Aquino acknowledges Corona as chief justice in SONA

President Benigno Aquino III on Monday acknowledged Renato Corona as chief justice — the second time in his three-week-old administration — during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA). Aquino mentioned Corona after he acknowledged the presence of Vice President Jejomar Binay and leaders of both houses of Congress, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte. Aquino first acknowledged Corona as chief justice when he recited the Prayer for the Nation's Leaders at the Red Mass last July 7. But in his inaugural address last June 30, Aquino did not mention Corona and instead made a general acknowledgement to the members of the Supreme Court. Aquino had also picked Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales, instead of Corona, to swear him in as the 15th Philippine president. Corona's appointment last May by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had been controversial as it supposedly fell on the restricted period for presidential appointments. The Supreme Court, however, in a landmark decision said the chief justice post is exempt from the appointments ban. — Sophia Regina Dedace/KBK/RSJ, GMANews.TV