Midas no longer speaks for Supreme Court

MANILA, Philippines - With chief justice Renato Corona convicted and removed from office by the Senate impeachment court, Jose Midas Marquez has been replaced as spokesman and public information office (PIO) chief of the Supreme Court (SC).

Marquez was replaced by his deputy, lawyer Ma. Victoria Gleoresty Guerra, who was appointed acting SC PIO chief by acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio.

A visibly sad Marquez was spotted at the SC lobby yesterday afternoon.

When mobbed by media, he said: “I can’t speak for the SC now.”

The staff of Marquez in the PIO, as well as the staff of Corona, were given 30 days to remain in their offices.

Marquez can stay as SC court administrator until he turns 65, unless removed by the full court.

Guerra, called “Atty. G” in the high court, finished AB Mass Communication in Ateneo and then law at the University of the Philippines (UP) before joining the SC in 1994 as court attorney in the office of retired Justice Vicente Mendoza.

In 2003 when Mendoza retired, she moved to the PIO.