Reforming the judiciary is a work in progress. This is according to the man whose unprecedented ouster as chief justice a year ago was supposed to pave the way for judicial reforms. Renato Corona said he had moved on since his removal from office on May 30 last year following an impeachment trial. Now facing formal charges for tax evasion and lying about his assets, Corona maintains his innocence.
His removal over inaccuracies in his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth apparently inspired more detailed asset declarations for 2012 from many public servants. There is also closer scrutiny of SALNs filed in recent years by lawmakers, with graft charges being brought against those seen to have lied in the official documents.
Rules on public disclosure of the assets of Supreme Court justices and magistrates of lower courts, however, have hardly been eased. Opaqueness has characterized SC finances for a long time, and the magistrates, it seems, still prefer to keep it that way.
Apart from the lack of fiscal transparency, the Philippine judicial system has retained its reputation for unpredictability and vulnerability to political influence. The weak rule of law and uncertainty in the adjudication of business and other economic cases have been among the major complaints of foreign investors. Of particular concern for them are court restraining orders issued arbitrarily or, it is perceived, sometimes for the right price. Social injustice arising from compromised magistrates also continues to drive people into the arms of insurgent and bandit groups, with the impoverished the most vulnerable to rebel recruitment.
The most common complaint against the judiciary is the glacial pace of the administration of justice. This problem has been around for decades and changing the system will take more than the removal of a chief justice. But the ouster of Corona raised expectations for judicial reforms. Filipinos are waiting for a discernible improvement.