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| Aquino acknowledges Corona at ‘healing’ Red Mass |
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By Dona Pazzibugan MANILA, Philippines – The Red Mass was celebrated for the first time in the Philippines recently to pray for enlightenment from the Holy Spirit. The prayers were answered. The Red Mass succeeded in bringing together top officials from the executive, the judiciary and the Commission on Elections (Comelec). Only Valenzuela City Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo was around to represent Congress. Chief Justice Renato Corona was thrilled to hear President Benigno Aquino III acknowledge his presence for the first time in a public gathering after being snubbed at his inauguration just a week ago. Aquino did so at the end of the Mass at Manila Cathedral as he read the “Prayer for the Nation’s Leaders.” The President acknowledged Vice President Jejomar Binay, Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales and other members of the clergy, then continued to address “Chief Justice Corona” and other members of the judiciary. When asked by reporters later what he felt, Corona said in Filipino: “Who would not be happy when you are publicly acknowledged by the President.” This was far from Aquino’s deliberate non-mention of Corona in his inaugural speech where he merely made the general greeting to “members of the judiciary” at the inauguration rites on June 30. Corona decided at the last minute to show up for the inauguration even if Aquino set aside tradition and refused to take his oath before the Supreme Court chief to underscore his opposition to his “midnight appointment” by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Aquino chose to be sworn in instead by Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales who alone opposed the Supreme Court’s majority ruling that allowed Arroyo to appoint Corona as Chief Justice on May 17. In a 9-1 vote, the magistrates ruled that the Supreme Court was exempted from the constitutional provision that bans an outgoing president from making further appointments two months from the elections and until the end of his term. (inquirer.net) |