PALACE TO CJ: SHOW NAKED TRUTH / CJ
TESTIFIES TODAY SECURITY BEEFED UP
[PHOTO - In this file
photo, Chief Justice Renato Corona cuddles his granddaughter during a mass to
celebrate his second year as head of the Supreme Court.
PHOTO BY RENE DILAN]
MANILA, MAY 22, 2012 (TIMES) Written by : JAIME PILAPIL AND
RITCHIE A. HORARIO REPORTERS - Malacañang on Sunday urged Chief Justice Renato
Corona to tell the whole truth when he testifies before the Senate impeachment
court on Tuesday.
"The whole Philippines is also ready to hear his testimony and also the
prosecution and the senator judges are also ready to hear his testimony and ask
further questions on his testimony," spokesman Edwin Lacierda told a radio
interview over state-owned dzRB.
"Ang expectation po ng Palasyo ay hindi po naiiba sa expectation po ng
taumbayan. Gusto naming malaman, gusto nating buong bayan marinig ang
katotohanan sa kanyang mga deposito, ang katotohanan sa kanyang SALN [statement
of assets, liabilities and net worth]—kung bakit po niya hindi idineklara ang
kanyang dollar deposits sa SALN. Huwag na po tayong magkubli sa teknikalidad o
sa isang opinyon ng isang dating BIR official. Klarong-klaro po ang hinihingi ng
taumbayan, sabihin ninyo ang katotohanan, ang lahat ng katotohanan [The
expectation of the Palace is no different from the expectation of the
public. We all want to hear the truth regarding his deposits,SALN, why he
did not declare his dollar deposits in his SALN. Let's not hide behind
technicalities or behind the opinion of a former BIR official. The demand if the
people is very clear—tell the truth, the whole truth. Show the naked truth.
That's the only thing, the simple request of the Filipino people]," he added.
Corona was impeached by the Lower House in January. If the Senate impeachment
court convicts him, he would be stripped of his post as Chief Justice without
prejudice to the filing of other criminal charges against him before regular
courts or the Office of the Ombudsman.
President Benigno Aquino 3rd had actively sought the ouster of Corona. Mr.
Aquino believes that Corona is a faithful follower of former President Gloria
Arroyo, who is facing electoral sabotage charges and under hospital arrest. It
was Mrs. Arroyo who appointed Corona to his position.
Asked if all Cabinet members and lawmakers had declared their dollar accounts
in their respective SALNs, Lacierda said it is the obligation of every
government official to place his dollar savings in his SALN.
"Its an obligation on the part of a public official. We hold no other opinion
other than what we have stated. An asset is an asset; a dollar deposit is an
asset. The only people making that distinction is the defense team. So I don't
know why it should be a matter of debate," he said.
However, Lacierda admitted that there is a regulation in the Civil Service
Commission which states that foreign currencies owned could be converted into
pesos.
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, who took the witness stand last week,
claimed that the Chief Justice maintained 88 dollar accounts in different banks.
She based her testimony on documents provided her by the Anti-Money Laundering
Council.
Lacierda denied accusations that the Palace is using the Office of Ombudsman
in its desire to oust the chief justice.
"We have respected the independence and the separation from the Ombudsman and
we have never used her. And she, herself, has personally stated that she will
not allow herself to be used for harassment purposes. So I don't think that
should be a concern for the people. We believe that the Ombudsman has acted very
responsibly, acted on the complaints that were validly filed before her office
in conducting the fact-finding investigation. If there are any concerns about
any purported or feared abuse, then that should be tackled by the legislature in
discussing the Ombudsman Act. But, insofar as the present actuations, present
actions taken by the Ombudsman, she has acted very, very prudently and very,
very responsibly and we commend her for her actions thus far," he said.
Lacierda also admitted that the Constitution does not classify tampering with
a SALN a high crime.
"The Constitution does not even define what a high crime is. I don't remember
if it is stated in the Constitution. In the United States Federal Constitution,
it has stated high crime in misdemeanors. But, you know, in Philippine
Constitution—again, I'm thinking out loud right now—I don't recall a term called
high crime. It was, however, discussed in the Constitutional Commission but it's
again up to the legislature. If they should like to define what should be a high
crime, then we leave it with the legislature. They are the ones who make laws,"
he said.
INC 'lobby' denied Meanwhile, United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) on Sunday
denied reports that the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) is attempting to influence the
votes of senators identified with the coalition in the impeachment trial of
Corona.
Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco, who is also the secretary general of UNA, said
that the INC did not send emissaries to senators to convince them to vote for
the acquittal of Corona.
"No emissaries from the INC have sent feelers to senator-judges belonging to
UNA for the purpose of pleading for the Chief Justice," Tiangco said in a
statement. "It is disappointing to read of an "anonymous" source trying to
besmirch the reputation of both INC and UNA. Could this be a relative of [Rep.
Reynaldo] Umali's small lady or Rep. [Jorge] Banal's gate to gate courier
service?" he asked.
Tiangco challenged the anonymous source to come out in the open to prove the
allegations.
"Aren't we honorable men? Come into the light Mr. Congressional source and
prove that you're an honorable man," he added.
Kaya Natin champions The Ombudsman investigated Corona based on the
complaints filed by several groups and personalities, among them the Kaya Natin
Movement (KNM).
KNM was founded by Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo,
former Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca and former Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio.
The three first exchanged ideas in a meeting organized by the Ateneo de
Manila University-School of Government through its director Harvey Keh, also a
columnist of The Manila Times, in 2008.
The movement became controversial after Keh took the witness stand in the
impeachment trial of the Chief Justice.
KNM has been linked, in one way or another, to the impeachment trial as some
of its officials and "champions" have a big role in the proceedings.
Sen. Teofisto Guingona 3rd, an ally of President Benigno Aquino 3rd, is one
of the senator-judges.
Corona had claimed that Guingona urged him to share his term with Senior
Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, who was formerly connected with the so-called
"The Firm," which is suspected to be behind the plot to oust the chief justice.
Akbayan party-list Rep. Arlene "Kaka" Bag-ao, another "champion", is one of
the House prosecutors. House Deputy Floor Leader and Rep. Jorge "Bolet" Banal,
also KNM's champion of good governance, testified early in the trial regarding
the bank documents of Corona. He is a member of the prosecution team's
secretariat.
Khe, the lead convenor of KNM, was ordered by Senate President Juan Ponce
Enrile to show cause why he should not be cited for contempt for trying to
influence the impeachment court for submitting documents he got from an
anonymous source.
FROM ABS-CBN
Senate on high alert for CJ testimony By Ron
Gagalac, ABS-CBN News Posted at 05/21/2012 5:53 PM | Updated as of 05/21/2012
5:54
MANILA, Philippines - The Senate has beefed up its security in time
for Chief Justice Renato Corona's testimony in the impeachment court on Tuesday.
"Security preparations are all set. Dinagdagan namin ang mga procedures since
it's the Chief Justice coming here," Senate Sgt. at Arms Jose Balajadia said.
Balajadia said the Senate security forces will be comparable to the number of
forces they had during the first day of the impeachment trial.
He said they have cancelled all filed leaves of all their security forces so
everybody will be on duty for the week's most anticipated event.
He said Senate security will also benefit from additional forces from the
Southern Police District and Blue Guards Security personnel.
Balajadia said the Chief Justice will be given his own security team once he
sets foot in the Senate tomorrow afternoon.
"We will anticipate any untoward incident. In case meron, meron na kami
preparation for that," he said.
He did not reveal where the Chief Justice's holding room will be but said
they will provide one.
Balajadia said he is also anticipating pro- and anti-Corona demonstrations
tomorrow.
He said demonstrators will not be allowed near the gate of the Senate.
Instead, the rallies will be allowed in front of the Film Center Building, which
is about half a kilometer away from the Senate's main entrance.
Balajadia said police forces will handle crowd control during the
demonstrations. CCTV cameras have also been operational 24/7, he said.
The Senate security chief says they have not received any threats in so far
as the impeachment trial tomorrow is concerned.
"Our patrols started last night, wala kaming mga threat," he said.
Balajadia clarified that they will give priority to senior citizens who would
want to watch the proceedings. They will not allow banners or t-shirts that show
support for either cause in the trial.
"If we catch you, you cannot enter the session hall. We have a dress code, we
will enforce it," he said.
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
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