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Arroyo picks chief justice
[Straits Times] OUTGOING Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appointed an ally as Supreme Court chief justice on Wednesday, a move critics said was aimed at shielding her from graft investigations promised by her likely successor. Senator Benigno Aquino, son of two revered pro-democracy icons who challenged the kleptocratic regime of Ferdinand Marcos, is far ahead in unofficial vote tallies after national elections on Monday that went far more smoothly than markets had feared. Mr Aquino, who shares the same reputation for probity as his mother Corazon who died last August, campaigned on a platform of cleaning up politics and cracking down on corruption, tax evasion and smuggling. He looks certain to become the next president. Mrs Arroyo still plans to be a political force. She has won a seat in Congress in the election and the Philippine media says she hopes to become house speaker and use this position to challenge the power of the presidency. Mrs Arroyo has said she will ensure a smooth transition before her term ends on June 30. But her appointment of Renato Corona to head the Supreme Court sparked renewed accusations that she is trying to put allies in key positions before leaving office. Mr Corona was her chief of staff when Arroyo was vice president and also for a year after she became president in 2001. Of 15 Supreme Court judges, 14 will be Mrs Arroyo's appointees when Mr Corona replaces current Chief Justice Reynato Puno, who retires on May 17, with one position remaining vacant. Posted by: Fred 2010-05-13 |
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