THINGS OF VALUE MUST BE IN SALN - PALACE
MANILA, MARCH 11, 2012
(philstar) By Marvin Sy - The defense panel in the impeachment
trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona has lined up a number of witnesses to
testify on the alleged defect of the Articles of Impeachment transmitted by the
House of Representatives to the Senate.
Lawyer Tranquil Salvador III, a spokesman for the defense panel, said at
least two congressmen are expected to testify for them on the first day of their
presentation tomorrow.
So far, only Navotas Rep. Tobias Tiangco is certain to testify on matters
pertaining to the defective nature of the impeachment complaint as a voluntary
witness.
Salvador said Batangas Rep. Hermilando Mandanas could also be presented as a
witness even though the lawmaker has stated he would only testify if a subpoena
was issued.
Salvador said the first part of their presentation is what is called an
affirmative defense, where the defendant would present additional facts that may
not be part of the complaint in order to help the case.
In this particular case, Salvador said the defense panel would prove that the
impeachment complaint was defective from the start because it failed to satisfy
the minimum requirements set by the Constitution.
"This is the root of the entire controversy, the articles that are embodied
in the impeachment complaint. There is no foundation on which the three articles
will stand on," Salvador said.
The defense has always claimed the complaint was not verified as required by
the Constitution and many of those who signed it were not even able to read it.
Tiangco was a member of the majority bloc in the House of Representatives but
decided to break away after denouncing the alleged railroading of the
impeachment process by his colleagues.
Mandanas, like Tiangco, did not sign the complaint because he did not have
time to study it.
Salvador said the defense panel wanted to present its affirmative defense at
the start of the trial. He said they were ready to ask the two congressmen to
testify on this but they were not allowed by the impeachment court.
While the arguments that would be raised in the affirmative defense do not
form part of the Articles of Impeachment, Salvador said it would be considered
by the senator-judges when they make their decision.
"It will now amount as one of our defenses. It may have an impact on the way
they vote on the three articles," Salvador said.
"It is where the articles will have to stand. If the complaint is defective,
it is like a body with all of its parts but it has no soul. The body of the
complaint, without the spirit, which is the compliance with the requirements of
the Constitution, it should necessarily die or in this case, fail," he added.
After the affirmative defense, Salvador said they would go into the three
articles argued by the prosecution but not necessarily in the same sequence that
was presented.
"We will have our own presentation. Don't expect that we will be presenting
in the same manner as the prosecution," he said.
Apart from the congressmen, the defense has also confirmed the wife of the
Chief Justice, Ma. Cristina Corona, would be taking the witness stand to testify
on the statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) of her husband.
While the defense panel has repeatedly aired the possibility of Corona
testifying in his own trial, Salvador said this would still depend on the need
for this.
"The observers and media would also like us to give a categorical statement
on this. But it is not our obligation to disclose if he will testify," Salvador
said.
"We don't want to lay our case in public. This has always been an issue. Let
the witnesses be presented in court," he added.
While the question of whether the chief magistrate would actually testify
remains unanswered, Corona has taken to defending himself in public in a series
of television and radio interviews.
Salvador said the media interviews should not be seen as anything but his
desire to be heard in the spirit of fairness.
He said the Chief Justice has for the last three months been subjected to all
kinds of attacks during which he has remained silent.
"He (Corona) has been pictured in so many ways. He has been discredited in a
way and manner that they feel has to be done. Now it has reached a point that he
feels he has to share his thoughts to the public," Salvador said.
Among the more recent issues Salvador cited was the report about Corona's
alleged ownership of 31 firearms. He said this has absolutely no relevance to
the impeachment complaint.
"This is totally immaterial to the case. At the very least, this is a way to
destroy the character of the Chief Justice. They are trying to demonize the
accused, the Chief Justice, even before he is presented before the witness
stand. It they could put some horns on his head they would do it," Salvador
said.
Salvador said Corona decided to break his silence because just like anybody
else who has been subjected to a beating for some time already, he deserves a
chance to defend himself.
He said Corona shared his thoughts on a number of issues but never touched on
the merits of the case.
"The accused, at this point in time, should be given an opportunity to share
his thoughts. Let the people decide who is telling the truth," Salvador said.
"The guy has been beaten up for the past three months. He had just two days
(to share his thoughts in the interviews), what's wrong with that? He's only
human. He has been subjected to trial by publicity. All they are asking for is a
sense of fairness," he added.
Things of value must be in SALN' - Palace says By Aurea Calica (The Philippine Star) Updated
March 11, 2012 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Chief Justice Renato Corona must be able to
explain why he failed to declare in his statements of assets, liabilities and
net worth (SALN) the various firearms that he reportedly owned, Malacañang said
yesterday.
Records of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Firearms and Explosives
Office showed that Corona owns revolvers, high-powered machine guns, and even a
vintage Winchester popularized by American cowboys in the 19th century.
"If the value of the assets is substantial, that has to be declared also in
the SALN and that is something that he will have to answer why it is not
declared – it is unreported asset on top of the bank deposits and the properties
that were brought out in the impeachment trial," deputy presidential
spokesperson Abigail Valte (photo) said.
She refused to comment though on whether Corona was showing a pattern of
dishonesty.
Valte failed to acknowledge the fact that President Aquino also owns a number
of firearms.
Asked whether Corona should already take a leave of absence since he had been
defending his personal issues already, Valte said only Corona could decide on
that.
"Those questions are intended for the Chief Justice, and why he did not take
a leave is something that only he can answer. There were calls for him to
resign, for him to go on leave to isolate and not drag the judiciary in his
impeachment trial. He has chosen not to do so," she said.
Valte said it would also be up to the public to judge whether Corona was able
to still perform his job effectively.
"Let's see the pending cases in the Supreme Court, whether his claims would
be supported or belied," she said.
She added that the Chief Justice should stop picking on other people's
mistakes, including those from the administration, and just deal with his own
problems.
Corona said earlier that the government was employing double standards when
it criticized him and did not punish Presidential Political Adviser Ronald
Llamas for buying pirated DVDs and owning guns.
He also cited the "luxurious perks" received by Philippine Amusement and
Gaming Corp. chairman Cristino Naguiat Jr. from a casino operator.
"Nobody is stopping him from speaking before the media, let's make that
clear. That is his right. In the same way that it is also the right of President
Aquino to talk about the issues that he feels he must weigh in on," Valte
said.
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
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