Newly installed Chief Justice Renato C. Corona is confident the Supreme Court (SC) will not reverse its decision that led to his assumption into office as the country’s 23rd chief magistrate.

The SC, in its March 17 decision, allowed President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to appoint the successor of then Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno, who retired on May 17. It ruled that appointments to the High Court are not covered by constitutional ban on midnight appointments, which started on March 10 and ends on June 30.

On April 20, the SC denied with finality the various motions for reconsideration filed in the case. This prompted the Philippine Bar Association (PBA) to file a second motion for reconsideration, insisting that the appointment of a new Chief Justice by President Arroyo was in violation of the election appointments ban rule under Section 15, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution.

In an interview with reporters, Corona said the SC is unlikely to grant the PBA’s second motion for reconsideration on two grounds.

“One, it’s a prohibited pleading. Two, it was filed after the court has already adjourned and had gone into recess,” Corona said.

The PBA pleading came after the SC held its last full court session on May 4 before going on a recess. The en banc sessions of the High Court will resume in July.

On May 5, the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) submitted the shortlist of four nominees for Chief Justice. A week after, Malacañang announced that President Arroyo has chosen Corona to succeed Puno.

The PBA, headed by former Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo, was also the same group that earlier manifested its intention to file an impeachment case against Corona for accepting the appointment.

It claimed that the mere acceptance of the appointment constitutes culpable violation of the Constitution.

But Corona said he was not bothered by the impeachment case that Marcelo’s group plans to file against him before Congress.

“I’m not bothered by that. I stand on very strong, solid legal ground. I am not worried,” he said.