Chief Justice Renato C. Corona has assured President-elect Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III that the Supreme Court (SC) and the entire judicial branch join him in his desire for an open and honest government.

In a letter to Aquino, the Chief Justice congratulated the senator on his proclamation as the country’s next President and expressed hope he will be able to enforce desired changes in the bureaucracy with God’s help.

“The Judiciary shares your desire for integrity and transparency in government and prays that the Almighty will strengthen your resolve to implement the necessary reforms in government,” he told Aquino.

“Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (To the greater glory of God). May the Almighty guide and enlighten you as you assume the leadership of our nation,” Corona added.

Corona sent a congratulatory message even as Aquino did not choose him to administer his presidential oath.

Shortly after Congress proclaimed him as the next President last Wednesday, Aquino said he was sticking to his decision of not taking his oath before Corona, who had been appointed by President Glorial Arroyo.

Aquino said he would rather have Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales administer his oath.

Carpio-Morales was the lone dissenter in the March 17 decision of the SC that allowed President Arroyo to appoint the successor to then Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno.

Aquino said he and Carpio-Morales are of the same opinion that Arroyo’s designation of Corona as replacement for Puno, who retired last May 17, was in violation of the constitutional ban on “midnight appointments.”

But the High Court, voting 9-1 with three justices inhibiting and two others saying the case was premature, ruled that appointments to the SC are not covered by Section 15, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution, which prohibits the President from making appointments during the election ban that started last March 10 and ends on June 30.