Ex-Chief Justice Corona’s remains arrive at SC

The remains of former Chief Justice Renato Corona arrived Thursday morning at the Supreme Court in Manila hours before a scheduled necrological service for the country's 23rd top judge.

Corona's remains arrived at the SC along Padre Faura Street in Manila from The Heritage Park in Taguig City, where they had been lying in state since Saturday.

The three most senior magistrates of the SC—Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno (medical), Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, and Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr.—are all on leave and would be unable to attend the services, so the next most senior, Associate Justice and Acting Chief Justice Teresita J. Leonardo-De Castro, was the one who received Corona and his family.

Sereno is on medical leave but the SC PIO said she was "graciously received" when she paid her respects at the wake at The Heritage Park on Tuesday night.

Joining De Castro in receiving the Coronas on Thursday were Associate Justices Arturo Brion, Lucas Bersamin, Mariano Del Castillo, Jose Perez and Bienvenido Reyes.

SC employees were also among those who waited for and witnessed the arrival of Corona's remains. Corona's casket came covered with the Philippine flag.

The necrological service for the former chief justice will start at 11 a.m. at the Session Hall of the Supreme Court New Building.

The SC PIO said the public would be allowed to view the former chief justice's remains until 11 p.m. on Thursday.

Corona died on April 29, 2016, following a cardiac arrest at The Medical City in Pasig City. He was 67 years old. Corona was also reportedly suffering from diabetes.

Career

Corona was appointed in 2010 by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as chief justice, succeeding Reynato Puno.

Before he assumed the position, he served as Associate Justice of the SC from 2002 to 2010.

The ex-chief magistrate also served as Arroyo's chief of staff from 2001 to 2002.

He earned his Bachelor of Laws degree at Ateneo Law School in 1974.

In 1981, he was accepted to the Master of Laws program of the Harvard Law School.

In April 2011, Corona graduated summa cum laude from the University of Santo Tomas Graduate School with a degree of Doctor of Civil Law.

Impeachment

Corona was implicated in an impeachment case in 2012.

On May 29 that year, the Senate, voting 20-3, found Corona guilty of violating Article II of the Articles of Impeachment for his failure to disclose all his assets in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN). —LBG/KG, GMA News