THE national organizations of lawyers and judges have joined forces in denouncing an alleged Malacañang contingency plan or ‘Plan B” in case the Senate sitting as impeachment court acquits Chief Justice Renato Corona.

In separate statements, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) and the Metropolitan and City Judges Association of the Philippines (MetCJAP) at the same time criticized Malacañang for initiating the search for the possible replacement of  Corona even though the impeachment trial is yet to start.

The IBP and MetCJAP stressed that Malacañang’s alleged Plan B was too presumptuous on the outcome of the trial, and likewise undermines the impeachment process and independence of the Senate, as an Impeachment Court.

IBP executive director Roland Inting said the group’s officials and members were puzzled by the statement of spokespersons of President Aquino that they were preparing a “Plan B” in case the impeachment court dismisses all eight articles of impeachment against Corona.

“It’s very hard and difficult to equate to our little understanding of the law. The only way to remove the chief justice under the Constitution is through impeachment or through his voluntary resignation. We don’t know of any other way,” the IBP official said.

“There’s no other constitutional way of removing the chief justice other than those two. Whatever that other way is – that Plan B, if they really said that - only they know,” said Inting, former governor of IBP Western Visayas. 

Echoing the position of IBP, MetCJAP president and Cagayan de Oro City Judge Cesar Merlas described the contingency plan as “unconstitutional.” 

“The only process sanctioned by the Constitution to remove the chief justice is by impeachment. Any Plan B, therefore to remove him, if he is acquitted by the Senate, is of course unconstitutional,” the MetCJAP president warned.

The IBP and MetCJAP also questioned the pronouncement of presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda that the Palace has tapped its legal team to scout for possible replacement of the chief justice.

Lacierda even confirmed that the President wants a new chief justice in the same mold as Associate Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, Aquino’s first appointee to the Supreme Court.

“They should know the process of nomination of chief justice is through the constitutional body called Judicial and Bar Council. So we find it hard to believe that the two lawyers would say that,” Inting said.

Inting noted the criticism made by SC spokesman Midas Marquez that such move from the Palace was “presumptuous” since the Palace seems to be arrogating unto itself the power of the JBC.

“We really hope it’s just a rumor rather than a fact,” Inting lamented.