Supreme Court to discuss impeachment ruling today

MANILA (Updated 12:51 p.m.) – The Supreme Court will hold a special en banc session at 2 p.m. today, Wednesday, to discuss the vacancy in the position of Chief Justice following the ouster of Renato Corona.

Twenty of the 23-member Senate impeachment court convicted Corona on Tuesday for failing to declare his peso and dollar deposits in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

The court en banc was not expected to resume its regular session until June 19, but a Supreme Court justice who declined to be named said that a special session will be called to discuss "administrative matters."

The court source said that three things will be in Wednesday's agenda: whether or not to grant Corona a 30-day leave to clear his desk and turnover of official documents from his office, considering the final and executory nature of the ruling of the Senate; discuss the 111th anniversary of the high court next month; and the drafting of a manifesto by Supreme Court magistrates and court employees.

Said manisfesto will ask President Benigno Aquino III to select a new Chief Justice from among the justices of the tribunal, and not from outside.

The special en banc session was called by Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, who is the most senior justice next to Corona, in an acting capacity. Carpio is likewise expected to preside over the Judicial and Bar Council, a constitutional body that screens nominees to vacant judicial posts and submits a shortlist for the President.

Under the Constitution, the President has 90 days to appoint a new Chief Justice from the time of vacancy.

Members of the Supreme Court Employees Association earlier expressed shock over the Senate decision although they have no choice but to respect it.

"We know in our hearts that CJ is innocent. They're convicting an innocent person," SCEA president Jojo Guerrero said. (JCV/Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)