Corona Closed 3 Accounts on day he was impeached

Chief Justice Renato Corona had three peso accounts closed in Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank) as of December 12, 2011, the day he was impeached by the House of Representatives.

Based on the testimony of PSBank Katipunan branch manager Annabelle Tiongson, account 089121019593 was closed on December 12, 2011. It was opened on December 22, 2009 with an amount of P8,500,000. It became P12,580,316,56 as of end-2010.

The other account that was closed on December 12, 2011 was 089121021681.

It was opened on September 1, 2010 with an amount of P7,090,099.45. As of end-2010, the amount was at P7,148,238.83.

Both are peso time deposits.

The other account, which was not a subject of a subpoena was also closed on the same date. It had an initial deposit of P17 million on June 29, 2011. It is also a time-deposit.

The other accounts are:

089121017358 – opened on January 26, 2009 with P2,100,000
- closed on April 16, 2009;

089121020122 – opened on March 4, 2010 with P3,700,000.
- closed on April 23, 2010;

089121011957 – opened on May 16, 2007 with P2,000,000; end-2010 with P5,018,255.56;
- closed on October 2, 2008.

All the three accounts are peso time deposits.

Tiongson also brought a certification from the PSBank that Corona has no other accounts, such as mutual funds and other types of deposits.

It was on December 12, 2011 when 188 congressmen signed the impeachment complaint accusing Corona of betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, and culpable violation of the Constitution.

Senator-judge Jinggoy Estrada noted: "It is quite suspicious that these 3 accounts were all closed on the day that the Chief Justice was impeached."

Senator-judge Francis Pangilinan later asked PSBank President Pascual Garcia the circumstances surrounding the termination. “Is there a way where we can find out where it went?”

Garcia said there is, but he is not prepared with an answer because it was not included in the subpoena of the court.

Private prosecutor Demetrio Custodio asked if PSBank officers could bring to court documents pertaining to the closing of the 3 accounts.

Senator-judge Tito Sotto, however, asked if the 3 accounts had any relevance to the allegation of the prosecution on the non-disclosure in Corona’s SALNs.

Custodio said: “It has no direct relevance, but just to show there’s an attempt to conceal certain amounts.”

Not Corona's money - defense

Defense lawyers explained on Thursday that Chief Justice Renato Corona had to close 3 peso accounts in Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank) on the day he was impeached since the money was not his but his wife's company, Basa Guidote Enterprises Inc (BGEI).

They also issued a statement denying that Mrs. Corona had texted journalists explaining why the peso accounts were closed on December 12, 2011, the day her husband was impeached by the House of Representatives.

"It has come to my attention that a certain Tina Corona has texted a media personality. I have not done that and I have not interacted with any media since the impeachment case has been referred to the Senate for trial. I hope media outfits are responsible enough to check and verify your sources before issuing any report. Please be fair," she said.

In the text message which she disowned, it said the money in the peso accounts came "from City of Manila expropriation."

"He deposited it for me for convenience. I was often in Baguio. It's not his funds that's why it's not in his SALN," the text message said.

Corona's defense team previously pointed out that BGEI earned P34 million after one of its properties was expropriated by the City of Manila in 2001.

Hearsay evidence, says Cuevas

Lead defense lawyer Serafin Cuevas also said those amounts in the 3 accounts can only be declared on April 30, 2012. “So it’s not included in the SALN.”

Cuevas also asked Tiongson on cross-examination to test her credibility.

“On the rules on entries made on regular course of business, the entries must be made by persons making the entry?” he asked, to which she answered: “Yes.”

Cuevas tried to show that what Tiongson knows are hearsay since she did not personally attend to the opening or closing of the accounts.

“So you can’t vouch for the validity and correctness then?” Cuevas asked. She answered: “No, I wasn’t there.”

Senator-judge Miriam Defensor Santiago later said it is now up to the prosecution to prove that the entries were indeed made during those dates in question.

Source: abs-cbnnews.com

Renato Corona Impeachement Trial

Chief Justice Renato Corona on Monday said his detractors will have to kill him first if they want him removed as the country's top magistrate.

"Kamatayan lang. Kung gusto nilang tanggalin ako dito, patayin nila ako," Corona said when asked what it would take for him to resign his post.

He added that his own life is a small sacrifice to defend the institution that he serves.

Corona will go on trial at the Senate today after being accused of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution and graft and corruption.He is the first chief justice of the country to be impeached.

Former justice undersecretary Ramon Esguerra, a member of Corona's defense team, said the embattled chief justice is leaving the trial up to God but is determined to clear his name.

"He leaves it to God but he is determined to fight this out and clear his name and be able to tell our people that he is hiding nothing from them and he respects the process and the institution that will try him and he will meet all the allegations against him head on," he said.

Esguerra said public perception will play a major role in the impeachment trial, noting that Corona had been prejudged even before the trial.

He also said the defense panel wants Corona to appear in the trial so he could face his accusers. He said 12 defense lawyers will attend the trial.

Corona has enlisted the help of the country's legal luminaries to defend himself, including a retired Supreme Court justice, who will be pitted against an 11-member prosecution team backed by 59 volunteer private prosecutors. Esguerra said 12 of some 30 members of the defense team will attend the trial.

The prosecutors have said they would like to wrap up their case in three weeks, in an effort to achieve a quick ruling.

Presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte said the impeachment trial was evidence of "a vigorous democracy at work" and showed the government was prepared to use the law to hold public officials to account.

Corona Name 3 persons who want him out

Chief Justice Renato Corona on Monday admitted that he is a roadblock to 3 different people, whom he said are gunning for his removal as the country's top magistrate.

Hours before the historic impeachment trial at the Senate, Corona faced his supporters anew at the Supreme Court, saying he will stand firm against those who would want to bring down the independence of the judiciary.

He cited 3 who want him removed from office because of their alleged hidden agendas.

He said the first person wanted to stop the distribution of the Hacienda Luisita to landless farmers in Tarlac. He earlier accused Malacanang, especially the President’s allies at the Liberal Party, of planning his ouster from office after the Supreme Court decided to distribute to the farmers the sugar estate in Tarlac.

He said he is also a roadblock to a person "who really wants to be vice-president by 2016 but lost the election in 2010."

Finally, he said he is opposed to a person that "wants to be chief justice before 2018."

In his speech, Corona denied that he owns 45 real estate properties which were allegedly acquired when he joined the Supreme Court in 2002. He said he only owns 5 real estate properties.

He also criticized those who questioned his doctorate from the University of Santo Tomas, saying that his critics are just jealous.

The impeachment trial comes at a time when the 2013 election is nearing. Some quarters are saying that the odds are against Corona since some re-electionists would not want to go against popular votes.

If he is not acquitted, Corona may serve until 2018. This early, however, Malacanang already wants a shortlist of his replacement. Sources said the list includes the names of Senior Justice Antonio Carpio and Justice Lourdes Sereno.

source: ABS-CBNNews.com