I remember the words of a professor in moral theology: “There is no good way of doing an immoral act.”  He was referring to doing abortions in a “safe” way, or stealing money  in an undetectable way.

That may well refer also to defense techniques during an impeachment trial all calculated to obstruct the search for the truth. I have watched some episodes of the on-going impeachment trial  of  Chief Justice Renato Corona. 

I heard that he claims that he has nothing to hide. Yet every step of the way, his counsels pose objections to questions which may lead to the finding of the truth. It seems that the defense  panel  is more clever than the prosecution when it comes to the mechanics of the trial.

But I, as a simple citizen, wonder why, after the assurance of the accused, Chief Justice Corona, that he has nothing to hide, objections were interposed against the surrender of the SALN  of the CJ by the clerk of court, and why after she was compelled finally to surrender it, there should be objections against Sen. Franklin Drilon who finally obtained its surrender.

Again, if the CJ has nothing to hide, why does there seem to be an objection against making known his income tax returns? Actually, people who have nothing to hide should be most glad to have their statements scrutinized for their accuracy and veracity.

It would be a futile victory for the defense to be able to prevent the ousting of the CJ, but at the price of  creating the impression, which has been growing day by day, that he indeed has not been forthright in his statements. In that case, he may survive the impeachment trial but lose his effectiveness as CJ because his credibility has been left in tatters.

I remember what happened during the impeachment trial of former President Estrada. His counsel successfully argued that the envelope presented to the court not be opened. The vote favored President Estrada, but the impression of the people that he was hiding something vital to the truth only became stronger.

We know the rest of the story. In fact, if President Estrada had allowed the opening of the envelope, the accusations against him would have gone pfft immediately because the people would have seen that there was nothing in that envelope to incriminate him.

President Estrada won the legal point but he lost the presidency. It may well be that Chief Justice Corona will win legal points, but he may lose his credibility. And a Chief Justice with a tattered credibility is not worth having at all.

To save the institution of the SC he may have to resign even if he prevents his ouster.

It is good that we hold our public officials to higher standards of transparency and honesty.  As  Spiderman says correctly in the movie, “With great power comes great responsibility”.

That is why the matter of the use of the World Bank loan given to the SC for judicial reform expenses should also be looked into. We the people do not want our officials to use public money as if it were their own.

One good effect, by the way of this impeachment trial, will be on the senators and the congressmen. I suppose that every time they hear demands made on the CJ for transparency, some of them who have not been exactly transparent and honest will feel a prick of their conscience.

They may also realize that it is now time to change their ways, for with the measure that they measure out justice, it will be measured to them also. All in all, the country should benefit from this whole process.