Supreme Court denies petition to review ruling on Corona

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday denied the request of the Philippine Bar Association (PBA) to appeal its final ruling that gave legal justification to the appointment of Chief Justice Renato Corona by President Arroyo.

Voting 9-1-2, justices dismissed the motion of the PBA to file a second motion for reconsideration to the Court’s ruling on March 17.

The SC ruled that positions in the Court are exempted from the ban on midnight appointments under Article VII Section 15 of the Charter, thus giving Mrs. Arroyo power to appoint Corona.

In a resolution issued last April 20, the SC affirmed its ruling and junked motions for reconsideration filed by various parties. SC spokesman Midas Marquez said this made the decision final.

The President had appointed Corona as the successor of former Chief Justice Reynato Puno who retired from the judiciary last May 17.  

Justices cast the same vote when they resolved the consolidated petitions filed by the Philippine Constitution Association and lawyers Arturo de Castro and Estelito Mendoza.

“The Court denied the motion for leave of court to file second motion for reconsideration on the same grounds that Court used in deciding on the case,” Marquez explained to reporters in a press conference.

Voting to junk PBA’s motion were Associate Justices Lucas Bersamin, Jose Perez, Roberto Abad, Martin Villarama, Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, Arturo Brion, Diosdado Peralta, Jose Mendoza and Mariano del Castillo.