In what could be the start of a good working relationship between the Executive and the Judiciary, President Aquino finally acknowledged Wednesday Chief Justice Renato C. Corona during the “Red Mass” held at the Manila Cathedral.

During the prayer part of the mass, Aquino directly recognized Corona and addressed him as “Chief Justice Corona,” which is pretty much the opposite of what happened during his inaugural.

Aquino then did not acknowledge Corona, who heads a co-equal branch of government, and merely gave a general greeting to “members of the Supreme Court.”

After the mass officiated by Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, Corona took the initiative to shake Aquino’s hands. The President smiled as he shook hands with the Chief Justice.

Corona, in an interview with reporters, said he wanted to greet Aquino during the “peace be with you” portion of the mass but the President came an hour late and when he arrived, they were too far from each other.

But when the mass ended, Corona said he had the chance to talk to the President.

He also said that when the President passed near him after reading the “Prayer for the Nation’s Leaders,” they shook hands and told Aquino, “Mr. President, peace be unto you.”

When asked how the President responded, Corona said, “Tumawa lang sa akin and pressed my hand.”

Corona explained that he and Aquino just wanted the same thing, which is to do their jobs well and serve the people.

He said he has been praying for the President from the start and has forgiven the people who criticized or questioned his appointment.

“Pinagdadasal ko siya from Day One naman. Lahat nga ng bumatikos sa appointment ko napatawad ko na e. I think it’s time,” he said.

It will be recalled that Aquino was very vocal about his objection to the March 17 decision of the Supreme Court that allowed former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to appoint the successor to then Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno, who later turned out to be Corona.

This was precisely the reason why Aquino picked Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales, the lone dissenter in the controversial decision, to administer his oath.

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 dismissing the case for being premature, ruled that appointments to the High Court are not covered by the ban.

The Red Mass for lawyers and justices was delayed for 30 minutes because church organizers tried to wait for the arrival of Aquino.

A source from the Archdiocese of Manila, however, stressed that the Chief Executive did not ask for them to wait for him.

“He said we should go ahead with the Mass,” said the source.

The President arrived at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, Manila at 10 a.m.

In his homily, Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales led the faithful in praying for the country’s leaders so they may be guided by the Holy Spirit.

“Today, we pray, with you and for you, that the Holy Spirit will, as He did for the apostles in the early days of the Church, continue to guide those who serve our people, taking advantage of no one,” he said.(EDMER F. PANESA, LESLIE ANN G. AQUINO) Courtesy of Manila Bulletin.