Philippine chief justice on media blitz?

My sense of decency and delicadeza rejects the idea of a judge or justice (more so, a chief justice) going on a media blitz to improve his public or professional image or to promote his personal agenda.

Recent news reports show that Philippine Chief Justice Renato Corona is again on a media blitz, this time blasting “some sectors” that he said were unfairly criticizing the Supreme Court.

In May, Corona went on an unprecedented charm offensive, going to TV and radio stations and granting interviews to defend his last-minute appointment by outgoing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

This week he voiced his feelings against journalists during a meeting of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) screening candidates for the vacant post of associate justice in his court, which President Benigno Aquino III has to fill up by Aug. 17.

Corona, ex-officio chair of the JBC, asked Court of Appeals Associate Justice Remedios Salazar-Fernando how she would handle “pressure from public opinion.”

“Being in the Supreme Court is not a bed of roses because when you know what is right and you do it, you don’t always get fair treatment, especially from the media. You will be crucified in the media even if in your heart of hearts, you did what is right,” Corona lamented. “I say this because I’m telling you, there are certain sectors from the media who will not praise you for anything you do. There are certain sectors in the media whose business is just to attack and look for mistakes of the court or its magistrates.” Corona did not say who the culprits were. (
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100722-282449/Corona-hurting-over-attacks-on-SC-by-some-sectors-of-media).


‘Strike a balance’
“Under the Code of Ethics, you should not be influenced by public opinion,” Fernando replied. “If I may share my experience when I was in the LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board). We were involved in setting fares and had to deal with public opinion because they affect operators and riding public,” she said. “You just have to strike a balance. For as long as you know you are right, you shouldn’t be affected by public opinion.” (id.).

News reports state that after he was appointed Chief Justice on May 17, Corona granted unprecedented sit-down interviews in several TV and radio networks to defend his appointment and to extend a conciliatory message to Mr. Aquino who had opposed his midnight appointment.

Arroyo appointed Corona, her former chief of staff, despite the ban against midnight appointments after the Supreme Court ruled that the ban did not apply to the high court.

See:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100722-282449/Corona-hurting-over-attacks-on-SC-by-some-sectors-of-media