MANILA, Philippines - Embattled Chief Justice Renato Corona today said that he will not resign as he believes that the impeachment move against him is part of President Benigno Aquino III's plan to lord over the three branches of government.
"Malamang umaasa ang mga kalaban ng korte na ako at ang ibang miyembro na hindi nila kayang diktahan ay magbibitiw sa tungkulin. Hindi kami magbibitiw sa tungkulin," Corona said, receiving loud cheers and applause from thousands of members of the court clad in black, who trooped to the Supreme Court building in Manila to show support for him.
Trial courts nationwide suspended hearings today to show support for Corona, who is scheduled to stand in an impeachment trial at the Senate.
Corona denied all the allegations cited in the impeachment complaint. He answered the allegations one by one, including his alleged failure to file his statement of assets, liabilities and networth.
He said that he will face the allegations against him with all his "courage" to avert President Aquino's alleged plan to slowly create a dictatorship.
"Kung sakaling magtagumpay ang impeachment na ito laban sa akin, ano sa palagay ninyo ang mangyayari? Simple lang po mga mahal na kababayan. Kay Ginoong Aquino na ang Gabinete, kontrolado na niya ang Kongreso at hawak na niya ang Korte Suprema," the Chief Justice said.
"Ako ay tumutuol sa dahan-dahang binubuo na diktadura ni Pangulong Benigno Simeon Aquino III," he added.
Corona also told the judges and court employees, who trooped to the SC building, that the impeachment complaint filed against him by President Aquino's allies in the House of Representatives is not only an attack on his person, but also an attack against the high court as an institution and the judiciary.
He said the real intent of the impeachment complaint and the series of attacks against him by the Aquino administration was to "Destroy the judiciary, destroy democracy."
"Ito ang patutunghan ng baluktod na daang matuwid," Corona added, taking a swipe at President Aquino's campaign slogan of "Daang Matuwid."
In his speech, he said that President Aquino should not just concentrate on ousting him from the high court because of the various problems facing the country, including poverty, dwindling economy, joblessness and hunger.
Corona also attempted to insult President Aquino, saying he could not have known the meaning of primus inter pares (first among equals), or the most senior member of a group with sharing the ranks.
He said that as the primus inter pares of the judiciary, he is prepared to lead all members of the court in their fight to protect the high court and the democracy.
He said he will answer all the allegations against him, which he said were all based on fiction, point by point.
Before ending his speech, Corona urged his fellow members of the judiciary to rally behind him as he faces the impeachment proceedings against him.
"Hinihiling kong samahan ninyo ako sa aking laban at misyon," he said.
In response to Corona's speech, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that the chief justice's statements were all false.
Lacierda said Corona should just answer the allegations against him at the Senate. -- Angelo L. Gutierrez