. After that, voting.

Corona may 22 at impeachment trial — Thanks to Inquirer.net for photo

Just when it seemed that Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona had scored with his almost three -hour long testimony, complete with tearful moments, at his impeachment trial he walked out of the trial!
He just declared: “And now, the Chief Justice of the Republic of the Philippines wishes to be excused.” Then he left the session hall.

A surprised and annoyed Presiding Judge Juan Ponce-Enrile ordered all the Senate building’s exit closed.

What a day!

My friend Marilyn Robles remarked: “Naluma ang theatrics ni Manang Miriam. May paiyak-iyak pa.Ayan nagalit si Manong Johnny.”

Dean Nilo Divina of the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law, who is one of ANC’s panelists, said it beats any Korean telenovela.

Mindboggling Corona $ assets: 82 accounts in 5 banks; $12 M ‘fresh deposits’

Published by Ellen on May 14, 2012

Corona ‘fresh deposits’ more than $12M—Ombudsman
By Maila Ager
INQURER.net

Chief Justice Renato Corona has “fresh deposits” amounting to more than $12 million, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales on Monday told the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court.

“I think my computation which was arrived at with the assistance of a CPA (certified public accountant) lawyer is that fresh deposits, which means they never moved, they remained in that particular (account) amounted to more than 12 million dollars…,” Morales said, based on the report furnished to her by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).

Morales gave the statement when Senator Ferdinand “Bong-Bong” Marcos Jr. asked whether the total amount of Corona’s alleged dollar deposits in 82 accounts totaled $10 million.

“It’s even more,” said the Ombudsman in response to Marcos’ query.

Great job by LRA’s Diaz

Published by Ellen on March 22, 2012

miriam and diaz — Miriam taking Diaz to the cleaners

To those who follow the impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, Eulalio Diaz III, a classmate of President Aquino whom he appointed administrator of the Land Registration Authority, bungled his job, big time, in releasing a list of 45 properties credited to Corona.

But if you look at it from the point of view of the Aquino administration’s crusade against Corona and his benefactor, Gloria Arroyo, Diaz did a great job.

Imagine, with a phone call from Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupaz, head of the prosecution panel, he produced the list as his Jan 10, 2012 letter to Tupaz indicated: “Pursuant to your official request for the information relative to real estate properties registered in the name of Renato Corona et al, please find enclosed herewith certified true copies of titles registered in their names.”

Diaz related that he employed a “name search” in the LRA data base. He said that it was not only Renato Corona’s name that he punched in. He also searched for real estate properties with the name of Cristina Roco Corona, Francis Vincent Corona, Charina Corona, Maria Carla Corona Castillo and Constantino Castillo III.