Some of the properties acquired by Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Renato Corona and his wife, Maria Cristina Corona were divulged during the sixth day of the impeachment trial against the Chief Justice before the Senate Impeachment Court on Wednesday.
During her testimony, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares authenticated a certified true copy of a certificate authorizing registration (CAR), showing the buyer as Cristina Corona dated Sept. 16, 2005 and valid until 2006 with acquisition cost of P9,159,940 for a property in Global City, Taguig City, particularly Bellagio Condominium property.
Also presented was a certified true copy of a CAR with name of the buyer spouses Renato Corona and Cristina Corona on a 303.3 square meters (sq. m.) property in Bellagio valued at P14,510,225.00 dated Dec. 17, 2009 valid until 2010.
It was also disclosed that a property in the name of the buyer Renato Corona and Cristina Corona with acquisition cost of P2,508,000 dated Dec. 8, 2003.
Likewise, a CAR showing the seller as Cristina Corona of a property consisting of a parcel of land measuring 1,200 sq.m. costing P18 million dated Oct. 22, 2010.
Henares also authenticated a CAR showing a 260-sq.m. property sold on March 12, 2010 with selling price P8 million.
She testified on the shares of stock in the Palms and Country Club, Inc. dated Dec. 5, 2011 with selling price of P700,000, whose buyers are spouses Renato Corona and Cristina Corona.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Salary and Assets of Renato Corona
The prosecution team of the House of Representatives on Wednesday said it has proven that the salary of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona was not enough to afford his acquired properties, citing the testimony of Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares.
Marikina Rep. Romero Quimbo, one of the prosecution’s spokesmen, in a press briefing, claimed the chief justice accumulated P200 million worth of properties "that are not supported by his compensation income."
"Malinaw na umabot ang assets (sa halagang) hindi naman kaya suportahan ng kanyang sahod... Sa kabila ng pagpapababa ng value, malaki pa rin ang disparity sa salary niya at sa assets na accumulated niya," he said.
In today's impeachment trial, Henares testified that the chief justice earned up to P657,000 during his tenure at the Supreme Court.
She also said that Corona did not file income tax returns (ITRs) from 2002 to 2010, but stated there was nothing wrong with this as the chief justice was on the "alpha list" of the Supreme Court.
Henares said that the Alpha List was being submitted to the BIR at the end of every year. It enumerates all employees of an employer and how much tax was withheld from their income.
Based on the testimony of the BIR chief and the documents submitted to the Senate impeachment court, Quimbo said the House prosecution was able to establish that the chief justice has no other means of income besides his earnings at the SC, since his assets are declared through the alpha list and not through ITRs.
He noted that under Republic Act 1379, or the Forfeiture Law, assets that are larger than one’s income are "presumed to be ill-gotten."
Marikina Rep. Romero Quimbo, one of the prosecution’s spokesmen, in a press briefing, claimed the chief justice accumulated P200 million worth of properties "that are not supported by his compensation income."
"Malinaw na umabot ang assets (sa halagang) hindi naman kaya suportahan ng kanyang sahod... Sa kabila ng pagpapababa ng value, malaki pa rin ang disparity sa salary niya at sa assets na accumulated niya," he said.
In today's impeachment trial, Henares testified that the chief justice earned up to P657,000 during his tenure at the Supreme Court.
She also said that Corona did not file income tax returns (ITRs) from 2002 to 2010, but stated there was nothing wrong with this as the chief justice was on the "alpha list" of the Supreme Court.
Henares said that the Alpha List was being submitted to the BIR at the end of every year. It enumerates all employees of an employer and how much tax was withheld from their income.
Based on the testimony of the BIR chief and the documents submitted to the Senate impeachment court, Quimbo said the House prosecution was able to establish that the chief justice has no other means of income besides his earnings at the SC, since his assets are declared through the alpha list and not through ITRs.
He noted that under Republic Act 1379, or the Forfeiture Law, assets that are larger than one’s income are "presumed to be ill-gotten."
Corona Impeachment Explained
The defense team of embattled Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Renato Corona on Wednesday said that they take exceptions to the "smoke and mirrors" trick Movement 188 alluded to in its news release launching a "grassroots campaign to explain all eight charges to their constituencies."
Defense Spokesman Atty. Ramon Esguerra objected to the allusion saying that, the defense did not know a thing on "smoke and mirrors" tricks.
Esguerra was a former Undersecretary of the Department of Justice (DOJ).
He said that "we are in the profession of upholding the Constitution and defending the rights of CJ Corona. We are for what is right and doing it the right way."
The defense team was not into "sidetracking the proceedings from evidence uncovered in the trial's first week already establishing the impeached magistrate's guilt," he said.
Esguerra suggested for Movement 188 "to have their eyes on the ball" because no offer of evidence has been made hence no guilt has been established.
He asked Movement 188 that as signatories of the "verified" impeachment complaint, they should explain first to the Impeachment Court and later to their constituents what Article II covers.
"How many of the 188 have personal knowledge of the charges found in the complaint? If you agreed to the charges, do you also agree that the sequence is immaterial? Were the 188 complainants able to review the evidence purported in the verified impeachment complaint and peddled by the prosecution?," Esguerra asked.
Defense Spokesman Atty. Ramon Esguerra objected to the allusion saying that, the defense did not know a thing on "smoke and mirrors" tricks.
Esguerra was a former Undersecretary of the Department of Justice (DOJ).
He said that "we are in the profession of upholding the Constitution and defending the rights of CJ Corona. We are for what is right and doing it the right way."
The defense team was not into "sidetracking the proceedings from evidence uncovered in the trial's first week already establishing the impeached magistrate's guilt," he said.
Esguerra suggested for Movement 188 "to have their eyes on the ball" because no offer of evidence has been made hence no guilt has been established.
He asked Movement 188 that as signatories of the "verified" impeachment complaint, they should explain first to the Impeachment Court and later to their constituents what Article II covers.
"How many of the 188 have personal knowledge of the charges found in the complaint? If you agreed to the charges, do you also agree that the sequence is immaterial? Were the 188 complainants able to review the evidence purported in the verified impeachment complaint and peddled by the prosecution?," Esguerra asked.
Wealth and Assets of Renato Corona
Presiding officer Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile on Wednesday explained the impeachment court ruling disallowing the prosecution from introducing evidence on the alleged ill-gotten wealth in the impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona.
”Ill-gotten is a conclusion, so they have to present evidence. That’s why the factual matter that requires evidence is in paragraphs two and three,” Enrile said after the day 6 of the impeachment trial adjourned at 5:15 p.m.
During the trial, Enrile allowed the prosecution to introduce documents, through Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) commissioner Kim Henares, including certificate authorizing registration (CAR) of the properties purchased and sold by Corona and wife Cristina.
”We allowed paragraphs 2.2 and 2.3 because these are connected in the 2.4. So whether these unreported and excluded assets are ill-gotten wealth or legally-gotten wealth, they’ll have to be decided once the evidence of the assets is already evident,” Enrile said.
Under Article 2 of the impeachment complaints, the paragraph 2.2 refers to Corona’s failure to disclose to the public his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth while 2.3 questions the respondent’s non-inclusion in his SALN some of his properties.
On the other hand, the prosecutors accused under paragraph 2.4 the respondent of having accumulated ill-gotten wealth, acquired assets of high values and keeping bank accounts with huge deposits.
”On the assets not included, they (prosecutors) have to prove it and that’s what they are doing now. Now, if it is legally-gotten, or illegally-gotten, that’s the conclusion. They have to show basis that he has bank deposits and which bank and not subpoena the bank without evidence,” Enrile further explained.
”Ill-gotten is a conclusion, so they have to present evidence. That’s why the factual matter that requires evidence is in paragraphs two and three,” Enrile said after the day 6 of the impeachment trial adjourned at 5:15 p.m.
During the trial, Enrile allowed the prosecution to introduce documents, through Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) commissioner Kim Henares, including certificate authorizing registration (CAR) of the properties purchased and sold by Corona and wife Cristina.
”We allowed paragraphs 2.2 and 2.3 because these are connected in the 2.4. So whether these unreported and excluded assets are ill-gotten wealth or legally-gotten wealth, they’ll have to be decided once the evidence of the assets is already evident,” Enrile said.
Under Article 2 of the impeachment complaints, the paragraph 2.2 refers to Corona’s failure to disclose to the public his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth while 2.3 questions the respondent’s non-inclusion in his SALN some of his properties.
On the other hand, the prosecutors accused under paragraph 2.4 the respondent of having accumulated ill-gotten wealth, acquired assets of high values and keeping bank accounts with huge deposits.
”On the assets not included, they (prosecutors) have to prove it and that’s what they are doing now. Now, if it is legally-gotten, or illegally-gotten, that’s the conclusion. They have to show basis that he has bank deposits and which bank and not subpoena the bank without evidence,” Enrile further explained.
Richard Gomez Was Unfaithful to Dawn Zulueta
by Marinel Cruz, PDI
Dawn Zulueta revealed that she could have ended up with Richard Gomez if he had stayed faithful.
"We had potential," the actress said during a media gathering for "Walang Hanggan," the ABS-CBN series that reunites the former lovers on the small screen. "[Unfaithfulness] takes a toll on the girl in any relationship. She doesn't know where she stands. It's possible that the guy loves her but can't help himself. He probably doesn't have emotional attachments to the girls he dates on the side. Still, that's hard to accept. That was how I felt."
The couple were last seen in the 1991 hit drama, "Hihintayin Kita sa Langit," directed by Carlitos Siguion-Reyna.
Dawn, now married to Davao del Norte Rep. Anton Lagdameo Jr., said she was glad Richard settled down with Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez. "It takes a certain kind of a woman, like Lucy… she has so much confidence to allow her husband to work with an ex. He's so lucky," Dawn said.
Dawn Zulueta revealed that she could have ended up with Richard Gomez if he had stayed faithful.
"We had potential," the actress said during a media gathering for "Walang Hanggan," the ABS-CBN series that reunites the former lovers on the small screen. "[Unfaithfulness] takes a toll on the girl in any relationship. She doesn't know where she stands. It's possible that the guy loves her but can't help himself. He probably doesn't have emotional attachments to the girls he dates on the side. Still, that's hard to accept. That was how I felt."
The couple were last seen in the 1991 hit drama, "Hihintayin Kita sa Langit," directed by Carlitos Siguion-Reyna.
Dawn, now married to Davao del Norte Rep. Anton Lagdameo Jr., said she was glad Richard settled down with Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez. "It takes a certain kind of a woman, like Lucy… she has so much confidence to allow her husband to work with an ex. He's so lucky," Dawn said.
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