The End Did Not Justify the Means

Originally posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2012

That former Chief Justice Renato Corona has been impeached by the House of Representatives and convicted by the Impeachment Court is now water under the bridge.

But what is worthy of attention are the means by which the House of Representatives impeached Mr. Corona and how the Impeachment Court facilitated the trial. The operational principle is “the end does not justify the means”. It is wrong to convict an individual person if the rights of that person are violated in the process. It is evil to do wrong to make good happen.

The Prosecutors failed to prove Mr. Corona’s guilt. It was Mr. Corona himself who convinced the Senators that he violated certain laws.

Be that as it may, it was improper for the House to transmit the articles of impeachment under a dark smog of doubt. It was certainly not transparent. It was simply not good governance. It was simply not daang matuwid. In addition, the Prosecutors were in a fishing expedition to pin down the accused, using the resources of the instrumentalities of the State.

The Senate, instead of correcting the faulty process, in the end became a reluctant accomplice.

I wonder whether the entire twists and turns of the impeachment are simply full of fire and fury signifying nothing. I wonder whether they are actually worthy in the altar of public service.

There is no sense in fighting evil with evil. There is no sense in using the State’s instrumentalities to commit violence. That is not exercise of power. That is abuse of authority, which emanates from the Sovereign Filipino People.