Justice Renato Corona

STATEMENT OF FORMER SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS (FSGO)

19 May 2010

 

 

JUSTICE CORONA’S APPOINTMENT IS UNETHICAL

So much has been said to justify the appointment of Justice Renato Corona as lawful, but Malacañang’s apologists have completely missed the point. What is legal is not necessarily ethical.  

Arroyo’s recent appointment of Justice Corona as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court smacks of her lack of decency and utter disregard for the results of the successful national elections. Despite repeated calls from various sectors for her to abstain from making a midnight appointment and to allow the next administration to select one of the most important posts in government, Arroyo insisted on making the appointment which has resulted in:

1. More divisiveness in a nation that is already wracked by conflict and dissent and needs to build UNITY; 
2. Lack of respect for the incoming President whom the people have decided should have the right to make the appointment;
3. The erosion of the Supreme Court’s credibility as an institution not beholden to any President in cases where there are existing jurisprudence, tradition and overwhelming public opinion;
4. Increased suspicion that Arroyo’s action is meant to shield her from being made accountable for the excesses of her administration.

Arroyo’s action has also exposed Justice Corona to unnecessary and unfair media exposure, because he has the credentials for the job and would have been a strong candidate anyway for the post of Chief Justice, as the JBC attested.

We, Former Senior Government Officials (FSGO), say, “ENOUGH!” For nine long years we have seen the steady decline of the pillars of good governance in our society. In many instances, amidst howls of protest, we have seen the Arroyo administration carry on without regard for the will of the people. Legality was the oft-repeated excuse, but we ask:  What about ethical behavior?  What about good governance?  What about the interests of the country?


For Reference:

Vicente Paterno
Former Minister of  Industry
Mobiline: 0917 795 7974
   
Vitaliano Nañagas
Former Chair, Development Bank of the Philippines
Mobiline: 0929 685 3840

Narzalina Lim
Former Secretary, Department of Tourism
Mobiline: 0917 524 7649   

Isagani Cruz
Former Undersecretary, Department of Education
Mobiline: 0917 855 3350