The issue about Corona is merely about his impeachment accusing him upon the grounds of Betrayal of Public Trust, Culpable Violation of the Constitution, and Graft and Corruption, but along the way his interviews in media and different networks cover all the issue. Hi is also accusing of defense by publicity, answering and entertaining all the questions by the media.
This issue was retrieved from an article in OPINYON by Luchie Aclan Arguelles. It tells the entire story and her perspective about the publicity style of Corona on his ongoing court trial.
Let me underscore what I have written in my last column in the March 5 issue entitled “When history looks back” that for “elective officials, what matters most is the impact of public perception”.
While elective officials’ recent performance is gauged by the public, and so are that of the appointed executives’. The latter, like those elected, have definite terms of office.
Some even exceeding term of the appointing authority. Others, up to either seven years or age 70 while the rest are co-terminus or at whim, depending on relevance of such personality.
In spite of efforts to redeem themselves when bad publicity or adverse public opinion sets in, either one opts to resign, be scarce or simply “disappear” from the limelight. This saves the person and the country from a lot of emotional and social pressure.
The best PR strategy is: Less talk, less mistake. One word from one’s own mouth is one inch growing in the vine that would eventually hang you!
Zip my lips
On one hand, also mentioned in our recent column, the effective PR strategy forwarded by Nazi hunter, Simon Wiesenthal, is being utilized by Chief Justice Corona.
Wiesenthal turned to public opinion for his advocacy to search for justice for hundred-thousands of Jews deliberately annihilated during World War II. That was in submission by Nazis to Hitler’s Europe-wide crazy cultural cleansing, an anti-Semitic move.
Whether the CJ admits it or not, does he and his handlers really think this media blitz is working to his favor? I don’t think so.
The zip my lips strategy could have, as I see it. But the CJ insists that he cannot say “No” to the media who request for interview. I don’t buy that either.
The suicide vine noose is getting longer and tighter. Look. Merci Gutierrez cut it before her vine had the chance to grow a centimeter longer.
Ana & Sis. Flory
Remember that before the start of the Senate impeachment hearings, the defense vehemently accused the prosecution of “trial by publicity” when the latter exposed one of the CJ’s numerous properties not declared in his SALN.
Now, here comes Ana Basa in a series that came out in the PDI. Ana is the niece of Cristina Corona, and son of Jose Basa III, one of the five incorporators of the Guidote Basa groups.
According to the CJ himself, this corporation allegedly loaned them millions to enable him and wife to acquire a number of properties and prop up their bank accounts.
Accusing both Ana and the 90-year old Franciscan nun, Sis Flory, of fabricating such a derogatory story of the family feud, the CJ saw to it that he himself will be available to media for the “accurate” sound bites and quotations.
This space will not tackle the Ana & Sis Flory issue. But then again, the CJ is uncontrollable in front of the camera that he forgets the untenable post he is in at present.
And, the more he talks, the longer the vine grows. Sitting in an influential rocker does not certify one as more credible.
The CJ overlooks the fact that the Filipino public is an intelligent lot.
Even Mamang Taxi Driver or Aling Masahista is discerning and intelligent. They can’t be manipulated by any mere finger snap.
INC and the CJ
A case in point is last week’s INC Bible Exposition at the Quirino Grandstand.
I am guilty of having perceived this as a “influenced politically”.
This perception is not based on election activities by INC but on what the defense camp of Corona, headed by former Justice Serafin Cuevas, a church- certified member, have made it appear, not to mention the TIMING: that the INC congregation was “for CJ Corona’s acquittal”.
Even the CJ made insinuations as to why he was NOT ATTENDING the INC gathering.
In an interview, he said this was to avoid giving color to the occasion. CJ’s statement was double-bladed and subject to many interpretations.
I don’t blame him. Corona needed to make himself believe that he is still relevant.
Well, I really owe this correction to my masseuse, a devout INC who is very active in “mga Gawain,” and is a living witness as to what this religious marathon was all about.
With profound dedication to her Church’s teachings, she said, in the vernacular, that the INC will not tolerate any wrongdoings, specifically by people who hold positions of trust.
She added that being a modest masseuse does not make an idiot of her. She makes it her business to be politically and socially aware for the future of her children.
My masseuse for the last 12 years, I admire her for her dedication, patriotism, tenacity and firm conviction.
She is a revered member of the Court of Public Opinion.
This article made us search for more articles about what really happened on Corona’s “controversial publicity”. We learned that Corona is entertaining media every time, answering questions and defending his self in front of the camera. Many people are questioning this act of Corona and accusing him of defense by publicity after he accepts interviews from 3 giant networks.
Another article we have read is from sun star manila an article by Kathrina Alvarez and it goes like this.
MANILA (Updated 5:06 p.m.) — House prosecutors criticized impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona for resorting to “defense by publicity” after he accepted three separate interviews in a giant television network on Wednesday.
Corona made the rounds on broadcast channel GMA-7 barely a week before his defense lawyers are set to present their evidence and witnesses to the Senate impeachment court.
“As can be seen with the latest media blitz of Chief Justice Corona, the defense will maximize the media in trying to defend their client and shift public opinion,” Bayan Muna partylist Representative Neri Colmenares said in a text message.
Colmenares is the lead prosecutor of Article 7 of the impeachment complaint, which tackles Corona’s alleged partiality in the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) in favor of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her husband.
Colmenares added that if the Chief Justice is “all too willing” to answer questions from the media, he should also take the witness stand in the impeachment court and answer the charges against him point by point.
In an interview with GMA News TV, Corona said he is willing to face the impeachment tribunal but the legal strategy would still depend on his lawyers. The defense panel is led by former Supreme Court associate justice Serafin Cuevas.
House Deputy Majority Leader Romero Frederico “Miro” Quimbo, one of the spokespersons for the prosecution team, said Corona’s interviews only show that he is facing damning evidence.
Corona is accused of betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution on three grounds — non-disclosure of assets (Article 2); failing to show independence, integrity and probity for flip-flopping in final and executory cases (Article 3), and the issuance of a TRO in favor of the Arroyo couple (Article 7).
The 188 lawmaker-complainants in the impeachment complaint against the Supreme Court chief have called for the respondent to testify before the court.
House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez, a close ally of former President Arroyo, is also in favor of Corona being presented as a witness by the defense panel but cautioned that the senator-judges may also use their power to grill the Chief Justice.
“I’m not a lawyer but I think it would help (the defense) if he testifies. My only concern is the attitude of some senator-judges who will really grill him in the trial,” Suarez said.
If ever Corona and his lawyers decide to let him face the impeachment court, lead prosecutor Niel Tupas Jr. said the prosecution is prepared to conduct the cross-examination.
Asked who will conduct the cross-examination, Tupas said: “Anyone of us, any of the senior lawyers of congressman.”
As for our stand in this issue we think that the PR strategy of Renato Corona is very effective. First of all he gets a lot of sympathy from the people out side the court trial, of course given the fact that Gloria Arroyo’s supporter are on his side, there are still lots of people who are on the other side that turned into his because of what he is doing on the media right now. This is also one of the reasons why a lot of persecutors are alarmed on what is corona’s action.
Second Corona is obviously doing his very best together with his lawyer to defend his self. But being a public official he should know what is his responsibility to the court. He should face it if he is really not guilty at all. Show all the evidence they are asking and witnesses he is telling. What is disgusting to the public official especially when they are facing court trials they always use their so called “POWERS” just to escape the crime they did. And what is more disgusting is even you’re telling the truth that you’re not guilty and that you never lied, your enemy will use also their “POWER” just to imprison you. People now a day are so greedy and uncontrollable.
Lets just hope that Corona’s interest is not only for himself but also for the public and lets also hope that the public are not blind, depth and mute to know what’s really going on.
-VERNALIZ RAYMUNDO
