Palace confident Corona support won’t lead to People Power

Saturday, February 11, 2012

MALACANANG on Saturday downplayed a people power scenario from the supporters of Chief Justice Renato Corona who are supposedly backed by Iglesia ni Cristo (INC).

“As far as people power is concerned, I don’t think at this point there will be people massing in the streets insofar as Corona supporters are concerned,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in an interview over state-run dzRB.

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Lacierda said the Palace was also unsure of reports that the INC, an influential religious group, were behind the rally this week, which gathered around 7,000 Corona supporters. He noted that the rally was organized on Thursday, INC’s day of worship.

Lacierda added that his colleagues who are members of the INC had told him that there were no instructions relayed to them by the religious group.

“From our colleague who’s an avid follower of the INC, they never received an order,” he said.

Earlier, Corona’s lead counsel Serafin Cuevas was reported to have been asked by a Malacañang emissary to quit from the defense panel in exchange for the dropping of the criminal complaint filed against sacked National Bureau of Investigation Director Magtanggol Gatdula.

Cuevas and Gatdula are both members of the INC.

Lacierda insisted that President Benigno Aquino III, who had repeatedly lambasted Corona, continues to maintain a good relationship with the INC.

To recall, INC endorsed Aquino and his vice-presidential candidate, Manuel Roxas II. Roxas lost his bid and was appointed as Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications.

Lacierda also refused to comment on Corona’s tearful appearance before his supporters during the rally.

“We don’t like to comment on that. We will respect his emotional outburst,” the presidential spokesperson said.

At around 2 p.m. Thursday, Corona appeared in the SC’s balcony with his wife Cristina. Cristina was seen wiping the tears of the Chief Justice as he waves to a crowd of supporters.

“Walang iiyak! Walang iiyak (No tears)!” the crowd chanted. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)