Corona attends P-Noy's oath taking rites

MANILA, Philippines - Chief Justice Renato Corona attended yesterday the inaugural rites at the Luneta of President Aquino who still does not recognize the appointment of the new head of the Supreme Court.

Corona attended the inauguration at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila yesterday but during his speech the President did not acknowledge the presence of the chief justice.

The President greeted his honorary guests, but he apparently lumped Corona with “members of the Supreme Court” in a general salutation after recognizing former Presidents Joseph Estrada and Fidel Ramos, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Speaker Prospero Nograles.

In his address, the President even warned concerned government officials that he would review the midnight appointments made by his predecessor, Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Mr. Aquino took his oath before Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales, the only justice who dissented from the SC’s majority ruling in favor of Arroyo’s appointment of Corona that was done at the time of a supposed ban on appointments because of the election.

The President, however, shook hands with Corona after his speech. The chief justice was seated between former Vice President Noli de Castro and Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim.

Before the President left the stage, he went back to the chief justice and tapped the latter’s elbow.

Aside from Corona and Morales, seven other SC justices attended the inauguration, namely: Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, Associate Justices Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, Arturo Brion, Mariano del Castillo, Roberto Abad, Jose Perez and Jose Mendoza.

All are Arroyo appointees.

Corona was initially not expected to attend the event, although he was invited out of protocol. He was set to administer the oaths of office of at least 20 elected officials at the SC from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

In a statement, the SC’s public information office said Corona attended the inauguration to “show respect to the Office of the President and the executive department as a co-equal branch of government.”

Corona’s attendance was “not only in a personal capacity but more so as head and representative of the SC and the judiciary.”

It has also upheld the dignity of the SC, added the statement.

Among those who took their oath before the chief justice were re-elected Sen. Manuel Lapid and Sen. Vicen­te Sotto III, Representatives Em Aglipay, Karlo Nograles, Edcel Lagman, Leopoldo Bataoil, Gov. Aurelio Umali, and Mayors Abraham Tolentino and Enrico Echiverri.

After taking his oath, Sotto revealed to reporters that he plans to file bills creating special drug courts and a national penitentiary for convicted drug offenders, free rehabilitation for drug dependents, random drug testing, and some amendment to Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

“I would like to give priority to the bills that will help reduce crimes in the country like the special drug courts to expedite the trials and to de-clog regional trial courts, especially in National Capital Region,” he explained.

Sotto also expressed support for the new administration, hoping that it would bring more development to the country and to the lives of the people.