Noynoy-Corona rift good for RP — Chiz

The apparent rift between newly appointed Chief Justice Renato Corona and leading presidential candidate Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III is good for the government, an opposition senator said on Tuesday.

Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero said the gap between Aquino and Corona would be good for the check and balance system observed among the three branches of the government or, in this case, the judiciary and the executive.

“Sa pamamagitan niyan siguro magkakaroon ng aktibong check and balance sa pagitan ng dalawang ahensiya ng gobyerno, ang judiciary at executive . . . Yung interplay ng mga departamento mas makikita natin ngayon," he said at a press conference on Tuesday.

(I believe there will be a more active check and balance system between the two branches of government, the judiciary and executive. We will be able to see an active interplay among the different government agencies.)

He said there is nothing wrong with Aquino's decision not to take his oath before Corona, whose appointment by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has been hounded by controversy.

Aquino earlier said Mrs. Arroyo should have waited for the next administration to name the replacement of Chief Justice Reynato Puno, who on Monday reached 70, the mandatory retirement age for justices.

Escudero said Aquino was "only being consistent with his proclamation and statements before the elections."

As for Corona, Escudero said he new head of the judiciary branch “does not need to seek recognition from anyone."

"(The fact) that they (Aquino and Corona) are not the best of friends might be good for the system. Pag hawak ng presidente ang chief justice gusto ba ninyo yun? Hawak niya ang legislative, walang kokontra, hindi rin naman tama yun," Escudero said.

(Can you imagine if the chief justice is controlled by the president? I don't think that's good.)

The opposition lawmaker said he believes the House of Representatives could be friendly to Aquino because historically congressmen gravitate toward the new administration while the Senate is usually controlled by the opposition.

Based on the partial and unofficial tally of GMA News as of 1:02 pm Tuesday Aquino is still leading the race with 13,842,049 votes followed by former President Joseph Estrada with 8,758,675 votes and Senator Manuel Villar Jr with 5,014,237 votes. - Amita Legaspi/KBK, GMANews.TV