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On Corona and Avila: Our Quest for Accountability and Justice

Truly, UP is the microcosm of the Philippine society. The case of the impeachment of the SC Chief Justice Corona is not different from the case of Avila in UP Cebu. These two cases speak of accountability, democratic governance and justice.

Corona’s impeachment is a step forward in our quest to make Arroyo accountable. His decisions favoring and protecting Arroyo, his questionable wealth and undeclared assets, and alleged corruption all prove that there was an abuse of power; his integrity is compromised and he serves not the interests of the people but only himself and Arroyo. The on-going impeachment trial subjects Corona to a process of people demanding accountability for his betrayal of public trust and failing to serve the interests of the people. Corona’s conviction will send a chilling signal to our public officials: that we mean it when we say that public office is a public trust.

Demanding accountability also plays in the case of UP Cebu Dean Avila. The case of Avila, which will be decided by the UP Board of Regents, speaks of the same circumstances in the case of Corona. Avila used her position to serve her interest, set aside democratic governance and abused the power that the UP Cebu Community trustingly gave to her. Corruption, illegal dismissal of personnel, and self-serving decisions may sound much similar to Corona’s deeds but found its way to UP Cebu thru Avila. Avila betrayed the trust of the UP Cebu community, and now they are demanding accountability and justice. To acquit Avila and reverse the ruling of the Academic Disciplinary Tribunal to dismiss them will send a wrong signal to the members of the UP community pushing for justice, democratic governance and accountability.

This is why our involvement in both cases is a crucial and key factor. The cases of Avila and Corona are a manifestation that we are serious when we say that power is in the hands of the people. To quit this battle or to fail in this will set a dangerous precedent that public officials can be corrupt, undemocratic or abusive without the people making them pay for it. It will not be the BOR or the Senate that will ensure that this happens. Ours is the power and the choice to make it happen.

We do not want the Arroyo court to be an Aquino court and we don’t want another Avila rule in UP Cebu. This means that our task doesn’t end in convicting Avila and Corona. Our involvement should be unending, our vigilance heightened and our unity strengthened that be it the Supreme Court or in UP Cebu, public officials should serve the interests of the majority. ###

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