JUstice LOurdes Sereno is new Chief Justice of the Philippines

What is the message being sent by the President when he appointed the youngest justice as head of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, and not Justice Antonio Carpio whom everyone thinks was the "shoo-in" bet?

Well, President Aquino simply wants continuity in the judiciary. With Lourdes Sereno at the helm, she will not only be the first female Chief Justice, she will also be one of the longest serving one. Surely, expect a institutionalization of reform measures and expect none of the wishy-washy decisions rendered by the SC in the past due to well, corporate and political pressures. 

Sereno seemed the person expected to normalize the operations of the judicial bureaucracy which came under extreme pressure during the impeachment trial of its head, former Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Sereno's name is also "clean". She has not been dragged into any anomalous transactions during her time serving in the judiciary. Sereno kept her integrity intact, which was one of the factors, according to insiders, that convinced the President to appoint her as replacement of Corona.

Sereno's appointment also sends a clear message to investors and foreign observers---that the Philippine government wants stability. That here, expect a fair decision since reformers within government has already cleansed the judicial bureaucracy of misfits and grafters. Surely, expect a New Supreme Court of the Philippines beginning today, when Sereno takes her oath of office before President Benigno S. Aquino. 

Corona Impeachment: The Guingona Proposition

Senator Teofisto Guingona III made a startling proposition--offer the Chief Justice to resign and offer Justice Antonio Carpio to serve the remainder of his term. Guingona probably  meant well when he offered this. However, as a friend, I must say that it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.


Everyone knows that TG is close to the powers-that-be, especially the President. TG is a close friend of the President, actually, a batch 1981 of the Ateneo where the President belongs. By trying to broker this deal, TG is trying to represent not the people, but the Interests working inside Bahay Pangarap.


TG's proposal, under normal circumstances, would have worked. The reason why I say that it leaves a bad taste in the mouth is because it exposes the real reason behind efforts to oust the Chief Justice.


It just proves that President Aquino and those powers that influence him are pushing for Justice Carpio as a replacement of Corona.


For all Filipinos present and who are reading this piece---Carpio is no different than Corona. Fact is, Carpio is worse than Corona.


Carpio intends to become Chief Justice because he wants his law firm to dominate the judiciary. He wants the "Firm" to be the compania inter pares of this country. 


Carpio is close to the Cojuangcos. If the plan succeeds, Carpio is expected not just to be the rubber stamp of the palace--he is expected to be the senior puppy of Noynoy. By revealing Malacanang's dark plan, Guingona unwittingly alienated the palace from the People.


Hence, Malacanang is really not after cleansing the judiciary of scalawags in robes. Malacanang is never interested in really stamping out graft and corruption in the massive bureaucracy, oh no.


Malacanang is pushing for its political agenda, plain and simple. This agenda is connected with Big Business. For decades, Big Business has put its money on politics just to get those juicy jewels built by the former Marcos administration to ensure that basic services are within the people's reach.


Look what happened shortly after the Marcos administration---every single industry of this country was sold to the highest bidder, regardless of who they are, or what are their real intentions of buying government utilities.


And because BIg Business money is now entangled or tied with the political future of this government, it is in the best interest of those who "invested" their money in government to secure an administration that is most favorable to them and would not harm their interests or stake. 


IMagine if say, PLDT man Manny Pangilinan encounters an adversarial government. What would happen to the billions of dollars he invested in several firms?


What if, say, this government changes, and becomes anti-business, what will happen to those properties of the government illegally acquired by friends of the former dispensations?


IN these cases, the final arbiter, according to the Constitution, is the Supreme Court. It is the last sanctuary of the people's true sovereign power. If this institution is corrupted, and individuals put in there not because of their erudition but because of their closeness and dogged adherence to the whims and caprices of Taipans and Mestizo hacienderos and conos, what happens is the continued en-slavery of the people to Big Business. 


Carpio would not be the last man standing to defend the people's interests from the continuing encroachment of Big Business, oh no. Fact is, Carpio will spearhead the complete offering of government to the altar of Big Business.

Why not Justice Carpio too?

So spin doctors are now hard at work, trying to create a scenario which points to a "Leftist" conspiracy to oust impeached Atty. Renato Corona as Chief Justice through a "people power".


A certain blogger named "Mullato" began murking up the issue by writing of a fantasy meeting between Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and Bayan Muna representative Teddy Casino. The meeting reportedly happened inside an 800 square meter condominium owned by Carpio at the Avignon. Carpio reportedly met Casino to plot out a demonstration in case the Senate disposes of the impeachment complaint against Corona.


Carpio, if you still don't know, is the alleged Palace bet to succeed Corona. Carpio is one of the founding members of the "Firm"--Villaraza etal law firm-- which once worked together with ex-President Gloria Arroyo in controlling government.


The Villaraza law firm and the former president had a falling out when one of the firm's members, Atty. Cruz, which was then defense secretary, fell from Arroyo's grace. Since then, the "Firm" had reportedly conspired with other ex-Arroyo Cabinet members (meaning "the Hyatt 1o") in murking up the administration of Arroyo.


The camp of Corona said that in the interest of fairness, the Aquino administration must also check Carpio's SALN. Fair enough.


Let's start with the allegation that Carpio owns a "800 square meter" condominium property. If you check with the Condominium Association of the Philippines, there is no way a single individual can own an 800 square meter unit.


Why? There is no such animal in the condominium industry. At best, you could probably acquire a 300 square meter condo which is about three or four individual units united in one row.


For an 800 square meter unit to be feasible, you need to have a building which is 400 square meter in width and length, something which any condo developer would not dare sell to just one individual. 


Anyway, the call for Malacanang to scrutinize Carpio's assets too is, at best, a squid tactic meant to divert attention from that of Corona's. Yet, in all honesty, it is also a fair call.


Why target Corona when Carpio and all the rest of the Justices probably did the same thing or probably had illegally acquired wealth too?


Carpio's assets should also be put under intense scrutiny. 


That's fair.


However, this yarn spun by Mulatto about a "Leftist" plot to oust Corona through people power is a desperate attempt to appeal to anti-Communist elements within the military, that this Corona impeachment is a Leftist backed conspiracy. This is farthest from the truth.