Project in Political Science 102

Submitted to: Ms. Rhena Amor Dinerman

Submitted by: Shekinah D. Abalos BSEE-I

Coronas Offenses

The impeachment of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona had been in the hot news these past few days. Breaking down and studying this matter had made me so confused and curios until I have reached the level of strong interest in studying this news. I can see that Chief Justice Corona had been over judged by some critics. I do not see him actually guilty of the offenses that had been accused to him. State for an example, one of the eight complaints against him of which 188 members of the House of Representatives who signed the complaint censured him for refusing to disclose his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth or SALN. But unfortunately on the other hand, the House accusers could also be accused of the same offense and culpable violation of the Constitution and anti-graft laws. Indeed, the PCIJs records from 2006 to December 2011 reveal the persistent non-disclosure of SALNs not just by Corona and all the justices of the high court since 1992, but also by the incumbent House members who have brought him to trial. If this is the case, if one is failed to disclose SALNs, it is now an impeachable offense resulting a long list of officials that could also possibly be charged. Even 185 of the 188 members of the 15th Congress who filed the impeachment complaint against Corona have not disclosed copies of their own SALNs. (source: By: Malou Mangahas, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism). This is one of the reasons why I find Justice Corona somewhat over-criticized by the critics. Another thing that was charged to Corona is the questionable 45 condo units and real estates in Metro Manila. These charges was denied by Corona. I condemn this list of titles as a hoax, calculated to cleverly inflict maximum damage to me in the eyes of the public,by its sheer number alone, it smacks of bad faith and deception. Corona said. He considered these allegations as black propaganda. In fact, he owned five pieces of property and that all of those had been declared in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (source: Manila Standard Today). I have considered all those things in my mind. I see him clearly not guilty for these filthy actions. In some cases, the titles are in the name of persons he do not even know. In other, properties belonging to my balaes [the parents of either bride or groom] are listed and claimed to be mine. There are many repetitive entries to make the list deliberately long to create a false and misleading impression about my assets. I have concealed nothing, said the chief justice who stands to face trial in the Senate (source: Manila Standard Today).Why did the prosecutors able to charge him these things?

I dont have any idea why President Pnoy allowed these things to happen. Maybe He is angry with Corona because the Supreme Court ordered the distribution of the 4,915.75-hectare sugar land estate owned by the family of President Aquino in Tarlac to over 6,000 farm workers a month ago before this impeachment thing happened. Corona for me, had been a very brilliant Chief Justice. Im not a Pro-Corona, Neither anti-Corona. I just have my own perception on this matter and I think the prosecutors have been overreacting.