Chief Justice Corona Takes Oath as 23rd Chief Magistrate. Chief Justice Renato C. Corona today takes his oath as the 23rd Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines before President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in simple ceremonies at Malacañang. Witnessing the event are (from left) Chief Justice Corona’s Chief of Staff Atty. Gorgonio Elarmo, Jr., Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez, Justice Secretary Alberto Agra, Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza, President Arroyo, Chief Justice Corona, his wife Cristina, and their children Charina, Francis, and Carla, and son-in-law Dr. Constantino Castillo III; and grandchildren Katrina, Jose Franco, Anika, and Caia. In his first statement, Chief Justice Corona underscored that he assumes his “public duties as 23rd Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, absolutely unfettered and uncompromised by encumbrances of whatever nature which would in one way or another hinder or impede me in the performance of these public duties. My heart is in the right place and its loyalty is to the Constitution alone.” Various court employees’ organizations, including Philippine Association of Court Employees (PACE), Court Stenographers Association of the Philippines (COSTRAPHIL), Inc., and the Las Piñas Judges Association (LPJA) have issued separate statements expressing their support for Chief Justice Corona.