"Remembering a man known as Renato Corona"

"Remembering a man known as Renato Corona"

(or an Eulogy about a man who known for being part of a past yet controversial regime
and at the same time an imposer of Social Justice)

The name of the former Chief Justice has been heard again, this time in a form of an Obituary.

That former Chief Justice Renato Corona had died on April 29, 2016 at The Medical City in Pasig due to complications of a heart attack. He also long suffered from kidney disease and diabetes that made he also known for having a wheelchair during his impeachment.

Quite saddening to some, while to others, be rejoicing or just an elevator music enough to be forgotten.

But come to think of this, that the controversial Chief Justice's intention to justify further the land be given to the tiller (such as those of Hacienda Luisita) through a Supreme Court decision seemed good and promising.

And for thousands of Filipino farmers yearning for land to be given legally, former Chief Justice Renato Corona will go down in history as having led the Supreme Court that made the landmark November 2011 ruling calling for the distribution of land to farmer-tenants of Hacienda Luisita.
Quite nice to remember such an attempt, knowing that the Hacienda Luisita issue has been a serious example in the issue related to Filipino peasants and the desire for genuine agrarian reform. And Hacienda Luisita has been long overdue to have its land distributed after several years according to an old agreement involving its old owner, the state, and the present controller who treats a contested property as theirs and not for the tillers. To think that three rulings from the Supreme Court upheld the decision of the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council (PARC) to revoke the estate’s stocks distribution program (SDO) and to distribute 4,915 hectares there.

But the decision isn't just Corona's, but a collegial decision that includes the other judges.

However, most people would rather think and even say that he himself has been synonymous to a regime whose policies prevailed even until today, that he was known for being appointed two days after the election last 2010, that is somehow worth criticisable due to a constitutional prohibition against former president Arroyo from making appointments two months before the election up to the end of her term.

True that he may've been synonymous to the Arroyos, to be described as corrupt with all his "Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth" and all that issues affecting him, that those who voted for his impeachment everyone thought to be in accordance with people, especially those who wanted to persecute a regime synonymous with corruption; but instead, more of an envelope full of cash for the senator judges.

But despite Corona being impeached, did the GMA trial continued? what everyone knew that the trial has been long forgotten.

Anyways, regardless of the controversies affecting him, ranging from being corrupted to being an Arroyo stooge, he's  one of the persons within that court who also desired to impose justice as he insisted the need to redistribute the hacienda that had to be distributed years ago. Anyways, Corona's passing should remind everyone of the haciendero heritage of the ruling Landlord clique known as the "liberal Party", the need for genuine agrarian reform, & how the LP's patronage politics are rooted in the feudalism of its leaders.

You may rest atty. Renato Corona.