Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda:
On the World Bank report on the Judiciary

[Released on January 17, 2012]

Contrary to the excitable—but utterly wrong—conclusions of an opposition lawmaker, the World Bank report on Judicial Reform Support Program (JRSP) is genuine. It seems that what the World Bank has done is clarify that it did not release the report to the media, but a careful reading of its statement shows that they did not deny the authenticity of the report itself.

We have verified with officials who were furnished copies of the World Bank report that the version uploaded by a media outfit online, and theirs, are a match. The report details the expenditures declared ineligible for World Bank funding. It also demanded a refund from the Supreme Court for expenses that were not covered by the grant.

It is interesting to note that neither the Chief Justice nor his spokesman have disputed the authenticity, or the existence, of the report: what the Chief Justice has egregiously misrepresented is that the report didn’t cover his period in office; while his spokesman dodged the issue by calling it “unfair.” The truth is the report specifically covers the period of Mr. Corona being Chief Justice.

As the President has pointed out, the report proves the pressing need for reforms in the judiciary. Reforms that the present Chief Justice, who has lost his moral ascendancy, is incapable of achieving. The ongoing impeachment of the Chief Justice is thus a vital step in the process of reforming the judiciary, so that it can finally deliver true justice, speedily and impartially, to our people.