The Chief Justice is a Public Servant

In case you missed it, this is our ad as it appeared in three broadsheets today. We were hoping the Chief Justice would have given the Filipino people straightforward answers about the non-disclosures in his SALN when he took the stand today. Sadly, we did not. After 40 days, Renato Corona continues to lead us in circles around the truth. It seems there is only desert, and no oasis in sight.

CORONA: CHEAP TRICKS

The true colors of Chief Justice Renato Corona have been exposed beyond the shadow of a doubt. Despite every effort to be liberal with the rules, giving him every opportunity to make a statement, his response was to try to manipulate the Senate and make fools of everyone in the impeachment trial.

Instead of being forthright he substituted the truth by maligning people who had no part in the case and no opportunity to defend themselves. At the end of all his drama was a cheap shot: to try to diminish Congress by attempting to put institutions in the dock.

One man is on trial; one man stands accused; and despite all his protestations that he would reveal all, to the bitter end he has resorted to sly trickery, by making a conditional waiver. That was a cheap trick.

He then tried a getaway in the grand GMA manner.

The die has been cast. The Senate has issued a just ultimatum. He must face his accusers, and face them without further prevarication.

Corona's Hypothetical SALN

Let's suppose that sometime last week, Chief Justice Renato Corona sat at his desk and filled out his SALN form. Let's imagine that before he began filling it out, he decided to provide all the required information fully, truthfully and to disclose it publicly. He, after all, claims to be an honest man.

Now, what would Corona's SALN contain if he listed all the assets he failed to declare in past disclosures which were subsequently revealed during his impeachment trial? What of the recently alleged US$10M deposits? Do those dollar accounts exist? Only Corona can tell.

This is what Renato Corona's SALN would encompass if it had all the information gleaned from the impeachment trial plus the alleged dollar accounts. Remember, this is NOT his current SALN. We haven't seen it. But, hope springs eternal: