FOLLOWING the developments in the impeachment trial, are justices of the Supreme Court now “playing it safe”?

This question popped up yesterday after it appeared that nobody from the SC wants to handle Chief Justice Renato Corona’s petition questioning the legality of his impeachment trial, and for the issuance of a temporary restraining order.

A source from the high court said that Associate Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe reportedly declined to handle Corona’s petition which was raffled to her court after Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco inhibited from handling Corona’s case.

This means that the SC will have to conduct another raffle.

Velasco inhibited because his son Lord Allan is one of the congressmen who signed the impeachment complaint.

The source however failed to cite Bernabe’s reason for inhibiting. She was appointed by President Aquino III.

Mr. Aquino’s other appointees on the high bench are Justices Ma. Lourdes Sereno and Bienvenido Reyes.