Reason betrayed

The 20 senators who voted to convict CJ Corona relied on the latter’s admission that he failed to disclose his dollar and peso accounts in his SALN.

The senators cited the case of the court interpreter from Davao where the Court En Banc dismissed the court interpreter for her failure to disclose a market stall in her SALN, among other grounds. Interestingly, in this case, the court interpreter also admitted her failure to do so.

Sadly, their admissions did not help them; instead they butchered their causes. Their tongues were cut and, bleeding, they were left eating their words.

Against the jurisprudence set in the case of the court interpreter, CJ Corona went to the witness stand and admitted his failure to disclose in his SALN dollar and peso accounts. He deviated from the game plan, which was for the prosecution to prove his guilt.

As a lawyer, CJ Corona made a monumental blunder. In his own defense, he made himself a witness for the prosecution. He should have listened to his legal team. The lesson is ancient: He who has himself for a lawyer has a fool for a client.

In hindsight, it was a fair trial inside the senate hall. The defense outclassed the prosecution. CJ Corona lost it outside where a trial by publicity was vicious. The pressure was too much. He succumbed to it and did the unthinkable. From his lofty position as Chief Justice, he went down and tried to fight his accusers in a dog fight.

CJ Corona said he was no fool. I believed him. But in the most important decision he made in his life as Justice of the Court, he made the weakest argument: his testimony before the Senate. He was combative. He attacked President Aquino and the Basa family.

By showing his anger and shedding his tears before the nation, he shared our humanity. But he forgot he was Chief Justice. He was not supposed to fight. People expected from him the dignity of a cold, impartial judge. In this measure, he was found wanting.

CJ Corona’s pride did him in. With his ego bruised, with emotions raging inside him, his reason was betrayed.

In the end, perhaps, CJ Corona may find consolation in that what the public are saying now may not matter in the future. If his conviction is wrong, history will be kind to him.

Atty. Bernard Inocentes S. Garcia

Dumanjug, Cebu