Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Day 40 of Impeachment Trial of Renato Corona

by PNA
On Day 40 of his impeachment trial on Tuesday, Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona delivered his much-awaited testimony before the Senate, sitting as the impeachment court. 

In his opening statement, Corona said his appearance was a fulfillment of his promise to the Filipino people to answer all allegations hurled against him.

Corona, in his testimony, accused the government of using its entire machinery to discredit and impeach him.

He also accused the House of Representatives' prosecution panel of engaging in "dirty tactics."

Corona said the case was filed without solid evidence.

He accused the prosecution of abusing the law to prosecute him and this, according to him, is "unacceptable."

The chief magistrate also dragged President Benigno S. Aquino III and the Hacienda Luisita issue, and Presidential Political Adviser Ronald Llamas in the impeachment case.

He also accused the President of wanting to control the three branches of government -- legislative, executive and the judiciary.

Corona also admitted, in his testimony, of investing in foreign currency business.

He also discussed the Basa-Guidote issue, even saying that the late Jose Basa oppressed his mother-in-law and family.

Corona also denied acquiring 45 properties, admitting to owning only five which, according to him, were all declared in his statements of assets, liabilities and networth (SALNs).

He also denied having US$ 10-12 million deposits in 82 bank accounts as he accused Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales of misleading the court, saying the Ombudsman's information came from "polluted source."

The prosecution defended the Ombudsman saying that Carpio-Morales "acted well within her general and specific powers, and did not do acts violative of either the Foreign Currency Deposit Act (FCDA) or the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA)."

After his testimony, Corona walked out of the Senate impeachment court, which prompted Senate President and presiding officer Juan Ponce Enrile to issue a warning against the chief justice that his long testimony would be stricken off the record and the court would render a verdict on the impeachment case if the chief magistrate would not return to the witness stand and allow himself to be cross-examined by the prosecution and the senator-judges.

"We will give Corona until tomorrow (Wednesday) to return. If he does not return, we will consider this case submitted for resolution. If corona does not want to be cross-examined, I will order his statement stricken off the record," Enrile said.

Enrile's decision was supported by all the 23 senators present during the 40th day of the impeachment trial.

Meanwhile, the prosecution panel said the alleged "premeditated" and "planned walkout" of Corona only show that the chief magistrate has no intention to be cross-examined.

They said what the chief justice did was "a blatant insult and disrespect to the impeachment court."

The prosecution said the chief magistrate's actuation was unbecoming of a chief justice.

As head of the Supreme Court, which is the highest court of the land, it was shameful that the chief magistrate had resorted to this stunt, they said.

Senator–judge Franklin Drilon, for his part, considered as "funny" the challenge of the chief justice for him and the 188 congressmen who signed the impeachment complaint to sign a blank waiver authorizing government entities concerned to examine all their bank records as well as their SALNs.

"I find it funny," was the short response of Drilon to Corona's challenge.

Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teddy Casino also said that the chief justice's challenge was obviously "a publicity stunt that does not deserve any serious consideration."

"It is a ploy to justify his continued refusal to reveal his true assets from the impeachment court. Unless he (Corona) answers questions from the prosecution, he has no right demanding anything from anyone," he said.

Defense lead counsel former SC Justice Serafin Cuevas, meanwhile, apologized for Corona's sudden departure from the session hall even as he got boos from the gallery.

Corona returned to the session hall on a wheelchair, forcing Cuevas to ask for suspension of the hearing to give the chief magistrate enough time to recover from hypoglycemia.

"He is not physically able and not mentally suited to carry on the direct examination. Corona will continue his testimony but not today," Cuevas said.

Enrile granted the request of the defense and, at the same time, demanded respect from Corona.

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