PHNO-HL: NO NEED TO PRESENT CJ AS WITNESS; $ ACCOUNTS A "BAIT" TO COMPEL CJ AS WITNESS

NO NEED TO PRESENT CJ AS WITNESS; $
ACCOUNTS A "BAIT" TO COMPEL CJ AS WITNESS

[PHOTO - Tranquil Salvador III
says: Walang dapat ipaliwanag. If they have a strong case why do they have to
rely on evidenc eof the defense?]]
MANILA,
MAY 8, 2012
(PHILSTAR) A lawyer for Chief Justice
Renato Corona on Monday said the reports about Corona's alleged US$10 million
dollar accounts are a "bait" to compel the defense to present Corona as witness
in the impeachment trial.
Tranquil Salvador III said there is no need for Corona's direct testimony in
the trial.
"Walang dapat ipaliwanag... If they have a strong case, why do they have to
rely on the evidence of the defense?" Salvador said in an interview with ABS-CBN
News.
Deputy Majority Leader Romero Frederico Quimbo, spokesperson of the House of
Representatives' prosecution team, meanwhile, maintained that they have a strong
case against Corona.
"As far as we are concerned, we have presented impeachable offenses.
Certainly we have established evidence on the bank accounts. We have established
evidence on the real estate properties," Quimbo said.
Both panels meanwhile agreed that there is a need to expedite the impeachment
trial.
The trial resumed at 2 p.m. today after a month-long break.
Salvador said the defense is set to present its witness, former Manila Mayor
Lito Atienza and at least 10 more in the next days.
The defense presented Atienza as witness on Day 34 of the trial proceedings
before Congress went on Lenten break on March 23.
Quimbo, meanwhile, said the prosecution will have to set a rebuttal period to
finish the impeachment trial soon.
Jinggoy
Senator-Judge Jinggoy Estrada, however, reiterated his call for the defense
panel to present Corona to take the witness stand and personally defend himself
from accusations.
"Bring the respondent himself to answer the allegations leveled against him.
The impeachment court will be very, very happy to hear his side," Estrada
suggested to the defense panel.
Estrada gave his statement after Presiding Senator-Judge Juan Ponce Enrile
called some testimonies of defense witnesses "irrelevant" and "immaterial."
Estrada said the impeachment court may decide on the impeachment case earlier
than expected if Corona takes the witness stand.
"Baka doon pa lang makakabuo na kami ng desisyon," he said.
Besides the impeachment case, Estrada said Corona could also answer
allegations about his supposed $10 million deposits in a bank.
But lead defense counsel Serafin Cuevas said due process should be given to
their client.
"We cannot be bulldozed in presenting evidence and witnesses," Cuevas said.

He also maintained that the non-inclusion of some of the assets of the Chief
Justice is not an impeachable offense.
"We may not agree with him but let's give him some consideration," Cuevas
said.
The defense panel is expected to present five to six more witnesses before it
rests its case.
SALN
The prosecution panel, meanwhile, urged Corona to voluntarily release his
latest statement of assets, liabilities and net worth to the public.
Quezon Rep. Erin Tanada, a spokesman of the prosecution panel, said the Chief
Justice should make his SALN public for scrutiny.
"The Chief Justice should voluntarily release his SALN to the public and
[should not hide] behind an SC resolution," Tanada told an interview with
state-run TV network PTV-4.
Tanada said the Chief justice must reveal his SALN publicly if he has nothing
to hide.
"Ewan kung bakit takot sya, makakasama ba o makakatulong sa kaso nya?
Makikita ba na mas ginawang tama kaya makakaapekto sa kaso nya? There is nothing
to fear if he wants to show the truth," Tanada said.
"A question of procedure"

The defense, however, said they will present Corona's latest SALN before the
impeachment court .
Defense lawyer Jose Roy III said the presentation of Corona's new SALN is
intended to prove that law allows corrections to the document.
"I think everybody expects us to but at this point it's a question of
procedure. We want to respect the resolutions of the Supreme Court and we are
determined to do it that way," Roy said.
"I think the presentation of the SALN is unavoidable because the issue seems
to be that the former SALN (of Corona) was less than accurate although that is
not in the allegations," he added.
Roy said some changes have been reflected in Corona's new SALN in compliance
with Section 10 of Republic Act 6713.
"In my own view, if the new SALN adequately explains the issues raised, then
what are we really talking about?" Roy said.
"The law says it can be corrected so obviously you expect that the Chief
Justice will take advantage of that law and rely on it," he added.
Roy said the provisions of the law will form part of the basis for the new
entries and additions in the SALN.
Corona has been accused of hiding several million in his bank accounts, both
local and foreign denominated, which he supposedly did not include in his SALN.

Corona's prosecutors also alleged that Corona acquired Ayala Avenue and
Bonifacio Ridge condo units in 2004 but reported them only in his 2010 SALN. -
Katherine Manalo, Dennis Carcamo, Alexis Romero and Jamille
Domingo



Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi

© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
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