CJ Corona Impeachment Trial May 22, 2012 Full Script

Anyway, below is a full script of what has happened on todays CJ Corona Impeachment Trial May 22, 2012. It’s quite long, but it is time stamped.

CJ Corona has finally appeared and took the trial stand today, May 22, 2012. CJ Corona had a long introduction and opening statement just to say he is not guilty. Unfortunately, at around 5 PM, he signed a waiver to waive his right of Secrecy of Bank Deposits, allowing the banks to disclose all his assets both foreign and local.

• 2:01: Trial resumes.
• 2:02: Sen. Ralph Recto led the opening prayer
• 2:03: Roll call is being held.
• 2:04: All 23 Senator-Judges are present.
• 2:05: Prosecution and Defense entered their appearances.
• 2:07: JPE: I would like to remind all of us, members of the Senate that we are not conducting this inquiry in aid of legislation. We are receivers of evidence. We are not an inquisitorial court.
• 2:08: JPE: With that in mind, this court cannot issue subpoena to certain persons to act as witnesses (referring to bank managers of banks mentioned in the 17 page AMLC report)
• 2:09: JPE denies the motion to call witnesses motu proprio to testify in this proceeding.
• 2:09: On Harvey Keh contempt. He filed compliance on May 18 and prayed that he not be cited in contempt.
• 2:11: JPE: In view of the apology given by the gentleman cited and in the spirit of liberality, this court simply admonishes the person concerned never to try his luck again.
• 2:11: Session suspended for 1 minute.
• 2:13: JPE: Before we administer the oath to the Chief Justice, the members of the court is respectfully requested by this chair to observe the 2 minute rule, limit their question to questions of fact and to help in orderly proceedings in this trial. Should any member of this require more time, an extension will be allowed for him or her.
• 2:14: JPE: We finish with the direct exam and the cross exam of the prosecution and if there is any redirect, let it be done and if there is any re-cross, let it be completed before any members of this impeachment court ask question.
• 2:15: JPE: I would like to request the gallery to observe straight decorum.
• 2:18: JPE: Mr. Chief Justice, welcome to the impeachment court.
• 2:21: Cuevas: It is his belief that insofar as his cross exam, the rules of evidence say, he may only be crossed examined in matters taken in the direct.
• 2:23: Cuevas told the Impeachment Court that the Chief Justice opted to appear because of their oath to be impartial. JPE thanked Cuevas for reminding and he assured that the Senators can render impartial justice.
• 2:24: JPE: Insofar as judging this case, we will judge this case based on evidence of the prosecution and defense.
• 2:26: Private Prosec. Bautista: There has been never any compulsion for the CJ to testify.
• 2:27: Prosec. Mario Bautista said he disagrees with Justice Cuevas view on the rules of evidence.
• 2:29: CJ Corona asked that he be allowed to make a statement.
• 2:31: CJ: Ako po ay nandito sa impeachment court na ito upang tumupad sa aking pangako na ako ay magpapaliwanag ng lahat. kailangan po sigurong tanungin ng sambayanan kung bakit tayo nagkaka-impeachment trial na ito. Hindi naman po kaila sa lahat na ginamit na ng administrasyon ang buong makinarya ng gobyerno sa akin. Ibinuhos na po ang buong pwersa ng pamahalaan para lang sa pagtanggal ng isang tao. Wag tayong maniwala na itong impeachment trial na ito ay laban sa katiwalian dahil kung ganon din lamang mayroon ba silang katiwaliang ibinintang sa kin sa kabila ng pagkakalkal at paghaharap ng huwad na ebidensya, wala pong ibinibintang sa akin na katiwalian.
• 2:32: CJ Corona: Ako po ba ay tinik sa lalamunan ng sinuman? So far, lahat ng nakita ko rito mula ng simula ng trial na ito ay hatred, galit, benggansya sa isang tao. Kailan po ba tayo matututo? Sa kabuuan ng kasaysayan ng Pilipinas, ganito ang nangyayari. Tama na ang pagkakawatak watak ng sambayanan.
• 2:34: CJ Corona: Sa ating administrasyon ng hindi po lahat ng hindi kaalyado ay kalaban. Hindi porket hindi magkapareho ng kulay ay hindi Pilipino. Bakit po ba ganito na lang ang galit sa kin ng kasalukuyang administrasyong Aquino. Ano ba ang kasalanan ko. Wala akong kasalanan sa pagkakaalam ko kaya ako ay buo ang loob na humaharap sa inyo. Sigurado ako wala akong kasalanan, wala akong katiwalian at ako ay hindi nagnakaw sa gobyerno.
• 2:36: CJ Corona: I will not drag my family dito sa impeachment na ito kung sa loob ko, may katiting na dahilan may duda sa sarili ko ay may ginaway akong masama. Hindi ko po itataya ang aking napakabait na may bahay aking tatlong anak at mga apo. Kung ako ay may kasalanan, ako ay nagbitiw na sa tungkulin. Malinis po ang aking konsensya…uulitin ko po malinis po ang aking konsensya. Malinis ang konsensya ng aking pamilya.
• 2:36: JPE interrupts. Kami po ay naghihintay na sabihin ang inyong pakay sana.
• 2:37: CJ Corona: Ito pong aking sinasabi ngayon ay pinatutungkol ko ay hindi lamang sa kagalang galang na impeachment court kundi sa sambayanang Pilipino. Kaya po ako ay nandito at nagpapaliwanag.
• 2:38: CJ Corona: Kalbaryo po ang pinagdadaanan namin. Hindi po madali ang limang buwang pinagdaanan…Sa kabila ng pagbabanta ng kahihiyan, malakas po ang loob ko sapagkat malinis po ang aking konsensya. Iisa lang po ang paliwanang d’yan, walang katotohanan at pawang kasinungalinan.
• 2:39: CJ Corona mentions a senator: Huhubaran nya raw ako sa publiko.
• 2:40: CJ Corona: Kung ako ay nagbitaw na sa tungkulin, nangangahulugan non, umatras ako sa laban, nanalo na ang kabila without having to prove anything. Hindi po ganito ang aking kinalakhan.
• 2:41: CJ Corona: Bakit po ba pondo po ba ito ng bayan? Ito po ba ay kinurakot ng punong mahistrado (about his alleged ill-gotten wealth) Iisa lang po ang sagot namin d’yan, Hindi po. Uulitin ko po: Hindi po.
• 2:42: CJ Corona: Lahat ng aming naipundar ay dahil sa aming pagsisikap. Bago po ako nagsilbi sa gobyerno, ako ay isang matagumpay na abogado na. Hindi tulad ng pinalalabas ng prosekusyon na ako ay kung sinu-sino lamang sa tabi tabi d’yan na bigla na lang yumaman.
• 2:43: CJ Corona: Simple po lamang ang aming pamumuhay, hindi po kami namuhay ng luho. Lahat ng nakakakilala sa amin ang makakapagsabi kung gaano kasimple ang aming buhay.
• 2:44: CJ Corona: Binaboy nila ang proseso ng saligang-batas para yurakan ang aking pagkatao.
• 2:46: Lead Prosecutor Niel Tupas now sat beside Private Prosecutor Mario Bautista.
• 2:46: CJ Corona: Kaisa ako na panagutin ang may kasalanan.
• 2:48: CJ Corona: Ito lang po ang tanong ko sa bayan at sa prosekusyon, kung talagang malakas ang inyong kaso, bakit ninyo kailangang magimbento ng ebidensya? Bakit kailangan ng black propaganda? Bakit kailangang humantong sa madumi at masakit na paraan. Naway wag na itong maulit.
• 2:49: Bautista interrupts the Chief Justice.
• 2:49: Bautista said it is highly irregular.
• 2:50: JPE said his understanding is that the CJ is making a statement which will be a part of his direct testimony.
• 2:51: CJ Corona: Ginoong Prosecutor Kausap ko po ang taong bayan. Hayaan nyo po ako na kausapin ang taong bayan.
• 2:51: Corona mentions Hacienda Luisita as the primary reason why he is being impeached.
• 2:55: JPE asked CJ Corona how many more minutes he has. The CJ said the country needs to know who he is and to correct the black propaganda against him and his family.
• 2:58: CJ Corona said they were able to save money because of their simple lifestyle.
• 2:58: CJ Corona already on the verge of tears.
• 2:59: Cuevas asked at least 2 minute break.
• 3:05: 2 minute break granted.
• 3:11: JPE allowed CJ Corona to finish his statement.
• 3:11: CJ Corona: Papasok na po ako sa mga bagay at issue na hinihintay ng sambayanan.
• 3:13: CJ Corona: Several trial dates ago, merong testigo dito nagsiwalat ng bagay bagay tungkol sa Basa-Guidote. Ang dahilan kung bakit wala kaming hilig maginvest sa properties at mahilig kaming mag-invest sa foreign exchange.
• 3:14: CJ Corona: May isang hearing dates tayo na kung ano anong masamang adjective ang naipukol sa aking maybahay. Hindi po ninyo maiintindihan yan kung di ko maibibigay ang background sa hidwaan sa pamilya ng aking maybahay
• 3:15: CJ Corona: Ang pinakamalaking hidwaan ay ang 2 hectare doon sa Libis, malapit sa Eastwood.
• 3:17: CJ Corona: Noong araw, ang titulo ng lupang yan, ang presyo conservatively ay P2 billion. Noon ito ay nasa pangalan ni Jose Basa III at nong aking mother-in-law Asuncion Basa-Roco. Hindi po namin malaman kung pano napagissue si Mr. Jose Basa ng titulo doon sa property na iyon at nakapagpa issue at nawala ang pangalan ng aking mother-in-law. Yan ang isang napakalaking dahilan sa hidwaan ng pamilyang yan. Dahil sa matinding samaang loob. Nawala ang kalahating share ng mother-in-law ko. Ang problema kasi sa pamilya nila, napakayaman pero ang kanilang ari-arian ay nakatali sa property.
• 3:17: CJ Corona: Alam naman nating mga abogado, pag kayo nagpamana ng property, maraming beses, away.
• 3:19: CJ Corona: yan ang pinagsisimulan ng mga kaso-kaso. Five months na po kaming ininsulto ng walang tigil sa isang pahayagan kung bakit ganun kaswapang ang aking maybahay. Hindi po wala pong katotohanan yan. Hindi po si Mr. Jose Basa ang inapi. Sya ang nang api sa aking mother in law.
• 3:20: CJ Corona: Kami po ay tumahimik lamang. Bakit kami walang imik? Sapagkat yung tao ay patay na pero ngayon, mapipilitan akong isiwalat sa taong bayan ang katotohanan. Maliban sa pagkaka issue ng bagong titulo, si Mr. Basa po, I am sorry to say this, pero kailangang malaman ng bayan, wala po syang trabaho eh. Buong buhay po spoiled brat, kung may kailangan takbo kay Lola Charing.
• 3:21: CJ Corona: Ang natira pong property sa matanda ay yung property sa Sampaloc na pati yon ay gustong ibenta ni Mr. Jose Basa.
• 3:23: CJ Corona: Mawalang galang na po pero ang tanong nyo bakit parang napaka tuso ng aking asawa…
• 3:24: CJ Corona: Pinasalaysay ko sa aking anak na si Carla kung ano ang nangyari.
• 3:24: CJ Corona reads letter of Carla.
• 3:24: “The auction complied with the requirements of the law. Mommy went to Quezon city with lawyers.”
• 3:27: CJ Corona reading the letter: The risk of buying shares of Basa-guidote was explained to me.
• 3:29: CJ Corona explains the conflict in the Basa-Guidote family.
• 3:29: CJ Corona reading Carla’s letter: My mother (Cristina) was very careful not to use my Dad’s influence.
• 3:30: CJ Corona on the letter: If my mother would use my…
• 3:30: …Dad’s influence, would these cases be pending for 20 years?”
• 3:31: The letter of Carla Corona-Castillo said several cases are still pending.
• 3:32: CJ Corona: Now who is oppressing whom. My mother was the victim of a very grievous crime.
• 3:32: CJ Corona still reading the letter: Jose Ma. Basa and Raymunda fled the country.
• 3:34: Carla said she knows about the cases about the shares of stock. She said she knows the risk that is why she is only willing to spend only up to P50,000 to buy the shares.
• 3:36: Carla, in her letter said “after weighing the pros and cons decided to invest my money. I told my mom that I am willing to spend as high as P50,000…There was nobody else who showed up at the auction. I cannot stress enough that there was a great risk…No one else wants to sink in their money in such a corporation.
• 3:36: Carla said “I was also told that the lower my bid, it would be easy for Jose Basa to redeem my bid…but they did not.”
• 3:37: Carla said “it was only fair that mommy be paid of damages.”
• 3:38: JPE: Asked what names were used? Corona: Sa pagkakaalala ko po, nakagulang, nakaisa.
• 3:39: JPE said he only asked if Mrs. Corona objected because the judgment was P500,000 and there is the P34 million.
• 3:40: JPE: Then at least the bid price would be half a million. But I understand, in order to be fair to everybody, the sheriff said the valuation of shares was provided by Mrs. Corona. What I said was did Mrs. corona raise any objection.
• 3:41: CJ Corona: Gusto ko sana magkasundo sundo sila pero di ko na kayang pagkasundu sunduin sila.
• 3:42: CJ Corona said seeing the conflict in buying properties, they have decided to invest in foreign exchange.
• 3:42: CJ Corona: At para mas madali po hati hatiin pag may mangyayari sa amin. idi-divide lang po into three.
• 3:44: JPE: This issue of ill-gotten wealth was not provided by the prosecution, it was provided by your own lawyers who presented a witness here to testify on the totality of the income of your family.
• 3:45: JPE: There is no issue of ill-gotten wealth here. The simple issue here is inclusion or exclusion of your SALN.
• 3:46: JPE: So for the introduction of evidence regarding wealth that is dishonestly acquired will bring back into the picture para. 2.4.2 of the Articles of Impeachment which we already granted to be suppressed as far as introduction of evidence is concerned.
• 3:46: JPE cautioned CJ Corona that he will be opening himself for cross examination if he will continue discussing alleged ill-gotten wealth.
• 3:47: CJ Corona opted to proceed.
• 3:48: CJ Corona calls the list of 45 properties as exaggerated and a fraud.
• 3:48: CJ Corona: Pati po ako ay nagulat.
• 3:50: CJ Corona: Wala po akong 45 properties. Lilima lang po at lahat ay nakadeklara sa aking SALN. Wala po akong tinago na ari arian na hindi ko nilagay sa aking SALN. Kahit na ang binabatikos sa aking SALN. Kahit binabatikos ako bakit di ko nilagay ang acquisition cost, nakalagay naman po ang aking asset. It is something that I am not hiding because it can be checked anytime.
• 3:50: CJ Corona: Hindi ko naman alam ang fairmarket value ng kasalukuyan.
• 3:51: CJ Corona: Maaaring hindi tugma pero at least ina-update po ito periodically ng assessor.
• 3:53: CJ Corona now talks about alleged properties abroad.
• 3:53: CJ Corona: Galing sa isang pekeng manunulat na nagpapanggap na isang journalist.
• 3:55: CJ Corona: Nung pinatawag namin si Ombudsman, hati po ang nagmamagandang loob sa amin, may nagsabing tila nagkamali yata kayo sa pagpatawag sa kanya. Mayron ding nagsasabi na tamang ipatawag si Omb. Conchita Carpio-Morales. Ako po naniniwala na tama ang pagpapatawag namin kay Ombudsman Morales. Sabi ni Ombudsman ako raw po ay may $10-12 million dollars sa 82 bank accounts.
• 3:57: CJ Corona: Ewan ko lang po kay Ombudsman Morales baka sya mayroon. Ako ay nagulat sa sinabi ni Ombudsman Morales lalu na nung sya ay may power point presentation. Ito pong AMLC report ay hindi po authenticated, walang predicate crime, walang imbestigasyon, walang court order, walang notice sa depositor. Clearly it came from a polluted source. Tumawag po ako ng team ng accountants upang pagaralang ang listahan na winagayway ni Ombudsman Morales at maliwanang po na ang kanyang testimony is misrepresentation.
• 3:58: CJ Corona asked Senate if he can use powerpoint presentation.
• 3:58: JPE granted.
• 3:58: JPE suspends session for one minute to prepare.
• 4:20: The powerpoint presentation is entitled “The Lantern”
• 4:21: CJ Corona said he will use the own diagram of the Ombudsman.
• 4:22: JPE: Since the Honorable CJ, if there is any objectionable portion, you may raise your objection and the court will consider your objection.
• 4:25: Bautista said part of the testimony of the Chef Justice is hearsay and irrelevant.
• 4:26: Bautista denounced the allegation of the Chief Justice.
• 4:26: Bautista: To cast aspersions on my team is unfair.
• 4:26: JPE said they will consider what is relevant, irrelevant.
• 4:30: CJ Corona: A careful analysis of the AMLC report show that many of these accounts were already closed and many were transferred to settlement accounts. Each time a time deposit would mature and rolled over, a new account would be created to make a new placement to earn higher interest and would be transferred from one account to another to earn more interest. I repeat, ladies and gentlemen, inuulit ko po wala akong 82 bank accounts as charged by the Ombudsman. The alleged AMLC report would show 4 accounts by December 2012. for example in BPI Acropolis, all accounts were closed as early as 2004 and transferred to BPI Tandang sora and PS Bank Cainta.
• 4:32: CJ Corona: For BPI Tandang Sora, the accounts were closed in 2007 and transferred to BPI San Francisco Del Monte and Cainta. The same goes BPI San Francisco Del Monte, accounts closed in 2011. The last was account no 3244108104 BPI Mic was sourced from BPI San Francisco Del Monte acct was closed on Dec. 19, 2011 and transferred to 3244108104.
• 4:34: CJ: All accounts in PS bank Cainta were closed in 2008 and transferred to PS Bank katipunan…
• 3. PS Bank accounts- 0141024292 and 0131002826
• 2. Allied Bank with account no. 1582002676
• 1. BPI San Francisco Del Monte Branch with account no. 3244108104;
• 4:36: CJ Corona said remaining dollar accounts are:
• 4:39: CJ Corona: ang sumatotal ng aking deposits ay malayong malayo sa $10 million. Ang exchange rate po nung nag umpisa kaming magipon nitong mga foreign exchange na ito noong late 60s ay nasa 2 to 1. Nung ako ay nagsimulang magtrabaho 1968. Kung matatandaan po ninyo noong matapos ang 1969 Presidential elections, hanggang noong Dec. of Nov. 1969 ang exchange rate po ay 2 to 1 at nag devalue tayo sa floating rate from 2 to 1 naging 6 to 1.
• 4:40: CJ Corona: Lahat po ng savings namin ay pinalitan namin sa US Dollar. Bakit? Dahil wala kayong lugi sa US dollar dahil ito ay stable kung ikukumpara sa pesos. Ikaw ay liquid.
• 4:41: CJ Corona: Dahil halos di namin nagagalaw ng interes dahil ako naman po ay may trabaho, lumago po ng lumago ang aming investments.
• 4:43: CJ Corona: Wala akong ninakaw kahit isang kusing. Wala akong ninakaw kahit isang pera (he looked at the prosecution)
• 4:44: CJ Corona: Bakit wala sa SALN ko? Dahil may batas po na naggagarantiya ng confidentiality ng dollar deposits. Di ito kailangan dahil sa batas. This is an absolute rule.
• 4:45: CJ Corona: Kung ako ay may tinago, hindi ko ito ilalagay sa pangalan ko.
• 4:46: JPE: Yung dollar deposits earning interest or are you engaged in buying and selling. CJ said compounded interest.
• 4:46: CJ Corona said he only have 3 (three) local deposit accounts in pesos.
• 4:52: CJ Corona: Bakit di ko dineklara ito sa SALN ko? Sapagkat ito ay commingled funds. Ito ay proceeds sa pagbili sa Basa-Guidote property. Ito ay kumita ng interest anjan din po yan. Noong 1990, ng ang aking ina ay na-diagnose na may colon cancer, inihabilin po nya ang bank accounts nya sa akin. Ikaw na ang bhala sa pagbayad sa mga doktor ko, pagoospital ko, lahat ng funeral expenses ko. Nanjan din po ang utos ng aking ina na kung may matitira pagtapos mabayaran ang kanyang mga doktor, hospital bills, at funeral expenses, ang natitira po ay pangangasiwaan ko para kung sino man ang mangangailangan for any emergency at ito ay nagkatotoo sapagkat ang aking nakatatandang kapatid, ang aking Kuya toti si Arturo, 2 years ago ay nagkasakit sa puso, matagal na syang di nakakapagtrabaho dahil sya ay sakitin, maliban sa kanyang sakit sa puso, sya ay may scoliosis. He is in constant pain, Dito ko po kinukuha dahil di na po sya nakakapagtrabaho. Dito po kinukuha ang binibigay ko sa kanya tuwing buwan, mga gamot nya at nung sya ay naconfine sa Medical City na halos P1million nagastos namin ay dito kinuha. Anjan din po ang interest. Pera po ng aking anak na si Carla at Francis na kino-mingled jan para mas makakuha ng interest. Pati po ang pera ng aking anak na si Charina para mapagpagawa ang bahay nya sa McKinley Hill.
• 4:52: CJ Corona sheds tear as he talked about his mother.
• 4:54: CJ Corona: i have come here to disclose information regarding these accounts especially the dollar accounts.
• 4:55: CJ Corona said why he did not declare his dollar accounts in his SALN is not his own doing but it was the law.
• 4:56: CJ Corona: The inaccuracies in my SALN do not constitute an impeachable offense. Not every omission is an impeachable offense. The prosecution itself admitted here, the inaccuracy in SALN is not impeachable, not high crime. Corona sites Senate TSN of trial on February.
• 4:58: CJ Corona: I have here with me a waiver which I will sign right now.
• 5:01: CJ Corona reads his waiver he just signed: I Renato Corona hereby waive my right of Secrecy of Bank Deposits…and authorized all banking institutions to disclose to the public any and all bank documents pertaining to all peso and foreign currency accounts under my name. I hereby authorize the BIR, AMLC, SEC and LRA to disclose to the public any and all information that will show my assets, liabilities, networth, business interest and financial connections to include those of my spouse. I am likewise authorizing the Clerk of Court en banc to release to the public my SALN from the years 2002 to 2011. With God and the Filipino people, I affix my signature.”
• 5:03: CJ Corona: I am humbly asking 188 complainants and Sen, Drilon to join me in the moment of truth. I am asking them to sign these blank forms to join me sapagkat hiling po ito ng bayan. The nation is at a stand still. Our people are watching all of us.
• 5:04: CJ Corona: This is not trick or manipulation but a challenge to public accountability.
• 5:05: CJ Corona said if anyone declined to sign the waiver, they have upheld the secrecy of bank deposits.
• 5:07: CJ Corona said he will only submit his waiver if all he has invited will submit the waiver. “Otherwise, I will ask my counsel to rest my case.”
• 5:08: CJ Corona asked that he be excused and walked out of the Senate Session Hall.
• 5:11: Cuevas said there is no intention to disrespect the Impeachment Court. He said the CJ is taking his medicines. The crowd booed. JPE warns the crowd to observe proper decorum or they will be escorted out of the Senate session hall.
• 5:14: Defense frantic.
• 5:15: Atty. Ramon Esguerra on the phone inquiring about the Chief Justice.
• 5:16: Senator Franklin Drilon shaking his head now talking to Sen. Osmena.
• 5:19: Justice Cuevas now back at the Senate Session hall.
• 5:24: Defense counsel German Lichaoco is talking to Sen. Angara.
• 5:30: Defense Lawyer Ramon Esguerra said the Chief Justice’s blood sugar went down. A doctor is checking him up right now.
• 5:31: The Chief Justice and his family is at the Senate’s Lounge. A wheelchair was also brought inside.
• 5:43: CJ Corona is being taken to the clinic on a wheelchair.
• 5:47: Defense Lawyer Tranquil Salvador: No lunch for hours. Umatend pa sya ng misa.
• 5:56: Defense team in a huddle.
• 6:02: CJ Corona returns to the Senate Session Hall on a wheelchair.
• 6:02: He has also removed his coat.
• 6:02: Session resumed.
• 6:03:JPE: You placed the Chief Justice on the witness stand.
• 6:03:JPE: I will order the striking off of his testimony.
• 6:04: Cuevas: After the testimony I was about to make a manifestation I never realized he was already feeling dizzy.
• JPE: He is the Chief Justice, he knows the decorum.
• 6:04: Cuevas: I would like to assure the court that there was no intention.
• JPE: We did not volunteer to be judges here. We are here on mandate from the Filipino people. I have high respect for the Chief Justice and the institution that he represents and I equally demand respect to the institution that I represent.
• 6:05: Cuevas: Hinihingi po namin ang inyong kapatawaran.
• 6:06: JPE: If he will not allow himself to be cross examined. We will allow ourselves to judge this case based on the evidence presented.
• Cuevas: Nagpanic na din po ang pamilya. Sinabi ko nga na sana kahit isa sa inyo nagsabi.
• 6:07: JPE: Why did you not stop your client.
• 6:07: JPE: Marami sa kin ang pumupuna dahil pinabayaan ko na magsalita ng napakahaba. Wag naman kaming babastusin.
• 6:08: Cuevas: Ang tingin ko po nagpanic na din ang pamilya.
• Cuevas: Ipagpapatuloy ang pagtestigo.
• 6:08: JPE: Para wala ng mahabang usapan, ano ba ang gusto nyo.
• 6:09: Cuevas: Nakikiusap kami kahit po bukas.
• JPE: Kung hindi po ayos. We will give him until tomorrow to return. If he will not return, we will consider this case submitted for decision.
• 6:09: Cuevas: Bukas po kung ayos na sya.
• 6:10: JPE asked the impeachment court if they will agree. No senator gave a statement. Sen. Sotto said there was no objection.
• 6:10: JPE: We will give him until tomorrow. What he said is nothing unless he is cross examined.
• 6:13: Session adjourned.
• 6:13: Trial will resume on Wednesday.
• 6:14: Chief Justice will be subject to cross examination on Wednesday.

Behind the impeachment process

An administrative case is similar to an impeachment case wherein the accused, if found guilty, does not lose his life, liberty or property. He only loses his job and will be barred from future employment in the government. But he can still get a job in the private sector. If Corona is convicted, he only ceases to be the Chief Justice, but he can still work as a consultant in a private firm or practice law.

That is why many Filipinos do not understand why the defense tried to bar Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares from testifying and furnishing the court with copies of his tax returns when the declarations in his ITR will determine his honesty and his fitness to be Chief Justice.

The reason given was that it is not clear that ill-gotten wealth is among the charges filed against him, although that is included in Article 2 of the impeachment charges. The defense and, surprisingly, the presiding officer made it very difficult for the prosecution to present its witness and evidence through legal technicalities. The defense took advantage of the relative inexperience of the congressmen-prosecutors to block them every inch of the way from presenting evidence. For almost every question, former Justice Cuevas would make an objection that left not only the prosecution but also the people frustrated. The people only want to know the truth, not how smart the lawyers are.

But the Senate impeachment court has its own rules. Presiding officer Juan Ponce Enrile made that clear at the beginning of the trial. The Rules of Court are only “suppletory” to the Senate rules, meaning, they only “supplement” the Senate rules. Therefore, if the impeachment court thinks the Rules of Court are a bar to the truth, it should discard them. But the senators seem to have forgotten this.

Let us not forget that the purpose of the trial is to find out the truth. Is Corona still fit to be Chief Justice? If he is not, then he should go. If he is, then he should stay.

It is not whether he is guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the charges against him. It has been said time and again that the impeachment trial is not a criminal trial where guilt beyond reasonable doubt has to be proven. It is nearer to an administrative case where only preponderance of evidence is necessary.

The reason for the difference is that if an accused is found guilty in a criminal trial, he loses his life, liberty and property. In an administrative case, he loses only his job, or is censured or suspended. He is not barred from finding a new job or, if he is merely censured or suspended, he can go back to his old job. That is why only a preponderance of evidence is needed to convict him.

Right now, it would appear—by the way legal technicalities not understandable to the ordinary citizen are flying back and forth—that the trial is the exclusive domain of lawyers. Even some of the senator-judges who are not lawyers have a difficult time trying to understand what’s going on.

The same is true with perhaps 70 percent of the Filipinos watching the trial on their television sets. They can’t make heads or tails of what is going on. In fact, many of them have lost interest in the trial and have turned to other channels. Too bad, because many of the lawyers, especially lead defense counsel Serafin Cuevas and some of the senators, are playing up to the gallery.

There is a saying among lawyers: If your client is guilty, prevent evidence and witnesses from being presented. No evidence, no guilt. The defense seems to be succeeding in this.

The impeachment court, and the presiding officer, should be wary of this ploy. Let the senator-judges and the Filipino people know the truth. Is Renato Corona still fit to be Chief Justice?
I understand what is happening. The lawyers are so steeped in the law. Having been immersed in it during their student days in law school and during most of their adult life as lawyers, they breathe and think and live the law. The way the lawyers, especially the defense counsels, are governed by the Rules of Court and the Rules of Evidence, you would think that these rules are The Ten Commandments themselves. The lawyers do not see outside the rules. So the rules are made to appear like blinders on horses.

Expectations in Corona’s impeachment trial

The following are what is expected in the impeachment against Renato Corona that will redound to a fair and just verdict:

1.That the trial will not be against Corona, the person, but Corona, the Supreme Court Chief Justice (SC CJ).

2.As a public official and SC CJ, has Renato Corona been exercising judicial independence in his decisions for the good of the greater number of people or bias for those instrumental in his appointment as CJ?

3.Has Corona been using his influence among former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s (GMA) SC appointees for favorable decisions in cases against her?

4.Has Corona been exercising the highest degree of ethicality in the performance of his job, especially with regards to cases against GMA?

5.Why has there been flip-flopping decisions in final and executory cases?

6.Is Corona working to straighten justice and truth or bending it for expediency and accommodation?

7.How true that Renato Corona has amassed vast wealth in just 9 years?

6.What made Corona issue the “status quo ante” order against the House of Representatives in the case concerning the impeachment of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez?

7.Why has Renato Corona failed to disclose to the public his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN)?

Who is Justice Renato C. Corona?

Appointed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on April 9, 2002 as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in the Philippines. Corona had served over thirty years both in private sector and government administration. Renato C. Corona is the 150th member of the highest court.

Alumni from Ateneo de Manila University, where he graduated Bachelor in Arts with honors and continues his study in Bachelor of Law and ranked as the 5th in the class. Corona passed the bar examination in 1974 and ranked as the 25th place with 84.6% grade. He then served 17 years as an Ateneo faculty member, where he taught Corporation Law and other commercial law subjects.

He continued his Masters degree in Business Administration at the Ateneo Professional School and took his Masters in Law from Harvard Law School in 1982 majoring the field of foreign investment policies and the regulation of corporations and financial institutions.

On his early year as a young lawyer, he had served Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) as a consultant. He then became a senior vice president of the General Counsel and a corporate sec. of Commercial Bank of Manila.

Corona also writes for The Manila Chronicle. His column was called “Tax Corner” where he deals with tax and commercial law issues. In 1998, he received the Philippine Legion of Honor Award and was once called one of the Outstanding Manilans.

In 1992, he had served as the Presidential Legal Counsel and Deputy Executive Secretary to President Fidel Ramos. He then became the spokes person and chief of staff of V-President Arroyo in 1998. In 2001, where Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo became the president, Renato C. Corona had promoted to Presidential Chief of Staff, Presidential Spokesperson, and afterward, Acting Executive Secretary.

As a member of the Supreme Court, he is the Chairman of the Third Division, Integrated Bar of the Philippines Oversight Committee, Legislative-Executive Relations Committee, House of Representative Electoral Tribunal, a Co-Chairman of the Administrative Concerns Committee of the Supreme Court and a member of the Management Committee of the Judicial Reform Support Project and Committee on Public Information.

On international conferences, corona represented the Supreme Court of the Philippines and submitted numeral papers in bar and judicial congresses abroad. He also writes and teaches International Law at the Graduate School of the University of Santo Tomas.

To the new Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato C. Corona, congratulations and we wish you all the success in your endeavors.

Impeachment Trial cost 5 million pesos

Senator Vicente “Tito” C. Sotto III said yesterday that P5 million will be used for the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato C. Corona starting January 16. Sotto said that the amount was set aside initially for the impeachment trial of Ombusman Maria Merceditas N. Gutierrez.

It was unspent because it was pre-empted by her resignation. The money, Sotto said, will be used to purchase equipment, pay overtime, and buy food, among others. Sotto said the money will be taken from the Senate President’s budget last year, and any additional funds will be tapped as the trial goes along.

Senators who are not lawyers unfazed by role in Corona impeachment trial

Like many of his fellow senators, Lapid lacks legal background, which would come in handy in an impeachment trial. But Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III defended his low-profile colleague, saying Lapid would not be a liability in the proceedings.

Sotto, himself not a lawyer but a veteran lawmaker and an expert in parliamentary rules and procedures, said senator-judges were no different from members of the jury in the American legal system.

“There, waitresses and taxi drivers can serve as jurors in the trial of mayors and congressmen,” he told the Philippine Daily Inquirer. “So, why should people look down on senators who are not lawyers such as Lito? He is a senator elected by the people, so why would they belittle him?”

Sotto said one difference was that a jury votes as one while senator-judges decide individually in an impeachment court.

Half of the 24 senators are not lawyers, but these senators can always tap legal consultants to provide perspective on the impeachment trial, according to Sotto.

During the impeachment trial of then President Joseph Estrada, Sotto said he was regularly briefed by his own team of legal experts before and during the aborted trial. “But at the end of the day, it was I who still made the decisions,” he said.

Two of the lawyers in the chamber – Senators Franklin Drilon and Francis Pangilinan –are under fire for previously calling on Corona to inhibit himself from any cases involving former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

But Drilon and Pangilinan, who belong to President Aquino’s Liberal Party, turned down suggestions that they inhibit themselves from the impeachment trial owing to their previous position against Corona. Both senators used to be allies of Arroyo.

Drilon blasted Corona for being a former chief of staff of then Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who later appointed Corona to the Supreme Court. He also questioned the chief justice’s impartiality, noting that he might have felt bad when Mr. Aquino refused to take his oath before Corona last year.

Drilon sought to justify his action, saying, “I only issued an appeal that he inhibit himself from participating in Supreme Court cases involving Arroyo due to public perception of partiality as he once served as her chief of staff and spokesperson.”

Pangilinan said the rules on inhibition did not apply in an impeachment trial, which he described as a “political proceeding.”