CORONA CONFIDENT OF ACQUITTAL /
ENDGAME: CJ'S WORD VS MORALES'
MANILA,
MAY 18, 2012
(PHILSTAR) By Edu Punay (PHOTO -Chief Justice Renato Corona
and his wife Cristina attend a Mass at the Supreme Court yesterday to mark his
second year as head of the high court. JONJON
VICENCIO)
MANILA, Philippines - See you next year. This was Chief Justice Renato
Corona's message to his critics as he expressed confidence yesterday that he
would be acquitted in the Senate impeachment trial.
Corona takes the witness stand next Tuesday.
The chief magistrate believes he will be able to hurdle his ordeal and, in
the end, be cleared by the Senate sitting as an impeachment court.
But Corona said he also would have to brace for another impeachment, as
revealed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales during the hearing earlier this
week.
Corona attended a special Mass at the Supreme Court for his second
anniversary as Chief Justice.
His lawyers were as optimistic as their client.
"After CJ's testimony on Tuesday, he will come out clean. We hope that the
truth would be enough to set him free," lawyer Dennis Manalo told reporters in a
separate interview during the event at the SC Centennial Building in Manila.
Defense counsel Jose Roy III said that they would not coach Corona in
preparing for his testimony.
"We want him to prepare in isolation," Roy explained.
The lawyers did not give any hint as to how Corona would address the
allegations against him, particularly the charges of Morales that the Chief
Justice had 82 dollar accounts in several banks with a "transactional balance"
amounting to $10 million, spread out over five banks as of last year based on
records from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).
Corona vowed to continue his fight for the sake of the farmers of Hacienda
Luisita.
"I already put my entire life on the line for all of you. I put everything on
the line for you," he told farmers who trooped to the SC to support him.
Corona has insisted that his impeachment was a result of the SC ruling for
the total distribution of the sugarland estate owned by President Aquino's
family in Tarlac, with a lower value set for just compensation.
Original farmer-beneficiaries of Hacienda Luisita cheered the Chief Justice.
Noel Mallari, one of the leaders of the 6,296 original farmers, said they
went to the SC to personally thank Corona for fighting for their rights.
"We are grateful but we are also scared because the DAR (Department of
Agrarian Reform) has not given a specific date yet for the distribution of
titles. This is why we are supporting the Chief Justice in his fight," he said.
Corona's family members also vowed to stand by him.
"This storm will end soon and the truth shall prevail. You shall be
vindicated, dad," said Corona's son Francis.
Corona's wife Cristina said she wished and prayed for the acquittal of her
husband during the Mass.
She also hopes that there would be "peace and unity for the country" after
the impeachment trial.
Various associations of judges and court employees and civil society groups,
including Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government
Employees, also attended the Mass.
The Chief Justice also denied reports that his wife Cristina is set to fly to
Spain this Saturday, a few days before he testifies at the impeachment court on
Tuesday.
In a text message to The STAR, Corona dismissed the report as "pure
intrigue."
Text messages circulated saying Mrs. Corona was booked on a Qatar Airways
flight to Barcelona at 6:20 p.m. on May 19.
The Philippines does not have an extradition treaty with Spain.
Corona's lawyers also disputed claims that the "game is over" for their
client, saying the Chief Justice should be allowed to speak first before making
such claim.
"Kung matatalo kami, matalo na kaming lumalaban (If we lose, we will lose
fighting)," said lead defense counsel retired associate justice Serafin Cuevas.
Cuevas admitted that the accusation that Corona owns 82 dollar accounts could
be the biggest issue that they need to counter.
"The claim about deposits could be the biggest aspect because with regard to
the properties, I think the impeachment court is already convinced that (the
Chief Justice) only owns five instead of 45," he said.
The prosecution initially accused Corona of owning 45 properties but took it
back and claimed instead that the magistrate has 21. They claimed that majority
of the 21 properties were not reflected in his statements of assets liabilities
and net worth (SALN).
Corona, however, admitted to owning only five properties.
These are the Bellagio Tower penthouse in Global City, Taguig, another condo
unit at Bonifacio Ridge, also in Taguig, a third condo at The Columns on Ayala
Avenue, Makati, a fourth condo in Quezon City, and his house in Xavierville,
Quezon City.
Cuevas said the accusation that Corona owns numerous bank accounts was the
turning point that convinced Corona to take the witness stand.
Congressmen expect conviction
Lawmakers who signed the Articles of Impeachment against Corona said
yesterday the testimony of Ombudsman Morales was the "tipping point" that would
ensure his conviction for betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the
Constitution.
Members of the Movement 188 – the 188 congressmen who signed the impeachment
complaint – was referring to Morales' testimony that Corona has undeclared 82
foreign currency deposits that is believed to hold some $12 million.
"We believe it (Morales' testimony) was the tipping point of the impeachment
trial," said Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, one of the convenors of the group.
He said no amount of legal maneuvers would be enough to contradict the
testimony of the Ombudsman.
"We don't know how the Chief Justice can successfully debunk the Ombudsman's
testimony," he said.
"No amount of smoke and screen tricks can mislead the public and the
senator-judges on the real issue," he said.
Opposition Rep. Milagros Magsaysay of Zambales, however, said it was the
other way around.
"It could be the tipping point for the Chief Justice's acquittal," Magsaysay
said.
She said the testimony of Harvey Keh, one of the complainants who filed
charges against Corona at the Ombudsman, would clear Corona.
Magsaysay said Keh admitted furnishing questionable documents from an
anonymous source to Morales and "demolished whatever testimony she (Ombudsman)
made.
"Also what she (Morales) said was not part of the impeachment complaint, so
how can that be a tipping point. The people don't believe the allegations
against the Chief Justice anymore," Magsaysay said.
She recalled that the prosecution panel accused Corona of having 45
properties, which later turned out to be untrue. Corona was found to have only
six properties. With Paolo Romero, Alexis Romero
WHO DEPOSITED CJ $ ACCOUNTS?
(ABS-CBN) Who deposited the
alleged millions of dollars in Chief Justice Renato Corona's bank accounts?
This could be the next line of questioning in Corona's impeachment trial
after Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales revealed an Anti-Money Laundering
Council (AMLC) report showing Corona had $12 million in "fresh deposits," spread
out into 82 accounts in 5 banks from 2003 to 2011.
Dean Antonio La Viña (photo) of the Ateneo School of Government
said the AMLC could provide more information on who deposited the money into
Corona's accounts.
"Malalaman natin kung sino ang nagdeposit ng pera na yun so malalaman natin
kung ito ay may kaugnayan sa mga kaso," he said in a radio DZMM interview.
Morales earlier told senators Corona's dollar deposits grew from just one
dollar account in 2003 to 82 accounts by the end of 2011.
She said there were "significant deposits and withdrawals on various
significant dates including the 2004 and 2007 elections as well as the week he
was impeached specifically December 12,13, 15, 19, 20, and 22, 2011."
She said on December 12, 2011, the day he was impeached, Corona
pre-terminated a US dollar time deposit account amounting to $418,193.32 and
then added to another bank in Bank of Philippines Islands (BPI) San Francisco
del Monte branch. Corona then deducted $417,978.80 from the account and placed
in a regular trust fund placement.
AMLC credible, won't doctor records
In the interview, La Viña said he is surprised that Corona's defense team
summoned Morales as a hostile witness in the trial.
He said it was obvious from the reaction of the defense team that they did
not know that the Ombudsman had already contacted the AMLC about Corona's bank
records.
"If they read the Constitution, they would know the Ombudsman can ask help
from any government agency to do her job. So simple lang, she wrote the AMLC and
then asked for help from Heidi Mendoza of [the Commission on Audit]. The defense
should have expected that," he said.
He said the defense's move "paved the way for the AMLC document to be
included in the evidence."
La Viña said the AMLC report is particularly damning since it comes from a
very credible agency.
"This is the AMLC. That is a very believable agency because it has
international [standards]. It was created to tame money laundering. Napakataas
ng standard at napaka- independent ng mga taong nagpapatakbo. Hindi yan mga
political na tao," he said.
"No question that the AMLC would doctor its own records. Napaka-credible na
agency, napaka-independent na agency," he added.
'CJ defense by text, press release'
La Viña said Morales' testimony only heightens the need for Chief Justice
Corona to testify in his trial and air his side.
"I don't understand why he let Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales to present
his bank accounts… This is what he should have done the first place. He should
go to the court and say voluntarily I will waive my privilege to bank secrecy
and say these are my accounts," he said.
"He has to present himself. He has to defend himself. Hindi pwede text
message lang. Hindi pwedeng press statement lang or press conference lang," he
added.
He also said he sees nothing wrong with the Ombudsman's decision to write
Corona to explain his $10 million foreign currency accounts, without revealing
the AMLC report.
"She did the right thing, she asked Corona to explain first. Ang mali ni CJ,
he did not ask about the $10 million. He thought it came from complaints of
Walden Bello. So we are now forewarned. That is a very good development for
accountability," he said.
End-game: Corona's word vs Carpio-Morales' by RG
Cruz, ABS-CBN News Posted at 05/17/2012 3:02 AM | Updated as of 05/17/2012 3:02
AM
Without Corona, defense's case will crumble, says Gonzales
MANILA, Philippines - For leaders of the House of Representatives,
only Chief Justice Renato Corona can rebut the testimony of the defense panel's
own hostile witness, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.
House Speaker Sonny Belmonte said, "The most awaited testimony of the court
is the testimony of the chief justice and as I've said, I myself personally
believes that he will testify because he has no choice. He is the only one who
can extricate himself from all of these, if he can ha. And definitely, we will
prepare a rigorous examination of CJ, but whether there's a need for rebuttal,
it's another thing. Because what is there to rebut? Because we have to admit
that everything here in the record is damning for him, including evidences that
they have, like for instance, the explanations nila on the Basa-Guidote
property, how it was manipulated from one person to another. I don't see it
is...Well that's his last chance eh."
House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales said, "you have to remember na ang
nagatawag kay Ombudsman is, ang defense. So if at all, ang merong obligasyon
ngayon to rebut her testimony is the defense itself. Kasi yung mga sinabi naman
ni Ombudsman Morales is damaging to the defense. Hindi naman damaging sa
prosecution. And you only try to rebut something when it is damaging to your
cause and it, on the contrary, it helps the prosecution. Kaya ang meron talagang
dapat mag-rebut nito and to disprove their claim will be the defense, to
disprove and to rebut their own witness. If he does not take the witness stand,
they are surely done."
Gonzales added, "Kasi kahit anong sabihin ng mga abogado niya, kahit anong
mga, keso gwapo yang mga yan, keso magaganda yang mga yan, hearsay din naman
yung mga sasabihin ng mga yan because only CJ Corona is capable and has the
personal knowledge of denying kung ano ba talaga ang mga pumapasok na ebidensiya
na 'to."
Gonzales said without Corona, the defense's case will crumble.
"Pero pag hindi nila prinesinta rito si Chief Justice Corona, then that will
really spell their end, regardless whether i-present nila ang AMLC or mga banch
managers, that's beside the point as far as I'm concerned. But what is
indispensable for their cause is siguradong dapat mag-testify dyan si chief
justice at magsalita siya at i-explain niya kung ano yung nilalaman nung report
ni Ombudsman and after that, tsaka lang kami papasok kung kailangan ba naming
mag-rebuttal, depende sa magiging testimony niya."
Ombudsman's documents credible
As this developed, the House also vouched for the credibility of the
documents submitted by Morales, which is also the basis for her testimony.
Belmonte gave copies of the report to the media.
"We have to rely on the records given by the authorities...In this particular
case, the items were so numerous that it is really quite impossible to, even if
she wanted, to verify it, but anyway it is not necessary. It was given to her by
the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and that's sufficient," he said.
Belmonte left it to the Senate to call officials of the Anti-Money laundering
council to authenticate the report of the ombudsman." I think that's up to the
Senate to do that. We ourselves have given a copy of the report and we'll give
you a copy of the report."
Prosecution spokesman Rep. Sonny Angara warned the defense it will not help
this case to summon the AMLC. "Definitely, it will be a disadvantage because the
AMLC is just to authenticate the report."
AMLC testimony, a nuclear bomb vs CJ
Gonzales pointed out, " As a legal strategy, kasi ako naman naging
practitioner din ako nang matagal eh. I don't believe na ipatatawag ng defense
ang AMLC or the branch manager. Ang magpapatawag nito ang mga senador, but
definitely it will not come from the defense. Because otherwise kung papatawawg
nila yan, kung nabigla na sila sa sinabi ni Ombudsman, eh talagang pag kinonfirm
ng AMLC yan, at kasama na mga bank manager eh talaagng parang ano na 'to,
nuclear bomb na sasabog na talaga sa mukha nila."
Gonzales, however, warned that the defense was becoming too focused on
technicalities. "Kaya makikita niyo sa kanilang mga sinasabi ngayon, sa mga
spokesperson nila na kwine-kwestyon nila, there should be a court order, tama ba
na nireveal kaagad ito. But the fact remains that the Ombudsman already
testified. Nandyan na ang ebidensiya, and considering the historical, yung
kaniyang trait ni Ombudsman, eh wala namang record 'to in the past na talagang
ano 'to, hindi naman para may dahilan tayo para magsinungaling. So andyan na
yan. It remains part of the record regardless of the legal issue, then this is
something that CJ and CJ alone can fully explain."
Gonzales said the defense may exploit this as a way to drag the Supreme Court
again into the picture. "Kung sasabihin na nila yan, kailangan ang Supreme Court
ang mag-decide ng issue na yan, kung pu-pwedeng i-reveal na, kung gagawin ng
defense yan na it becomes a legal issue na kailangan pa ng court order muna bago
ireveal yan ng AMLC sa Ombudsman, well, edi ibinibigay natin to sa home court
advantage ni Chief Justice Corona. Supreme court yan kaya hindi rin pu-pwede at
this point na Supreme Court ang magdecide niyan because it's obviously na may
suspetya kaagad na maging biased sila in favour of chief justice."
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
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