CORONA IS OBJECT OF PNoy's SARCASM /
PALACE: CJ ON BRINK OF CONVICTION
[PHOTO - LONG SPEECH, NO
MEANING' President Benigno Aquino III on Chief Justice Renato Corona. INQUIRER AND AP PHOTOS]
MANILA, MAY 26, 2012 (INQUIRER) By Norman
Bordadora - President Benigno Aquino III made no mention of Chief Justice
Renato Corona by name but the sarcasm in his voice and his reference to long
speeches that supposedly have no substance left no doubt he was taking a potshot
at the country's top magistrate.
Speaking on Thursday before bureaucrats at the National Career Advocacy
Congress, Mr. Aquino began with an ad lib about keeping one's message succinct.
"I stress in the Cabinet to keep it short, direct to the point … We can do
away with the speeches especially when we don't say anything meaningful while we
speak lengthily," he said.
Then he went into his prepared speech, "lest I be accused of saying nothing
after speaking for three hours."
The President's mention of "three hours" was obviously an allusion to the
length of Corona's statement in his trial on Tuesday, during which Corona
defended his bank accounts, lambasted relatives and accused Mr. Aquino of
getting back at him after the high court voted to distribute Hacienda Luisita,
which the Aquino clan owns.
Unanswered questions
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte told reporters Corona's
statement proved nothing.
"He failed to answer the questions that were raised by those who followed the
impeachment trial," Valte said.
"While the existence of the foreign currency deposits have been established
before his testimony, the questions that remain include how much is in those
accounts and whether it was declared in his [statement of assets, liabilities
and net worth]," she added.
Palace: Corona on the brink of conviction By
Norman Bordadora Philippine Daily Inquirer 1:42 am | Thursday, May 24th, 2012
[PHOTO- Ronald Llamas. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO]
Chief Justice Renato Corona is "on the brink of conviction," President
Benigno Aquino III's political adviser said a day after the impeached magistrate
walked out of his trial without being excused by the Senate impeachment court.
Ronald Llamas, presidential adviser on political affairs, also took exception
to Corona's claim that he held a considerable influence on Mr. Aquino and that
his leftist colleagues were about to take over the government.
"What he refuses to accept is that he stands on the brink of conviction, and
possibly further prosecution because of his own actions," Llamas said in a text
message to the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
"While I suppose I should be flattered that he attributed so much influence
to me, which is so untrue, the obvious motivation behind that statement is to
once again attribute the dire straits he finds himself in to a supposed
conspiracy," he added.
Undersecretary Abigail Valte, President Aquino's deputy spokesperson,
expressed confidence in the prosecution evidence.
"We remain firm that Chief Justice Corona failed to controvert the evidence
against him in his opening speech," Valte said in a text message to reporters.
"Nonetheless, we still wait if he submits himself to cross-examination so the
truth will come out," she added.
Truth lock down
[PHOTO -President Benigno Aquino talks to political adviser Ronald
Llamas during the Akbayan congress in Pasay City on Friday. Aquino denied he is
being influenced by the party, contrary to the claim made by Chief Justice
Renato Corona in his testimony in his impeachment trial. Photo by Jay Morales, Malacañang Photo]
Malacañang didn't directly comment on Corona's dare for Senator Franklin
Drilon and the 188 House members who signed the impeachment complaint to sign a
waiver of their rights under the bank secrecy law before he allows scrutiny of
his own bank accounts particularly his dollar deposits.
Asked about the administration's reaction to Corona's challenge, presidential
spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said, "We expected the Chief Justice to be
cross-examined yesterday so that the truth will come out but instead the truth
suffered a lock down."
Uncorroborated testimony
Prosecution spokespersons said they were waiving their right to cross-examine
Corona because they were confident they have presented enough evidence to
convict him, particularly on their charge he had $10 million to $12 million in
bank accounts.
Representative Juan Edgardo Angara said: "The only evidence presented by the
defense on the dollar accounts are what can be called self-serving and
uncorroborated testimony. It is self-serving and not supported by any document
or any witness testimony."
But the minority bloc in the House believes Corona will be acquitted in view
of the strong influence of the bloc-voting religious group, Iglesia ni Cristo
(INC), on the senator-judges who are either seeking reelection or whose kin are
running for office in the 2013 midterm elections.
"We expect the Chief Justice to hurdle the Senate trial mainly because the
INC is on his side. The senator-judges cannot ignore the power and influence of
the INC in the elections," said House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez in an
interview with reporters.
No choice but resign
Roan Libarios, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, called on
Corona to return to the witness stand.
"If he will willfully defy the Senate, he should better resign. He has no
other choice because he would then no longer be the embodiment of the rule of
law," Libarios said in an interview. With reports from
Philip C. Tubeza, Gil C. Cabacungan and Leila B. Salaverria
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
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