Corona appeals for fairness from media

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Chief Justice Renato Corona admitted yesterday taking issue on the manner by which some media outfits report on his impeachment ordeal as he appealed for a more balanced reporting.

“We should not be too touchy about media attacks for as long as stories are balanced,” he told reporters covering the Supreme Court in a media forum in this summer capital.

Corona, who has been in the limelight since his impeachment trial started last December, confessed that he took exception to some media reports.

He criticized media outfits that air or publish only stories against him and ignore positive angles.

“It’s not everyday that I appreciate news reports. But for as long as they are fair and balanced, that’s okay since that’s part of public life. If a public official can’t take that, he should not be in public service,” he lamented in Filipino.

The embattled Chief Justice also apologized for his being unfriendly at times to media, saying it was “probably caused by pressure.”

“I may not be smiling all the time; my disposition may not be that friendly. Please be patient with me; I am not really moody,” he clarified.

Still, he thanked media outfits that continued to support him and the judiciary – even just through fair reporting on his impeachment trial.

“I fervently hope that you will continue to support the court. As Chief Justice, I assure you of my continuous commitment to uphold the rule of law, judicial independence and what’s best for this institution I have dedicated my life to,” he appealed.

Although his presence was not in the program, Corona said he decided to attend the media forum to spend time with reporters covering the SC.

Corona’s impeachment trial is set to resume on May 7.  

Sessions till next week

The Supreme Court will be holding full bench and division sessions until next week in Baguio City.

Among the issues to be discussed during the full sessions are the case of the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines, the temporary restraining order filed against the Commission on Elections deal for the purchase of the precinct count optical scan machines, and the disbarment cases against Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda for publicly lambasting Corona.

But the high tribunal said it has referred to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines the disbarment raps against De Lima and Lacierda.

Supreme Court spokesman Midas Marquez said that the IBP has a committee on Bar discipline which will study, assess and investigate the charges.

“Then the Court will decide if it will adopt the IBP’s recommendation,” he said.– With Artemio Dumlao