Chief Justice Renato C. Corona has expressed his readiness to prove his critics wrong and said he would let history judge his tenure as head of the Supreme Court (SC) and the entire Judicial Branch.

Corona, whose controversial appointment by President Arroyo had been roundly criticized, vowed to work hard to achieve sustained judicial reforms during the next eight years – a tenure surpassing the term of incoming President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.

“Mindful of the spectrum of public opinion, as well as the fact that I have more than eight years to serve our people, I say with all humility: Let history be the inerrant judge of the Corona Court,” he Corona said in his speech during the Independence Day Celebration of the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa) held at the historic Manila Hotel last Friday.

He recognized that “much still remains to be done as the quest for fairness, justice and right is a never-ending pursuit.”

For now, Corona said he will continue the reforms initiated by his predecessor, former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno, who retired last May 17.

These reforms, he said, “aim to improve the judiciary even further in every aspect possible, and strengthen the great institution of the Supreme Court.”

He promised that the country “shall not have a dormant judiciary in my watch.”

“To be sure, a strong, competent, incorruptible and independent judiciary is the protector of our rights and liberties, and without doubt, the last bulwark of democracy,” Corona said.

Just like everyone else, Corona was excited for June 30 when the new set of leaders elected during the May 10 elections will assume their posts, saying it would be the first time in the nation’s history that the heads of the three branches of government are or will be newly installed.

“This is significant because the situation presents great opportunities to heal the painful wounds our country is suffering from and thereby usher in a new golden age of unity and economic strides,” Corona said.

He expressed hope the three branches – the Executive, the Legislative and the Judiciary –would work in an environment where there is interconnectivity in order to ensure the success of much-needed reforms in the justice system.

“The proposition is that if we want to have successful reforms in our justice system, we must act as one, move forward together, be guided by the singular goal of giving justice to our people all in accord with the command of our Constitution,” Corona said.

Under his watch, Corona said the Judiciary will continue to exercise its power to settle actual controversies involving rights which are legally demandable and enforceable, and to determine whether or not there has been grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack of excess of jurisdiction on the part of any branch or instrumentality of the government.

He said the SC, using its rule-making power, will continue to come up with rules that are needed to further protect the people’s individual, civil and political rights just like what it did when it promulgated the rules on the writs of Amparo, Habeas Data and Kalikasan (nature).

The Chief Justice also promised to increase the poor’s access to effective and efficient justice.