‘Ex-chief justice Corona entitled to retirement benefits’

MANILA, Philippines — Four years after his death, the Supreme Court (SC) has granted the immediate release of retirement benefits to former chief justice Renato Corona.

In a 26-page decision, members of the SC unanimously declared that Corona was entitled to retirement benefits and other allowances equivalent to a five-year lump sum of the salary and other allowances he was receiving at the time of his removal by impeachment in May 2012.

Under Republic Act 9946 or an act granting additional retirement, survivorship and other benefits to members of the judiciary, amending for the purpose RA 910, Corona’s wife Ma. Cristina is granted the claim of survivorship, reckoned from the lapse of a five-year period on the lump sum, the SC said.

“All benefits granted herein are ordered immediately released to his widow and beneficiary, Ma. Cristina Roco-Corona, subject to usual clearances,” it added.

Corona served as the 23rd chief justice beginning on May 12, 2010 after an eight-year stint as associate justice of the high court.

A year after being appointed as chief justice, articles of impeachment were filed against him and he was indicted by the House of Representatives on the grounds of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution and graft and corruption. The judgment on his impeachment was announced on May 29, 2012.

“The late chief justice practically lived and died a public servant and thus entitled to retirement benefits, which the court finds no rhyme or reason to withhold from him. In the computation of his retirement benefits, it shall be reckoned from the time he was convicted in the impeachment case,” the SC said.

The SC ruled that Corona, at the time of his death, qualified under optional retirement; and that even if he was ineligible for optional retirement, he met the qualifications of “involuntarily retired.”

The high court also did not find any reason to disqualify his wife for entitlement and should be consoled by the grant of benefits that are legally accorded to her as a surviving legitimate spouse of a magistrate under RA 9946.

Even after he was impeached and tax evasion, perjury and administrative complaints for violation of RA 6713 or the Code of Conduct of Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees and a case for forfeiture were filed against Corona in 2014, all these charges were terminated upon his demise on April 29, 2016, the SC said.