Justice Renato Corona

Renato Corona was Arroyo's former political spokesperson and Chief-of-Staff in Malacanang who GMA appointed to the Supreme Court on Apr. 2002 to replace Justice Buena. It's very similar to Bush appointing Harriet Miers, his personal lawyer, to the Supreme Court. But while Bush later withdrew Miers' name, Corona became an Arroyo justice.

See, this can be a problem if you have an Antonio "The Firm" Carpio and a Renato Corona as crony appointments to the SC. More here.

See, it's not enough na qualified o smart ang isang kandidato para sa Supreme Court, you have to pick someone who is impartial, credible and not an extreme partisan. Just because an Antonio Carpio or a Simeon Datumanong are smart lawyers people or a guy like Sergio Apostol is qualified doesn't mean you'd want them in the SC, lalo na if they will have to decide on cases that involves their boss, GMA. I'll give you another example, just because Marcos is smart and qualified doesn't mean we'd want him to be our president.

Kaya nga I believe na hindi takot si Arroyo na bumaba after 2010, dahil by that time, lahat na ng members ng Supreme court ay mga appointees niya. Carpio, Corona et al will cover Arroyo's backs.

UPDATE: This article is interesting:

MANILA, Philippines (CNN) -- Despite the passage of an opposition deadline demanding his resignation, there is no word yet from President Joseph Estrada on his next move.

Philippines Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had given Estrada until 6 a.m. on Saturday (2200 GMT, Friday) to resign or face tens of thousands of Filipinos ready to march on his palace.

Soon after the deadline expired, thousands of Filipinos began to march to the Mendiola Bridge near the presidential palace in a bid to force him out. The Mendiola Bridge, near the main drive leading up to the palace, is where Philippinos have traditionally gathered to express their displeasure with governments. (Not anymore, honey. - John Marzan)

Renato Corona, Arroyo's chief of staff told reporters, "I hesitate to use the word negotiations. ... It's more like our panel telling the president he has until six o'clock to resign and leave, and if he does not this whole crowd will march to (the presidential palace) Malacanang."

Arroyo -- daughter of the late Diosdado Macapagal, who served as the Philippines president from 1961 until he lost a bid for re-election to Marcos in 1965 -- had earlier rejected the embattled president's call for snap elections as key military and government officials defected to the opposition's side.

"That's illegal and unconstitutional," said the vice president.

"The president has not only lost moral authority to govern, but now has no government," Arroyo said in a statement in which she referred to herself as the "new commander-in-chief," according to The Associated Press.

Arroyo leads an opposition campaign joined by hundreds of thousands of ordinary Filipinos and unlikely allies from big business and left-wing communist groups. She would take over the presidency if Estrada were to resign.

Earlier, Estrada said in a televised speech that he would not run if Congress announces snap elections, to be held in May alongside general elections.

"This, I believe is the best course under the present circumstance," he said. "Since I still have the support of a significant segment of our people, I do not think that the present polarization can be healed by a new leader who will take over without an electoral mandate."