Justice Renato Corona Rules Philippine Senate Is MACHIAVELLIAN

G.R. No. 180643 – ROMULO L. NERI versus Senate Committees on ACCOUNTABILITY OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AND INVESTIGATIONS, TRADE and COMMERCE and NATIONAL DEFENSE AND SECURITY

In the Concurring Opinion of Associate Justice Renato Corona one finds the following:

A Final Word The hands that wield the power of legislative investigations are powerful. Section 21, Article VI of the Constitution cushions the impact by providing substantive as well as procedural limitations. Unfortunately, in Machiavellian fashion, respondent Committees disregarded the procedural safeguards purportedly in the name of truth and good governance. In so doing, they dealt a devious blow not only on Neri but also on our cherished traditions of liberty.

CAVEAT:
The most perspicacious and charitable reading of Mr. Justice Renato Corona's concurring opinion does not yield a single iota of evidence or shred of logic to justify the use of such CONTUMACIOUS language against the Philippine Senate, in my own hambog opinion. I suppose it is to be expected considering Corona was a mere functionary and footstool in Vice President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo PICC office staff in 2001 when Erap was overthrown in the Edsa Dos coup d'etat and she appointed him to the High Court on April 12, 2002, one of the youngest ever in Philippine Supreme Court history.

But he's got to be qualified since he graduated from the same school as the First Gent after which look at his outstanding achievements (at the Supreme Court Website) here and abroad:

His competence in the field of law is recognized in the Philippines and abroad. In 2006, he was conferred the degree of Doctor of Laws honoris causa by the University of Batangas for his “legal scholarship, professional integrity and judicial independence.” In 2007, he was again honored with another Doctor of Laws honoris causa degree, this time by the University of Cebu. He has lectured in and presented scholarly papers before several international law conferences and seminars, the latest of which were the 9th General Assembly of the Asean Law Association in Bangkok, Thailand and the interregional meeting of a multidisciplinary group of experts on the role of sanctions in ensuring better respect for international humanitarian law, sponsored by the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva, Switzerland.

"Legal scholarship, professional integrity, judicial independence."

It's must be true, folks. Lookit. The University of Batangas and Cebu vouch for it. So do the Asean Law Assn in Bangkok , Thailand, a group of humanitarians and the Red Cross in Geneva, Switzerland.

But here is a truly admirable fact about Justice Corona. He is still in school!

A legal scholar at heart, he served as a member of the faculty of the Ateneo Law School for 17 years, teaching Commercial Law, Taxation and Corporation Law, the same subjects that became the focus of his many articles and columns in several newspapers. He also wrote for the Ateneo Law Journal. Justice Corona is currently finishing his doctoral studies in civil law at the University of Santo Tomas where he was given the award of Most Outstanding Graduate School Student.

Now, there's true legal scholar for you. Already an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, but still avidly pursuing erudition and truth...and...Most Outstanding Graduate School Student of 2007 at the University of Sto. Tomas!