Far from strengthening the institutions that serve to balance each other in a republican government, President Aquino tries to display how mighty the executive department can be. The President is determined to break down his co-equals, and threaten them into submission. It’s not only the Chief Justice that this present Administration is trying to destroy, but the whole institution of the judiciary. We are not out to defend only the person of the Chief Justice but the independence and integrity of the Supreme Court as an institution. — Fr. Gamaliel Tulabing
We will be entering into another vicious cycle of political appointment into the Supreme Court that will protect the interest of the appointing officer. Can we trust P-Noy’s “righteousness”? Considering his track record in protecting his family’s interest way above the interest of the farmers in Hacienda Luisita, I can’t. — Prof. Roy Olsen de Leon, Biology professor
It will just worsen the status of the country. President Noynoy should focus on the solutions to the ordinary Filipino’s problem. Forget the past, and move on for a better Philippines. — DX Lapid, news reporter
This is a good exercise of the law as provided for in our Philippine Constitution. This only proves that no one is above the law. — Councilor Tony Remollo
On the part of the business sector, as long as the rule of law is followed in the impeachment process, the economic implications and its impact on the business sector would not be that significant. — Edward Du, president, Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce & Industry
The executive, legislative, and judicial branches exercise checks and balances on each other. We are not afraid to see democracy at work. The Supreme Court has become too politicized. We want it to regain its probity and consequent respect of the land. — Susan Monte De Ramos-Soldwisch,editor/publisher, Kitang Lungsuranon (community paper in Siaton)
The implication is that the law can be disregarded depending on the preference of the President. Shades of a dictatorship there…. — Angelo Villanueva, proprietor, AdelaDiva Cafe
This is a positive sign of democracy in action. — Roy T. Cang, proprietor, Cang’s/ Bethel Guest House
We will be living in more interesting times next year. This impeachment of a Chief Justice sets a precedent. We, therefore, have no exact basis for comparison. So we don’t know if the impeachment case will result to a constitutional crisis. What if during the trial the SC strikes down the DOJ_Comelec panel as unconstitutional, with CJ Corona inhibiting himself? What if Corona is acquitted? Would P-Noy and his allies impeach the other justices? Will they resort to mob rule to get what they want? The Senate can put a stop to this downward spiral in our politics. The silent majority will be watching and waiting. Incidentally, majority of the voters didn’t vote for P-Noy in the last elections. He won by a plurality, like Gloria Arroyo. — Atty. Gilbert R. Arbon, government employee
I am a P-Noy supporter, and I believe all Filipinos should contribute and pray for his Administration’s success. But I find the impeachment very disturbing. I hope I’m wrong but we are moving closer towards a dictatorship, only this time, it’s President Aquino, not Marcos. And that is bad and very dangerous for all freedom-loving Filipinos. — Tyrone Ramas-Uypitching, proprietor, Duplamilco
The Corona impeachment drama implies that Philippine democratic institutions are at work. We just hope the players do it as expected of them by the framers of constitutional safeguards. The Senate is partly to blame for the so-called midnight appointment of the Chief Justice. Had the Senate’s representative at the Judicial Bar Council not endorsed the three nominees (Justices Brion, Corona and Carpio) of Gloria Arroyo, then Arroyo would not have been able to appoint Corona as Chief Justice. — Atty. Bentham dela Cruz, municipal mayor, Amlan
I view the impeachment of the Chief Justice as democracy at work. It’s not an attack on the judiciary as a body. If SC Chief Corona had no personal ambitions, he should have refused Gloria Arroyo’s appointing him as Chief, as it was a direct violation of the ban on appointments during that election period. — Verna Mamicpic-Alih, retired
It’s a litmus test of the political will to recover the integrity of the Supreme Court. — Carlton Palm, missionary
Some may think that impeaching the Chief Justice is disrespect to the justice system. Is such position more sacred than the Senate President or the President of the Republic? Would Chief Justice Victorino Mapa be turning in his grave? Precisely because we respect the position and the institution, we want that whoever sits there be worthy. Corona has shown to be lacking. — Cidni Mapa, sugar planter
It signals the end of the Arroyo era of impunity as Corona is Gloria Arroyo’s strongest and last line of defense. Of course, like his patroness, Corona will risk destroying the whole judiciary just to hold on to his unearned post. — Ed Dames, marketing communications consultant
The implication is that we will be seeing more grandstanding from our Senators and senatoriables. — Prof. Nadia Abesamis, Biology teacher
It will trigger an intense electoral competition in 2013 between the pro-Aquino and the anti-Aquino politicians. — Dr. Vic Aguilan, Divinity professor
The Administration is espousing about democracy and justice, but the way they brought about the impeachment is actually the opposite of what they are advocating. They are showing that they can do beyond what our Constitution mandates, and that is dangerous because our Constitution is the foundation of our democracy. — Atty. Aileen Aguaviva, government prosecutor
This should serve notice to all and sundry to be circumspect in the performance of their duties as public servants; that no one — not even the Chief Justice — is immune to prosecution for perceived misdeeds. At the end, this should be a major step in cleaning up our Judiciary and making our justice system a respected pillar of our democracy. — Dr. Johnny Magbanua, cardiologist
Corona’s impeachment does not only imply, but tells him to his face that he should never have been Chief Justice. In Cebuano, baga man siya ug nawong to have accepted Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s appointment. He believed, like her, that he was qualified for the job, which was not true. Knowing one’s self is crucial for making wise decisions. He cannot go on as Chief Injustice of the country. — Lorna Pena Reyes-Makil, retired sociologist
As long as the Senator-Judges will follow the rule of law, study the case objectively, and decide accordingly, there will be no problems. Seeing it holistically will be good for the country. We do hope and pray for this option. God bless our country. — Engr. Jul Gallogo, businessman
Public office is premised on the maintenance of public trust. Once this trust is betrayed, one has to be accounted for, and if needed, impeached to save the public office and institution from further decay so that genuine reform is instituted and public trust, regained. I signed the Verified Complaint for the Impeachment of Renato C. Corona as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, along with 187 other Congressmen in the Lower House, based on this premise. After studying the complaint on the matter, I came to the conclusion that, indeed, there is a probable cause for the Chief Justice to be impeached. Chief Justice Corona needs to shed light on issues that put his — and consequently, that of the entire institution where he is the highest official — integrity and credibility under question. Issues include Betrayal of Public Trust, Culpable Violation of the Constitution, and Graft and Corruption. As a member of the House of Representatives, a co-equal branch of Mr. Corona’s office, I voted “Yes” for the Chief Justice’s impeachment to exercise and uphold the principle of check and balance innate in our government system, and enshrined in our Constitution; and ultimately, as a duly-defined mechanism to hold public officers like him accountable for grave misconduct. — Cong. Josy Sy-Limkaichong
