THE ouster of the former Supreme Court chief justice Renato Corona and imprisonment of former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the passage measures backed by President Benigno Aquino 3rd are among the reasons why Malacañang considers 2012 as the best year for the Philippines in a long time.

According to Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, the executive branch was able to make good its commitment to introduce institutional change in the judiciary, particularly the removal of Corona and the appointment of Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno and associate Justice Marvic Leonen.

“Once the new justices are in place we can only hope that the judiciary will be in step with executive branch in advancing reforms in their particular branch of government,” Lacierda said.

The Lacierda also noted that if a chief justice can be impeached and a former president put under hospital arrest for alleged plunder and electoral sabotage, it only shows that the current administration is serious in implementing that laws regardless of an individual’s wealth or status in society.

“This year we saw the full effect of political will used correctly and for the right purposes, knowing that power is merely lent by the people to their leaders to ultimately serve the country’s best interests,” he added.

Lacierda also cited that important bills, which were signed by the President as among the accomplishments of the administration this year including the responsible parenthood, sin tax reform and the Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Acts.

The office of the President, Lacierda said, is thankful to the leaders and members of the both houses of Congress for being supportive of the executive branch in advancing the reforms the president has envisioned for the country.

The signing of the framework agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front for the creation of the Bangsamoro is also one of the achievements of the administration as far as achieving peace in Mindanao is concerned.

He added that the successful dialogues between the two parties may even be used as a model of other nations in addressing conflicts.

Lacierda said that apart from enjoying the highest sustained public approval ratings in history, the president also gained admiration of his fellow leaders for taking a lead in upholding a peaceful, multilateral and consensus-driven diplomatic approach to territorial disputes.

The Philippine economy also experienced strong growth and stable inflation despite the uncertainties of the global economy.

Lacierda particularly cited the 7.1-growth on the country’s economy for the third quarter, which is the highest in Southeast Asia and among the top performing economies in Asia.

The presidential spokesman said that the list of achievements and reforms implemented by the president in 2012, should silence all skeptics and doubting Thomases on his ability to rid government of its deeply entrenched image of corruption and lead the Filipino people to inclusive prosperity and justice.

“Despite the tragedies that have visited the country in 2012—from natural disasters to the untimely demise of a beloved reformist [Interior secretary Jesse Robredo]—the Filipino people have shown that their spirit cannot be broken,” he added.