CORONA
MANILA, DECEMBER
31, 2011 (STANDARD)
by Joyce Pangco Pañares and Christine F. Herrera - THE Palace said
Thursday it had a "Plan B" to remove Chief Justice Renato Corona in case he was
acquitted in his impeachment trial in the Senate.
But deputy presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte declined to disclose the
details of the plan.
"We always have a contingency plan. But it would be better to leave it up to
President Benigno Aquino III to disclose the details of the plan," Valte said.
Mr. Aquino has already asked his legal team to draw up a list of possible
replacements for Corona, who was impeached by the House of Representatives on
his orders.
The President has repeatedly accused Corona of being loyal to former
President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is under hospital
arrest on electoral sabotage charges.
Reacting to a Supreme Court statement Wednesday, Valte said the short list of
candidates was not meant to supplant the Judicial and Bar Council, the sole body
tasked to nominate candidates to the high court.
Court Administrator Midas Marquez had earlier said it was "arrogant" of the
Palace to seek replacements even if the impeachment trial against Corona had yet
to start.
"We are just doing our homework," Valte said.
"We don't think it's too arrogant to have a contingency plan. This does not
mean we will supplant the functions of the JBC."
Valte said the Palace would respect the council's shortlist in the event of a
vacancy even if it did not include the candidates preferred by the
administration.
On Thursday, Arroyo and her allies blamed Mr. Aquino for snatching the
Christmas holidays from them by making them answer the charges against them over
the holidays.
Arroyo and former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office officials, including
Manuel Morato, received plunder charges on Dec. 22 and were given a deadline to
reply by Jan. 2.
"The timing was terrible. No Christmas for us," Morato said.
Arroyo's lawyers Jose Flaminiano and Lawrence Arroyo, meanwhile, said they
were disappointed when they arrived at the Pasay Court Thursday to seek bail for
their client—only to learn that the judge was absent.
Clerk of Court Josel Pelicano told the lawyers that Judge Jesus Mupas had
gone on leave and the earliest that the bail petition could be heard was Jan. 9.
Even the chief justice was busy over the holidays because he had a Dec. 26
deadline to submit an answer to the impeachment complaint filed against him by
the House of Representatives.
"Please call Midas [Marquez, the Supreme Court spokesman]," Corona told the
Manila Standard.
"My full attention and focus right now are on my answer [to the impeachment
charges]. Sorry, okay? Merry Christmas."
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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