Today, Tuesday, 22 May 2012, the Republic of the Philippines had a date with history. When I woke up, I eagerly wrote on both Facebook and Twitter:
(1) ... a historic day .. may truth and justice prevail ... god bless the philippines...
(2) ... i maintain that the country will be brighter with all these lanterns of lies as they eventually fuel the luminescence of truth
I was so optimistic. I believe that the justice system still works and I was eagerly looking forward to see how Chief Justice Renato Coronado Corona would defend himself in the Impeachment Court.
His mudslinging opening statement surprised me, and the fact that he was allowed such leniency astounded me. His spiel was a strategic move to make others look like shit (I will not apologize for this, it was what it is) while he projected himself as squeaky clean.
Chief Justice Renato Coronado Corona declared in no uncertain terms that the Haciendero President has used all the powers of his position to destroy him. Kitchen sink and all. He looked at his accusers in the Prosecution Panel and told them he is innocent.
Addressing the Filipino nation, he said his conscience is clear. He even repeated that for optimum effect.
The Chief Justice went full out and pandered to people of average means by stating they live simple lives, in fact they do not really use air conditioners because they tend to easily get sick with cold temperatures. Then he aimed lower and declared that they have no maids. I thought he was going to aim even lower still and declare that they only eat instant noodles if only to earn the sympathy of the poorest of the poor.
Senate President/President Officer Juan Ponce Enrile interrupted Chief Justice Renato Coronado Corona around four times while Mario Bautista of the Prosecution Team made two attempts to stop Chief Justice Renato Coronado Corona from continuing with his statements which Atty. Bautista said was irrelevant and based on hearsay.
And as Chief Justice Renato Coronado Corona droned on and on, I was thinking to myself, this man must have a very fragile ego (what with the squid tactics). He believes he is being bullied but is himself a bully. And listening closely to what he actually does not say, I get the impression that he has self-esteem issue (so surprising for someone who stands above the throng as the Chief Magistrate).
After over two hours of his soliloquy, he says: “The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Republic of the Philippines wishes to be excused.” Suddenly, Chief Justice Renato Coronado Corona is out of the witness stand and is seen exiting the Senate Session Hall.
All hell breaks loose.
Chief Justice Renato Coronado Corona has indeed walked out of the Senate Session Hall cum Impeachment Court.
The Presiding Officer declares that the witness has not been discharged.
Defense Chief Legal Counsel, former Associate Justice Serafin Cuevas appears to have been caught off-guard.
The Presiding Officer quickly tells Senate Security to close all exits. Nobody leaves the Senate Building.
In the melee that followed, Supreme Court Administrator and Spokesman Midas Marquez is seen gamely playing the role of a “tagahawi” (one who clears the way).
And then the liars, err, excuse me, the Defense Team goes to town with stories that categorically state that Chief Justice Renato Coronado Corona had hypoglycemia and was in pain.
I am a diabetic. I have been trying to understand him from the perspective of a fellow diabetic. His claim of hypoglycemia does not make sense in light of how he actually acted. He did not appear disoriented when he was on the stand. And if he were feeling the onset of the crash, he would not have said: “The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Republic of the Philippines wishes to be excused.”
It was pretty obvious that he was being a royal pain in the ass.
If he was indeed having an actual and real hypoglycemic episode, he could not have walked out on his own steam in such great haste. In fact, I believe that a diabetic who is on the verge of crashing would not have been able to leave his chair on his own.
It was obviously planned and choreographed. It was definitely a walk out. No ifs and no buts! And no, I was never aware of any other pain other than a headache being associated with hypoglycemia. Or has my family (both parents and a brother who have since passed on) been very lucky not to have experienced that during their lifetime?
His family says he did not have lunch. Really? For someone who has been a diabetic for so long, he knows better than to skip meals, no matter what. And his family should also know this full well. No lunch my ass!
Cut to next scene: Chief Justice Renato Coronado Corona in a wheelchair. Shades of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Paawa (plot for sympathy) effect still relentlessly at work!
I personally declare, without fear of going to jail, that Renato Coronado Corona, The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Republic of the Philippines indeed has a flair for the overly dramatic ... he has a scene-stealing, attention-grabbing, media-hogging savvy that is so pathetic.
Tomorrow he has been ordered to return to court or else his case will be considered endorsed for judgment.
It will be remembered that all these began with his controversial and outright illegal and immoral midnight appointment as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Republic of the Philippines.
This is the very same Supreme Court that prides itself in going beyond the basic tenets of Republic Act No. 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees) stating that:
“We have repeatedly held that although every office in the government service is a public trust, no position exacts a greater demand for moral righteousness and uprightness from an individual than in the judiciary.”
“Personnel in the judiciary should conduct themselves in such a manner as to be beyond reproach and suspicion, and free from any appearance of impropriety in their personal behavior, not only in the discharge of their official duties but also in their everyday life. They are strictly mandated to maintain good moral character at all times and to observe irreproachable behavior so as not to outrage public decency.”
The Crown has never had “moral ascendancy” to begin with. He even had to lie about his alleged academic honors.
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