PerryScope
By Perry Diaz
Attempts by Chief Justice Renato Corona’s defense lawyers to present witnesses and evidence to prove that Corona has other sources of income backfired and only solidified the prosecution’s case against him. Indeed, after failing to convince the senator-judges after six days of testimonies by witnesses and disclosure of evidence, there is a consensus among the senator-judges that only Corona could explain the discrepancies in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs). But taking the witness stand would only expose him to questions that he might not be able to satisfactorily explain.
Last March 19 – Day 31 of the impeachment trial – Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago said that if the House prosecutors could show “intent to commit dishonesty,” then they have won their case. On the other hand, she said that if the defense panel could show that Corona had acted in good faith and declared all deposits — both peso and dollar – in his SALNs, then he would be acquitted.
Racho case
Santiago cited a Supreme Court ruling in the case of Office of the Ombudsman vs. Racho where the accused was found guilty of dishonesty for nondisclosure of bank deposits in his SALN, a case that mirrors the prosecutors’ claim that Corona did not disclose five peso accounts and five dollar accounts in his SALNs, which were proven to exist by no less than the testimony of the President of the Philippine Savings Bank, Pascual Garcia III. When the defense lead counsel, former Justice Serafin Cuevas, was pressed into disclosing the “secret” dollar accounts, he said that Corona would disclose them in “due time.”
Subsequently, Corona admitted the existence of his dollar accounts saying that he would disclose them in “due time.” The question is: Why couldn’t he disclose them now? The longer he delays disclosure, the harder it would be for people to believe his reason – or excuse – for not disclosing them in his SALNs. And by admitting – or confessing – to the existence of the dollar accounts and not disclosing them in his SALNs, Corona has boxed himself in a “no-win” situation.
Money laundering
It was recently reported in the news that the Office of the Ombudsman requested the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) for a copy of Corona’s bank deposits including the dollar accounts. The news report said that the Ombudsman’s request was precipitated by a complaint filed last February 17 by a group of individuals asking for an investigation of Corona for possible violation of Republic Act 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and for possible violation of Republic Act 9160, the Anti-Money Laundering Act.
It is interesting to note that at the bottom of the SALN form, there is a paragraph that serves as a waiver, which reads: “I hereby authorize the Ombudsman or his duly representative to obtain and secure from all appropriate government agencies, including the Bureau of Internal Revenue, such documents that may show my assets, liabilities, networth, business interests and financial connections, to include those of my spouse and unmarried children below 18 years of age living with me in my household covering past years, to include the year I first assumed office in the government.”
But while the waiver authorizes the Ombudsman to look into Corona’s “secret” dollar accounts, the Senate impeachment court does not have the authority to do so. Corona’s dollar accounts are protected by Republic Act 6426, which protects foreign currency deposits from disclosure without the written permission of the depositor.
Mind-boggling
The prosecution panel has alleged that Corona opened five dollar accounts at the Katipunan branch of Philippine Savings Bank in October 2008 with an initial deposit of $700,000. It was also reported in the news that other sources have said that Corona has two dollar accounts in another bank in which the sum is “mind-boggling.”
During Garcia’s testimony before the impeachment court, he said that a Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) examiner told the bank to put a “PEP” notation on Corona’s bank records. “PEP” stands for “Politically Exposed Person,” which is required under AMLC rules to be placed on the records of elected and appointed public officials. However, sources said that Corona was at one time – or may still be – under investigation by AMLC.
Under the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001 (Republic Act 9160), banks and similar institutions are required to report to AMLC within five working days any “suspicious transaction” – or “covered transaction” — that exceeds P500,000 within one banking day. Under RA 9160, “money laundering” is defined as: “A crime whereby the proceeds of an unlawful activity are transacted or attempted to be transacted to make them appear to have originated from legitimate sources.”
During the testimony of Garcia, it was revealed that Corona had peso deposits of P8.5 million in 2009 and P29.6 million in 2010. However, he only declared P2.5 million in 2009 and P3.5 million in 2010 in his SALNs. His dollar deposits – which he promised to disclose in “due time” — remain unknown.
Court of public opinion
Given the predicament that Corona is in, he doesn’t have many options that he could use to extricate himself from his dilemma. At this point, his chances of acquittal depend on how he could secure the vote of at least eight senator-judges who might turn a blind eye to the strong – and damning – evidence that the prosecution presented. And since the impeachment trial is a political process, not a judicial process, each senator-judge would vote according to political expedience.
The question is: What would Corona do if he arrives at the conclusion that he has nary a chance of acquittal? Would he play a hand that could trigger a constitutional crisis? He knows that he could get a majority of the Supreme Court justices – the “Arroyo appointees” – to stop the impeachment trial before the senator-judges could vote. If so, would the impeachment court accept such an edict? And how about the people?
A recent Pulse Asia showed that 47% believe that Corona is guilty, 5% believe that he is innocent, and 43% are undecided. These numbers are sobering. As the impeachment trial goes into a five-week hiatus in observance of Lent, Corona should take a spiritual retreat and discern what is good for the country. He should – nay, must – heed the “judgment” of the court of public opinion. It’s time for him to face the music.
# # #
“The world suffers a lot. Not because of the violence of bad people, but because of the silence of good people!” – Napoleon
The current weight of evidence already proves Corona’s intent to committ dishonesty and to lie.
What is crystally damning among all these is his admission to have dollar accounts, yet these are nowhere included in his SALN. His previus plea to the Supreme Court to prevent disclosure of these dollar accounts only adds proof to the preponderance of his guilt. If all these things still are insufficient to infer and to conclude that Corona is dishonest, Senator-judge Santiago is not suffering from high blood pressure, but from amnesia in not knowing what is enough is enough, from being a bully, and from being a classic “mayabang” from head to toe.
I would like to think that this could be the beginning of the end for Corona, his situation remind me of someone stuck in a quicksand, the more he struggle to pull himself out, the more he sinks deeper. His defense team also remind of me a someone with a dowsing stick looking for water in the middle of the desert, that’s how it looked when Perry mentioned that the presentation of their own witnesses kind of backfired on them. The best thing for the impeachment court to do is put this man in the the real hot seat. And I agree, it’s time for this man to face the music and let us see how well can he really tap dance (make more excuses).
Perry,
In other countries particularly China, the title of your PerryScope column would have read: “It’s time for Corona to face the firing squad (or the needle).”
And it really bothers me no end that there are still people and fellow government officials who defend him when his transgressions are so obvious. I do believe that he should be presumed innocent until proven guilty but those people should also use their judgment and conscience when it’s time for them to render the proper verdict.
Don
Hi Don,
Corona’s defense has done more damage to him by presenting witnesses and evidence that supported the prosecution’s case. Like they say, “tapos na ang boksing.” Hehehe….
Perry
Hello Perry; In the picture that accompanied your article, “It’s Time for Corona to Face the Music,” was Mrs Corona wiping real tears or were those crocodile tears? Another outstanding piece of work, Perry. Where do you get your material to write these seemingly authentic articles. I am truly impressed. I totally agree with you and the other commentators that there is enough evidence to find Corona guilty, and that he should start waltzing away while he still can. To me, however, his offer to resign but he keeps everything is totally and completely unacceptable. If that is done, all the other crooks (and there are sooo many) will be able to just walk away freely. My take is let the impeachment process takes its course; let the best politically minded side win; if found guyilty render the appropriate punishment, and if found not guilty, let him walk. The sad side effect would be GMA walks as well.How is your health now, Perry? Cheers!
Hi Amando,
My gut feeling is that Corona will resign before the trial resumes on May 7. If you follow the money, it leads to Corona’s bank accounts.
Perry
Hello Mr. Diaz, how’s the knee coming along? Have you tried in on a metal detector yet? Anyway, do you think that there’s a good chance that most Senator judges maybe a bit apprehensive in rendering a guilty verdict on this SOB because it could open a can of worms for all millionaires lawmakers? What I mean is that the Pnoy administration could start using this impeachment trial as a precedent for checking out lawmakers with questionable increase in assets. It’s not a bad idea, I think?
Hi Romeo,
Thanks for asking about my “bionic” knee. It’s healing slowly but surely. They said that it could take up to a year to completely heal. I don’t mind the healing time as long as it will eventually heal.
I’ve been trying to gauge how the senators would vote. Senators Joker Arroyo, Manny Villar, Bongbong Marcos, Loren Legarda, and Pia Cayetano seem to be sympathetic to Corona and would vote for his acquittal. Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano is a “wild card” — he could swing either way based on where the wind blows. If he goes for conviction, he might be able to convince his sister Pia to go along. Senators Bong Revilla and Lito Lapid are die-hard Gloria loyalists and would vote for acquittal. However, “loyalty” in Philippine politics is the most tradable commodity and “loyalists” would sell their loyalty to the highest bidders. As for Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, I’m of the opinion that she would vote for conviction if the evidence are strong. And based on what the defense panel had been showing as evidence, Corona is doomed.
Perry
He asked for this Impeachment. He said, he will fight the impeachment with his position as Cheap Justice.
Convict Corona Nothing Else!
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/145081/corona-has-obligation-to-reveal-his-dollar-accounts-says-carpio
Justice Carpio made sense out of his dissension from SC majority decision when he said that RA 6426 (Foreign Currency Deposit Act) was intended to protect foreign depositors and that this was repealed by RA 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees). Otherwise, RA 6426 could be misused by our government officials to stash in any bank their wealth stolen from public coffer and escape accountability.
Justice Corona is to greedy to us a Chief Justice to protected the former President Gloria or maybe he has a promise to her. To protect her as long he is the Chief Justice of our country.
kailangang ibitin na si corona nang patiwarik.
at latiguhin nang buntot pagi hangang magkadugo-dugo ang kanyang behind or his ass.
and if corona is reading this or any of his sympahatizers who are kawatan or magnanakaw like him,he shou;d be ready to face his own symphony.
dapat palakarin ang magasawang corona sa luneta na nakahubad para makita nang taong bayan ang mga grasang lalabas sa kanilang katawan na dulot nang kanilang mga pagnanakaw at pagiimbot sa pera nang taong bayan.
dapat silang parusahan para hindi sila matularan at patuloy nilang tapak-tapakan ang taong bayan. gaya nang mga marcos at arroyo, at iba pa.
hindi dapat pumayag ang bayan na makaeskapo sila sa hustisya.
I can not remember what Santiago ever said or did that was of any real value . I guess not even to herself since she seems to have finally succeeded in convincing me that she’s sick, very vulgar, lies a lot, nearly failed the bar exams and screams at lawyers who passed with high grades. I am insulted that media keeps telling me about her latest rant. I am sure there are other participants in that trial who are much more intelligent and with more useful things to say.
As for the highest magistrate of the land, how old is that poor thing? And what is he crying about? He has real estate properties, condominiums, big dollar and peso deposits, millions of pesos in allowances, christmas bonuses and additional christmas bonuses, ‘pro bono lawyers, judges whose chambers he walks in and out of, ‘honorable’ justices who support him …and guns! He can blast our faces off with his guns! So what is he crying about? And why is his wife wiping away his tears! They’ve one-upped miriam santiago!.
The sad part of all this is that a lot of people, especially those on the religious side are still buying their BS. It’s really sickening what these couple are doing in public, it’s all an act, trying to get as much sympathy from people they really could’nt care less about. And about Miriam, well, what’s else can you do about this loud mouth. If it’s true that she did’nt really do that well on the BAR exam, then it’s also true what they say about an empty barrel, it does make a much louder sound when it’s hit by a heavy object, like a hammer.
Perry,
In response to Amando Salinas question as to whether the wife is wiping real tears or crocodile tears on Corona’s face, I would say it’s say both. Real tears for fear of being jailed and not able to enjoy his ill-gotten wealth and crocodile tears to garner public sympathy. Or, for all we know, it could be “uhog” dripping from his nose.
Don
Its about time that a real big fish be thrown in the hotpan and as the Pilipino saying goes “iluto si Corona sa sariling mantika”. Corona claims only death will make him resign. So be it. Amen….
Sufficient evidence shows that Renato Corona is corrupt.Stop wasting people’s money and kick him out in the supreme court to clean the justice system.