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Chief Justice Corona urged to inhibit himself from all Arroyo cases
UPDATED 1:20 p.m. - At least two senators on Thursday urged Chief Justice Renato Corona to inhibit himself from all cases involving former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, saying it will help remove doubts about the court's impartiality.
"Kami po ay nanawagan kay Chief Justice Corona siya po ay mag-inhibit sa cases ng [former President Arroyo] para di po mabawasan ang tiwala ng bayan sa Korte Suprema," Senator Franklin Drilon said during a weekly forum at the Senate on Thursday.
He explained that Corona had served as Mrs. Arroyo's chief of staff and was an alleged "midnight appointee" of the former Philippine leader.
"The voluntary inhibition of CJ Corona in all cases involving President Arroyo will certainly erase all doubts about the impartiality of the Supreme Court and will eventually strengthen the SC as one of the democratic institutions in our government," Drilon said.
In a text message to reporters on Thursday, Sen. Francis Pangilinan said he supports calls for Corona to inhibit himself from cases involving Mrs. Arroyo.
"This will help spare the Supreme Court from doubts that it is biased in favor of the former president," Pangilinan said.
Drilon admitted, however, it will be up to Corona to decide whether to inhibit himself or not.
"If he does not listen to the appeal there is nothing we can do," he said.
Arroyo detained Mrs. Arroyo was arrested at the St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig, Metro Manila on Friday last week for electoral fraud, which carries a life sentence, preventing her departure from the country to seek medical treatment. She is the second former President of the Philippines to be arrested on criminal charges filed in court. The first was her predecessor, Joseph Estrada, whom she pardoned after conviction on plunder charges. President Benigno Aquino and his government have long accused Arroyo of corruption during her two terms in office, from 2001-2010, though until Friday, authorities had not formally charged her. - VVP, GMA News
