My exclusive
By Raïssa Robles
When Renato Corona was nominated for a vacant seat in the Supreme Court back in 2001, an uncle of his wife Cristina personally wrote the Judicial Bar Council (JBC) to oppose his nomination in order “to save the SC from discredit and disrepute.”
Jose Maria Basa III warned that Corona “will not be capable of rendering fair and just decisions as he has not exhibited such character” in connection with his actions regarding Basa-Guidote Enterprises, the corporation jointly owned by the Cristina Corona’s parents and the latter’s relatives like Basa.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo came to the defense of Corona, who was then her Malacanang Chief-of-Staff.
Arroyo’s spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao was quoted by the Manila Bulletin as telling reporters in a September 2001 news briefing:
“The President is fully confident on the moral integrity of Corona. He would not be a Cabinet member much less a Cabinet member in Malacanang as Chief of Staff if the President did not have full trust on his integrity,” he said.
Arroyo’s spokesperson brushed aside the complaint of Jose Ma. Basa III, who accused Corona of being morally unqualified to occupy the judiciary position.
“We don’t think a complaint of a single person should overshadow everything Corona has done in his career and on his professionalism,” he said.
The JBC likewise disregarded Basa’s letter and unanimously approved Corona’s nomination in 2002, even placing Corona first on the JBC list of nominees.
Today, 11 years later, two members of that same 2001 Judicial Bar Council that vetted Corona are sitting as senator-judges in his impeachment trial. They are Senator Francis Pangilinan and Senator Allan Peter Cayetano (who then represented the House in the JBC.)
I contacted the offices of both senator-judges to get their reaction.
Senator Pangilinan told me:
As a senator-judge I cannot make a comment on this matter.
There was no official reaction from Senator Cayetano’s office.
The JBC then had disregarded Basa’s letter because its members believed what Renato Corona said in his own defense. Corona told Malacañang Palace reporters it was a smear campaign from the camp of the newly-ousted President Joseph Estrada.
Corona also said he had nothing at all to do with his wife’s financial affairs. The Manila Bulletin and Philippine Star both carried his statements.
Philippine Star’s Malacañang Palace reporter Marichu Villanueva quoted Corona as saying he had always distanced himself from any doings of Basa-Guidote Enterprises. Marichu wrote:
“From the very beginning, I have purposely stayed away from the financial and material affairs of my in-laws,” Corona said in a prepared statement.
“This private case (involving Basa and his niece Cristina Corona) is a family dispute over inheritance within their family and I do not even know how this came about. For Mr. Basa to accuse me now of meddling in this inheritance case is unfair, baseless and un-Christian,” Corona said.
Perhaps, the giant TV networks or PTV4 may still have a footage of Corona’s press con on file.
Two years after Corona told Marichu and other reporters that “From the very beginning, I have purposely stayed away from the financial and material affairs of my in-laws,” he obtained an P11 million “cash advance” from Basa-Guidote Enterprises.
Corona declared this in his 2003 Statement of Assets, Liabilitieis and Net Worth (SALN) as a sitting Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. He was sworn into office by President Arroyo on April 9, 2002.
The story of the conflict between Corona’s wife and her relatives did not end there, however.
To understand this conflict, which has a direct bearing on CJ Corona’s SALN, let’s go back to June 4, 1995 when this ad appeared in Manila Bulletin in which Jose Maria Basa III announced he had filed an estafa complaint against Cristina Corona.
In reaction, Cristina Corona counter-filed with a criminal libel suit against Basa and her other relatives.
Two years later in 1997, Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 35 found Jose Maria Basa, Randy Raymunda Basa and Virgilio Macaventa “guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of libel.” Each one was sentenced from four months to two years in jail and told to pay jointly P700,000 in moral damages to Cristina Corona.
Jose Maria Basa III elevated the case to the Court of Appeals. In August 2005, Court of Appeals Associate Justice Edgardo P. Cruz affirmed the guilty verdict, but changed the jail sentence to “a fine of P6,000 each and one-half of the costs.”
Ordinarily, such cases could still be elevated to the Supreme Court. But the three who were found guilty never did that and from my inquiries, I learned that Jose Maria Basa III is now dead.
I am posting in full below the August 2005 decision of CA Associate Justice Edgardo P. Cruz on the libel suit because it provides certain clues and leads to why the Securities and Exchange Commission revoked the registration of Basa-Guidote Enterprises in 2003.
No one gave this document to me. I found it on the Internet, thanks to the World Bank-funded judiciary reform program.
If the hard copy of this decision could be retrieved, the attached annexes marked as evidence may shed more light on Basa-Guidote Enterprises.
Following these clues could tell the story as to what really happened to the corporation. And why a revoked company ended up giving Associate Justice Renato Corona P11 million in “cash advance” in 2003, even though he told reporters two years before that he had always kept his distance from his wife’s financial affairs.
As for the letter of the late Jose Maria Basa III to the JBC, this could be retrieved as well from the JBC files. I am also posting it below, together with the news reports then that mentioned the letter. Notice that the letter I have is dated 1997 and not 2001.
My sources told me earlier that Basa first registered his opposition in 1997 when reports surfaced that Renato Corona was being nominated to the Supreme Court.
Records of the JBC can be checked to see whether Renato Corona was first nominated to the Supreme Court during the dying days of the administration of then President Fidel Ramos. His appointment never pushed through, however, because it would have been considered a “midnight appointment” since it fell within the election campaign period.
Last weekend, I posted the love story of Renato and Cristina Corona as seen through their own eyes.
Today I am posting the way their relatives view the couple. Both perspectives are equally valid.
But to the feuding relatives of Cristina Corona, the verdict of the impeachment court will understandably be seen in a very personal light.
Letter of Jose Maria Basa III to the Judicial Bar Council – page one
Letter of Jose Maria Basa III to the Judicial Bar Council – page two
Philippine Star report , September 26, 2001
Corona accuses Estrada lawyers of sabotaging SC bid
By Marichu Villanueva (The Philippine Star) Updated September 26, 2001Presidential chief of staff Renato Corona accused yesterday the lawyers of jailed former President Joseph Estrada of hatching a campaign to keep him off the highest tribunal in the land.
Corona said the Fortun and Narvasa law firm was behind the “political” smear campaign meant to keep him from being appointed to the Supreme Court after Associate Justice Minerva Reyes retired.
“I will not decline my nomination simply by irresponsible accusations, totally untrue and un-Christian,” Corona said, referring to the charges filed by the uncle of his wife Cristina.
In an apparent attempt to block Corona’s nomination before the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) Cristina’s maternal uncle Jose Ma. Basa III charged that Corona and his wife attempted to take over the firm Basa-Guidote Enterprises Inc. by preventing them from holding a stockholders’ meeting.
Basa charged that “with the tacit consent” of Corona, Cristina filed two cases with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to prevent them from holding a stockholders’ meeting.
Because of his meddling in the civil case, Basa said the presidential chief of staff was “not morally qualified” to become a justice of the Supreme Court.
But in meeting with Palace reporters yesterday, Corona said he had “no involvement whatsoever in that case.”
“From the very beginning, I have purposely stayed away from the financial and material affairs of my in-laws,” Corona said in a prepared statement.
“This private case is a family dispute over inheritance within their family and I do not even know how this came about. For Mr. Basa to accuse me now of meddling in this inheritance case is unfair, baseless and un-Christian,” Corona said.
“What is more important, however, is the hidden political angle of this public accusation on a matter that is strictly private and which is already pending in court,” Corona charged.
Corona said Basa is being represented in the SEC case by the Fortun and Narvasa law firm which, Corona charged, also has an interest in the case because Estrada has questioned the constitutionality of the plunder charge against him.
Corona also noted that Basa’s letter to the JBC was “leaked” to the media last Tuesday or on the very day that Reyes officially retired from the high court.
“It also comes suspiciously a day after the attack on me by opposition spokesman Jesus Crispin Remulla last Sunday,” he said, referring to the spokesman for Estrada’s Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP).
Meanwhile, President Arroyo reaffirmed her trust and confidence in the “moral integrity” of her chief of staff who was nominated to the vacancy by SC Associate Justice Bernardo Pardo.
Although the President had nothing to do with Corona’s nomination, Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao said Mrs. Arroyo remains confident Corona was not involved in the family dispute.
“The President is fully confident on the moral integrity of Secretary Corona. You wouldn’t be a Cabinet member as chief of staff if the President didn’t have full trust on (your) integrity,” Tiglao said.
Although the President is the sole appointing power to vacancies in the Supreme Court, she can only choose from among the names nominated by the JBC.
Manila Bulletin story
Corona has full Arroyo confidence, Sept 26, 2001 – by Genalyn D. Kabiling
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo yesterday expressed full confidence in the credibility and integrity of Presidential Chief of Staff Renato Corona, a nominee for a seat in the Supreme Court.
In a news briefing, presidential spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao defended Corona from criticisms that he is unfit to serve at the High Tribunal.
“The President is fully confident on the moral integrity of Corona. He would not be a Cabinet member much less a Cabinet member in Malacanang as Chief of Staff if the President did not have full trust on his integrity,” he said.
Arroyo’s spokesperson brushed aside the complaint of Jose Ma. Basa III, who accused Corona of being morally unqualified to occupy the judiciary position.
“We don’t think a complaint of a single person should overshadow everything Corona has done in his career and on his professionalism,” he said.
Tiglao said Malacanang has yet to receive the list of nominees to replace retired Justice Minerva Gonzaga Reyes.
In a separate news briefing, Corona defended himself from the “unfair, baseless, and un-Christian” allegations of Basa.
Corona remained undaunted and hit the opposition for the suspiciously timed and politically motivated attacks of Basa.
Corona disclosed that Basa’s lawyer in a certain Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) case between him and Corona’s sister is the Fortun and Narvasa Law office, the firm defending former President Estrada.
“It is not pure coincidence that his letter, which was received by the Judicial Bar Council on Sept. 12, 2001, was leaked to the media only yesterday, Sept. 24, the date of retirement of Justice Minerva Reyes,” he said.
“It also comes suspiciously a day after the attack on me by opposition spokesman Jesus Crispin Remulla,” he added.
Disputing the claims of Basa, Corona said he hardly knows him and had met him only a few times.
On the pending case at the SEC, Corona denied any involvement. He said he purposely stayed away from the financial and material affairs of his in-laws. Basa is a brother of his mother-in-law.
“This private case is a family dispute over inheritance within their family and I do not even know how this came about,” he said.In a letter to the Judicial Bar Council dated Aug. 21, Basa accused Corona of not being “morally qualified” to serve at the Supreme Court.
Basa said the family-owned corporation, Basa-Guidote Enterprises Inc., could not conduct its stockholders’ meeting due to Corona’s wife, Cristina Roco, alleged illegal doings.
Among the nominees to the SC post are former Justice Secretary Artemio Tuquero, Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Francis Garchitorena, former Comelec chairman Harriet Demetriou, Sandiganbayan Justice Edilberto Sandoval, lawyer Rogelio Vinluan of the ACCRA law office, and lawyer Antonio Carpio.
COPYRIGHT 2001 Manila Bulletin Publishing Corp.
Philippine Star, April 9, 2002
Corona is top nominee to SC – By Delon Porcalla (The Philippine Star) Updated April 09, 2002
Former presidential chief of staff Renato Corona will most likely be named by President Arroyo the next Supreme Court justice, having obtained a unanimous endorsement from the nine-member Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), it was learned yesterday.
A reliable source said the former Malacañang official did not technically get nine votes, since the JBC considered the votes of two members of Congress — Sen. Francisco Pangilinan and Taguig Rep. Allan Peter Cayetano — as a half vote each.
“It’s eight of eight,” the source said, adding the JBC has finished its short list of 11 nominees for the two SC posts vacated by Justice Bernardo Pardo last Feb. 11 and Justice Arturo Buena last March 25.
Opposition to Corona’s nomination has been filed by Corona’s uncle and a party identified with ousted President Joseph Estrada. Corona and the 10 others were nominees for the place of SC Justice Minerva Gonzaga-Reyes who retired last September.
“Their nominations are valid for six months,” the source pointed out. Corona was personally nominated by Pardo last September, five months before he retired at the age of 70.
In filing his opposition, Jose Ma. Basa, Corona’s uncle-in-law, said his nephew “will not be capable of rendering fair and just decisions as he has not exhibited such character.” Corona’s wife Cristina Roco is the daughter of Basa’s sister Asuncion.
“Being his uncle, I should be happy about his nomination. But having known him personally, I took this opportunity to submit my opposition to his nomination and to save the SC from discredit and disrepute,” he said.
The pro-Estrada Partido ng Masang Pilipino, on the other hand, charged that JBC has been limiting nominees to people from Malacañang or people close to Malacañang, Corona among them.
The SC nominees who obtained the second highest number of votes from the JBC were Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Ma. Alicia Martinez, CA Justices Ruben Reyes and Cancio Garcia and private practitioners Loreto Ata and Ruben Balane.
Getting the third highest number of votes were CA Justice Romeo Callejo Sr.; former Pasig judge, Sandiganbayan justice, presidential legal counsel and Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairwoman Harriet Demetriou; and ACCRA senior partner Rogelio Vinluan.
Demetriou, 55, when she was Pasig City judge convicted to seven life terms Calauan, Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez and six of his henchmen for the rape-slay of UP-Los Baños coed Eileen Sarmenta and the murder of her fellow student Allan Gomez in January 1993.
She was promoted by Ramos as Sandiganbayan justice in 1995 until Estrada appointed her as his chief presidential legal adviser in 1998. She was later transferred to Comelec and took over Pardo’s unexpired term until February 2001.
Vinluan, a private practitioner, was the private prosecutor who was instrumental in the conviction of Claudio Teehankee Jr., son of the late Chief Justice Claudio Teehankee Sr., for the murder of teenager Maureen Hultman in Makati City in July 1991.
Nominees who got the fourth highest number of votes were Sandiganbayan Justice Edilberto Sandoval, a member of the three-member special division trying the plunder case of Estrada, and UP Law dean Raul Pangalangan.
Under the law, the President has to appoint a justice’s replacement within 90 days from the day he retires, which means Mrs. Arroyo has to appoint Pardo’s replacement not later than May 11 and Buena’s not later than June 25.
Those who voted for Corona, aside from Pangilinan and Cayetano, were JBC chairman and Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., Justice Secretary Hernando Perez, court administrator Presbitero Velasco, and ex-SC Justice Regino Hermosisima, former UST Law dean Amado Dimayuga, lawyer Teresita Cruz-Sison and Judge Alfredo Marigonen.
Two “non-voting” JBC members are Senior Justices Josue Bellosillo and Jose Melo.
The family feud
Corona’s uncle Basa personally believes his nephew “is not morally qualified to occupy a very noble position in the judiciary especially in the Supreme Court where the justices are selected for their intellectual prowess, uprightness, fairness and respect of the law.”In a one-page letter to the JBC, Basa revealed that Corona and his wife took over the family business — the Basa-Guidote Enterprises Inc. (BGEI) — through unlawful means.
“With the intention of gaining control over BGEI, Cristina, with the tacit consent of Corona, filed two cases with the Securities and Exchange Commission purposely to prevent us from holding a stockholders’ meeting,” he said.
Corona managed to get a “questionable” ruling from the corporate watchdog, Basa said, which is why after 10 long years the firm has not held any stockholders’ meeting.
“Cristina is administering the corporation all by herself without rendering any accounting to the stockholders, despite demands,” he said, adding that the couple’s lawyers are Corona’s fraternity brothers at the Villanueva Bernardo Gabionza law office.
“Corona has been actively involved in preventing us from holding a meeting and has in fact attended the hearings on the libel cases that his wife filed against all of us, her uncle, aunts and cousins, including Sister Flor Basa who is turning 80,” said Basa.
“By doing so, he is tolerating and condoning the unfair and unlawful actions of his wife knowing fully well that she has no authority to run the corporation. And so, I strongly oppose his nomination,” Basa told the JBC.
Earlier, Corona had denied the allegations of his wife’s relatives saying he had nothing to do with his wife’s actions.
Among the nominees to the SC, only Corona got a “negative feedback” and from his own uncle yet, while the rest got letters of congratulations from their friends and colleagues in the profession, highly reliable sources said.
Libel conviction of Jose Maria Basa III, et al
Mel says
Case Scenario – Plan B
ASSUMING R Corona was acquitted on all 8 Articles of Impeachment.
And still refuses to resign from his position.
What would the House of Representatives and/or Executive Branch do next?
Can either or both Branches of Gov’t declare Renato Corona persona non grata as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?
What is popularly used in a diplomatic or consular officer who is not acceptable to the government or sovereign to whom he or she is accredited.
For lack of a better word or diction, can they declare him persona non grata?
Can PNOY withdraw the appointment of R Corona as Chief Justice1, and ASSIGN A NEW CHIEF JUSTICE as his replacement?
OR CAN the House and Executive Branches of Gov’t disregard decisions or dismiss directives emanating from the Supreme Court headed by R Corona?
——–
Cases in Point
What if the following gov’t officials ignore SC directives, read recent news on De Lima, Lacierda face disbarment for criticizing Corona.
PNOY has ignored R Corona during his Oath Taking inauguration ceremony.
Is the 1997 Revised Rules on Civil Procedure apply to these cases in point?
——–
1. GMA appointed R Corona as Chief Justice BUT as a midnight appointment – which is unconstitutional. Considering the fiasco surrounding this, the SC made a ruling that allowed GMA to appoint in spite of the ban during the national elections period.
Mel says
ERRATUM
re ‘ASSUMING R Corona was acquitted on all 8 Articles of Impeachment.’
Could read, ‘ASSUMING R Corona is acquitted on all 8 Articles of Impeachment.’
OR
[by sinister] ‘ASSUMING R Corona is to be acquitted on all 8 Articles of Impeachment.’
Dependent to suit your current or future tense (err tension. LOL!).
Johnny lin says
@Mel
Case in point: disbarment
SC justices should not hear the case on DeLima and Lacierda because they are alter egos of the President. They were responding on the vilification of the President by CJ Corona on his infamous speech that PNoy was dictator.
If that is the case, Corona must the first to be disbarred for using the pulpit of SC for political agenda which violates the independent stature of the court.
Justices will be wasting taxpayers money by hearing this type of case.
Mel says
@Johnny lin
Case in point: for disbarment? IDEAL.
BUT who will initiate or spearhead it? The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)? Can the Judicial and Bar Council initiate it?
Or the Supreme Court? LOL! No need to elaborate.
Betrayal of Public Trust, my friend is the key to unseating the Chief Justice.
Many commenters (e.g. @Johnny lin, @suplada,
@baycas, @parengtony, Author @Raïssa) in this article up to LAST YEAR’S commenting have mentioned this unmistakable fault of R Corona.
THE bigger question, how can the House-Prosecutors highlight, wind-up & close Article II, minus II.4 with this breach of Constitutional Law – Betrayal of Public Trust?
You also wrote, “Justices will be wasting taxpayers money by hearing this type of case.”
DEFINITELY máte. Including this Senate-Impeachment too is also a waste of taxpayers’ monies and the Legislative Branch’s reps & sens’ time. And it’s as if R Corona and similar Compañeros in gov’t service cares about taxpayers monies at the outset.
Mel says
A better Case Scenario is C for CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
Have the Sovereign People’s House of Representatives pass a law to Post a Mobile Supreme Court Bus(es) in Padre Faura to handle cases elevated to the Supreme Court.
Let the House Reps deal with the Sens, let them work out who has the bigger and most numbers to function and wholly representative of the Sovereign People of the Philippines.
Ultimate Snub, withhold tax payers’ monies to Chief Justice Renato Corona’s OWN Supreme Court.
THAT IS IF and WHEN Renato Corona continues to hold on to the CJ office, refuses to Lesign or gets Acquitted by the Senate Impeachment.
Civil People Power
rey says
keep going ms raissa. pls enlighten us in all those things happening behind the news, i’ll inform my co-teachers about ur blog.
raissa says
Thanks, Rey.
Johnny lin says
Rule on SALN: Public disclosure RA 6713 Rule VII Section a(1) states that SALN shall contain information on Real Property, its improvements, acquisition costs, assessd value and fair market value.
Nothing in this rule says about zonal value. CORONA LAWYERS SAID HE PLACED ZONAL
VALUES OF THE PROPERTIES.
Corona could not claim ignorance of the law because he is chief justice
BESIDES HE MUST MEMORIZE THIS LAW BECAUSE UNDER RULE VIII SECTION 1(c), he is constitutionally appointed to be the authority in reviewing and compliance of every filed SALN
of all judicial employees.
Defense could not claim inconsistency as lapse of judgment, memory loss or any reason because after Corona filed SALN he was still obligated by the Constitution to review his own SALN for correction. He was given 2 chances two chances, before filing as public official and second time as authorizong officer under the Constitution. He failed both chances. No escape from perjury,
BETRAYAL OF PUBLIC TRUST, GUILTY.
Prosecutors must be glad defense is claiming lapse of judgment. The more he does not deserve to be chief justice because he could not even review and comply with his own SALN required of him under the Constitution. Very simple argument by Prosecutors.
Anonymous says
Your great Internet Plaza Miranda will be kalad:) please send your blogsite to the Prosecution. The CPA, the engineer, the lawyer who said no, Corona can’t change or correct his SALNs, also wrong that those normally highly paid lawyers are working for Corona for free as he would in future be beholden to him..More power and success to you Raissa:) God keep you!
raissa says
Thank you for reading.
truth_seeker1961 says
My thoughts on Day 11:
There is wisdom on Enrile’s position that “lay down first the basis (specify what account, what bank transactions are in question) for the subpoena of bank records”. Not only because fishing expedition is deplorable, but also to protect the prosecution from shame (again) in case the search will find nothing. That holds true however,if the prosecution is really searching for truthful evidence to be presented inside the court and not just wanting to impute malice as additional ammunition for the trial by publicity outside the court.
Image is important in war. If you successfully paint yourself as the valiant knight rescuing lady justice in distress, you will be victorious and you will be written in history. But if the public and the court perceive you as the long nosed Pinochio, you will be defeated and will be written in fairy tales. ~ The Art of Impeachment War.
Johnny lin says
After ii days of trial, the only documented Pinocchio publicly thru his denial of his statements later proven wrong by Inquirer reporter confronting him with his tape recorded interview was Serafin Curvas, lead lawyer of Corona- Art of the Truth in Real Life.
AUGUST C FERNANDO says
OFF-TOPIC sandali, guys: TO JOHNNY lin: Any relation to guard JEREMY LIN of the New York Knicks who last night had a breakout game and career highs of 25 points and 7 assists against the visiting UTAH JAZZ?
Johnny lin says
@august
You saw that spin move drive under the basket and banked the shot in reverse position. He learned that since childhood ala Martires.
AUGUST C FERNANDO says
From pal Johnny lin: “@august You saw that spin move drive under the basket and banked the shot in reverse position. He learned that since childhood ala Martires.” Sure I did. Watch the whole shebang! Yeah, ala-Rosalio Martires. Due credit also to Danny Florencio who did that kind of magical move back then with the Yco Painters, Crispa Redmanizers and UTEX. Oh, down our basketball-batty memory lane, Johnny!
truth_seeker1961 says
Inside and outside the court, its an uphill battle now for the prosecution.You cannot claim the truth that your enemy is a liar by lying.
If you are the mirror-image of your enemy, you can never defeat him. You can only imitate, and likely be a poor, cheap-rated copycat. ~ The Art of Impeachment War.
——————————–
Excerpt from Ninez Cacho at Tribune:
“Yet when questioned by Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Chiz Escudero on this matter of their divulging to the media the documents and passing them off as “evidence” of the “corrupt” and “unfit” Corona, both Tupas, in open court, and his lying spokesmen, denied,without batting an eyelash, that they never provided the media with the list of 45 properties.
Unfortunately for them, a TV network, due to Tupas’ and Miro Quimbo’s denial, showed the press conference where the prosecutors and the panel spokesmen were holding the press conference, and waving that list containing the alleged properties of the CJ.
Now the public knows just what liars they are in the prosecution panel, and its spokesmen. And because they have been proven to be liars, they have lost whatever credibility they thought they had, when talking about the case, as the public now knows that it is the CJ who has been telling the truth, while the prosecution has been feeding the public lies after lies after lies.”
melber says
wow, ang husay ninyo. this is a learning process for me. i believe we need to put all our energy to force mr corono out of office, if he refuses to resign. let us also ingrain to our government officials that a SALN is one that will justify their lifestyle commensurate with their compensation/ family wealth or conjugal properties/endeavors if married.
the culture of graft and corruption,abuse and misuse of public resources, influence peddling, etc. has long been practiced in our beloved Philippines. it is impossible to eradicate it but it surely is possible to mitigate it. if guilty public servants are not exposed and commensurately punished, it will grow even bigger that its evilness is no longer visible.
Speaking of SALN, i believe this is a good check for government officials to force them do their job with efficiency and fairness. Life style check on higher officials by ordinary citizens is a great help for curbing the ills and abuses of those who are in position of responsibility and power.
i like to pose a question and survey to all of you. for me, mr corona is proven and is established that he has a pattern to do misdeeds and wrongdoing and is dishonest and disloyal to his oath of fairness and equality. in my book, he is unworthy to be chief justice. since he is now the chief justice, the only remedy is to give him the boot if he does not volunteer to remove himself from office.
question. is there a website where people can vote whether to remove or not to remove mr corona from office broken down article by article.
i am not computer savy, i only know how to hit the keys and a few rules of word, so bear with me.. lastly i commend your forum, there are so many good points that our prosecution team can take note to better present their case. hey.. keep up the good word.
God Bless us all and our beloved PHILIPPINes
Jan says
Is the wife’s family corporation still operating? Who are its officers? Has the prosecution even bothered to check? Because what everyone really wants to know is talaga bang nangutang si Corona.
raissa says
Corona’s lawyers have admitted that .
See my interview with Atty Ramon Esguerra –
http://raissarobles.com/2012/01/22/cj-coronas-p11m-cash-advance/
jcc says
once a crook, always a crook!
Mel says
Lawlessness, a free for all backward society.
Where savages rule with Guns, Goons and Gold (3Gs).
IF the Chief dispenser of Justice himself is above the Rule of Law, who would expect to respect or follow – if Justice is partisan, and unequal in its dispensation.
PH faces breakdown of law, order – expert
Source: by Jay Ruiz, ABS-CBN News Posted at 02/04/2012 9:02 PM | Updated as of 02/05/2012 11:49 AM
This is what happens IF justice is beyond the reach of people like CJ R Corona. IF he is meted Scot-free of his impeachment.
—
Evil men will not flourish, if Good Men still abounds.
Mel says
Source: The issue is Corona’s guilt, not the prosecutors’ competence. By Ted Laguatan INQUIRER.net 11:31 pm | Saturday, February 4th, 2012
Annalissa says
Ms. Raissa,
Salamat. Ikaw Na Lang yata ang nakakapagpa-smile sa akin during this Corona trial. Kapag kinakawawa Prosecution, I go to your website for the truth.
Again, thanks.
raissa says
You’re welcome.
marithe says
me, too. i search the truth. i go to your website. new friend from hangzhou, china mabuhay si raissa, mabuhay ang pinas.
Ronald Francis M. Dompor says
thank you Raissa for your incisive analysis. sharing your articles now with family and friends..I salute you!
raissa says
Thanks for sharing.
juan says
Ang daming nagmamagaling eh di kayo na mag prosecution. Karamihan sa inyo mukhang mga aral sa abogasya pero nanggagalaiti sa galit sa ilang senator-judges na sumusunod lamang sa batas at iniintindi ang batas. Ay kayo na!
Maria says
Don’t worry, we are also helping the prosecution in our own way.
MJC Aligada says
Keep the faith, Raissa, keep going! The country needs a new generation of justices and lawyers… may more of your kind step up to the challenge.
raissa says
Thank you.
We will.
Gil Utanes says
It seems that the obsession these days is beating the Prosecution Team to smithereens for its “incompetence”. Hasn’t it done anything to substantiate its case? The public’s attention seems riveted to this thrashing rather than to tell apart the truth in this trial. The Defense Team is joyfully celebrating in the background. Is Ms. Raissa Robles allowed and can come up with an objective presentation of the “vista” of the trial thus far? I’m sorry if I’ve missed one already. Thanks.
raissa says
I will.
Arsenio Reyes says
To Gil :
If the Prosec Team is incompetent, then that is their fault. It seems they are knowing their best as they know it, but generally it doesn’t work that way in trial court. If the Defense Team is happy about it, that’s only normal and expected because it’s their profession to do their best for their client. I have observed that even Cong. Tupas has the habit of looking back at the Prosec table as if asking for help whenever a question or comment is thrown at him by the Atty. Cuevas or the senator-judges.
I think the rule in criminal cases is that a case should rest on the strength of the prosecution and not merely on the weakness of the defense since it requires “proof beyond reasonable doubt”. But the Corona case is an impeachment case which doesn’t have much precedence in our history.
If a person is objective, then let’s wait for everything to be finished, i.e., presentation of prosecution and the the defense presentation, re-direct and re-cross.
At this early stage, if we consider CJ Corona as already guilty, then why is there a trial
going on? The answer is simple. Ours is a government of laws of not of men and we should respect it.
It doesn’t matter if Corona is convicted or absolved. The law should be followed whoever is impeached and the accused is entitled to all defenses available to him.
Perhaps the Constitution or the law or rules on impeachment should be amended so that the future Prosecution teams can also acquire the services of very good lawyers to conduct and lead the prosecution and not merely rely on inexperienced Congressmen/lawyers so it will be a level playing field.
In the first place, the articles were railroaded because of one reason or another which will eventually be revealed. Looking back, if the articles were debated beforehand in the Lower House of Congress, who know’s, the defects may have been corrected before transmittal to the Senate since there was enough time to do it. It’s called simple but necessary diligence. Right now that issue is water under the bridge and we know who are responsible for it.
Leona says
GMA was also tried to be impeached but her house of reps also railroaded its dismissal. CJ will get due process at the Senate. But the CJ does not want to get it by testifying. He answered the AOI but refuses to testify. The evidence of the prosecs are in, whether hearsay or whatever. Impeachment is not like a regular trial in the regular courts. It is also a political process or remedy to remove constitutional officials. He can present also any evidence, hearsay or not but it be better than what the prosecs presented specially the proofs on his SALNs contrary to his actual real estate and personal assets that have been revealed so far. The writing on the wall is coming through RESIGN! if he does not want to testify to clear up the revealing truth. Better RESIGN now and take the same risk of facing criminal charges later on in the regular courts OR be pronounced GUILTY and HE IS REMOVED from his post but STILL FACE the criminal charges in the regular courts which will be a much more riskier situation for him to face PLUS HIS DISQUALIFICATION PERPETUALLY FROM HOLDING ANY PUBLIC OFFICE HENCEFORTH after his REMOVAL FROM OFFICE.
Choosing the lesser of two evils is his only ALTERNATIVE now. It was and is now a real bad dream. He should AWAKEN NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.
Mel says
Abridge backgrounder on Basa-Guidote Enterprises Inc. (BGEI)
A family dispute for control of a 50-year-old corporation has inserted itself into the national debate as a titillating sideshow to the ongoing impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.
——————
Coronas accused
In April 2002, Jose III filed an opposition to the nomination of Renato Corona to the Supreme Court, saying that Corona “will not be capable of rendering fair and just decisions as he has not exhibited such character.”
In his letter to the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), Jose III accused the Corona couple of having taken over the family business.
“With the intention of gaining control over BGEI, [Cristina] with the tacit consent of [Renato], filed two cases with the Securities and Exchange Commission purposely to prevent us from holding a stockholders’ meeting,” he said, adding that Renato “managed to get a questionable ruling” from SEC.
In his letter, Jose III also told the JBC that Cristina had been “administering the corporation by herself without rendering any accounting to the stockholders” and that Renato had been “actively involved” in preventing the group from holding stockholders’ meetings.
“By doing so, he is tolerating and condoning the unfair and unlawful actions of his wife,” Basa III added.
——————-
Letter to Sen. Aquilino ‘Nene’ Pimentel II
In April 2001, Ana also wrote to then Sen. Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel, questioning Corona’s fitness to serve in the high court.
“The injustice heaped upon the entire Basa family is not merely the handiwork of Cristina Corona but a product of the manipulations of Atty. Renato Corona himself,” Ana wrote in her April 25, 2001 letter, a copy of which was obtained by the Inquirer.
Ana also raised the issue of the sale of the BGEI’s property on Bustillos St. in Manila to the City of Manila in 2001 for P34.7 million.
——————
No authority to sell
She accused Corona, who she said had negotiated the sale with then Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, of misrepresenting to the Manila government that his wife had the authority to sell the property and that the stockholders had authorized the sale.
“This may appear like an internal family problem, as Atty. Corona makes it appear whenever he is confronted about it. To us however, the issue is far more than that. Now that he is Justice Corona, he is in a position to thwart the ends of justice the same way he did with our cases to suit his personal interest,” Ana said in her letter.
Inquirer Research
12:50 am | Saturday, February 18th, 2012
Mel says
Did “… the Coronas deliberately hide the BGEI money under the chief magistrate’s account so that the other party could not touch it?”
Mel says
Mel says
Mel says
– After 11 years, COA disallows BGEI lot transaction, By Ira Pedrasa, ABS-CBNnews.com
Posted at 03/25/2012 1:06 PM | Updated as of 03/25/2012 1:06 PM
digi forest says
Raissa. Your crusade for a sane judiciary is highly commendable. As of now, help us inform our President that he should be careful in choosing an applicant to every sala in the Judiciary all over the Philippines. In the sunriser area of this country for example there have been shortlisted candidates who cannot be trusted as judges. They appear to be good lambs but are venomous snakes who would not practice partiality. A sissy will never be partial. Let’s clean the bottom while doing it on top. Besides, these are pro-corona people. Warn him.
Grace says
Thanks Raissa, you never fail the Filipino people!
Mel says
Excerpts from Ana Basa interview with Cynthia D. Balana, Philippine Daily Inquirer
For the whole interview, read the first of two parts at Ana Basa: We were oppressed by the Coronas. By Cynthia D. Balana, Philippine Daily Inquirer
2:07 am | Tuesday, March 6th, 2012
Related Comment:
– The departed uncle, Jose Ma. Basa III, and his sibling (s) might still be vindicated and could get justice this time around, along with the impeachment trial.
Mel says
Additional links regarding BGEI
– Ana Basa: We’re talking only now due to revelations in trial
– Sister Flory Basa shocked why Cristina Corona says she owns the company | Inquirer Global Nation
– Ana Basa: We’re talking only now due to revelations in trial | Inquirer Global Nation
– Did CJ point gun at elderly caretaker? Corona issues denial | ABS-CBN News
– Acquisiton of land owned by Corona in-laws probed | MALAYA Business Insight News Online
– Corona: Ana Basa’s claims big lies, part of Carpio plot | Inquirer Global Nation
– Whoever gives credibility to R Corona’s speeches and utterances on laws, rules & morality from hereon are fools. He doesn’t even walk his talk to say the least.
Mel says
– @jcc’s take on the matter
– ???CJ Corona Has A Lot of Contrition To Do This Lent!
Mel says
???CJ Corona Has A Lot of Contrition To Do This Lent!Andres Bonifacio says
Thanks Raissa!! Now we know the characters of the Corona’s. Your article was corraborated by the coming of Ms Anna Basa in the inquirer article today March 6, 2012.
Your are always the 1st to break the news Raissa.
raissa says
Thanks. I’m glad you noticed.
Berteni "Toto" Cataluña Causing says
Raissa,
Let me vow my head to you.
Patriotically,
Toto
raissa says
Thank you, Toto.
Celeste says
Good Morning..its a good thing to know na may mga taong kagaya nyo na magbubukas pa ng mata ng maraming tao..parang isa lang pwede ko maging conclusion..hindi natutulog ang Diyos.kapag talaga kinuha mo ang hindi sayo…in one way or another..mababawi rin o kung hindi man ay napakasakit ng kapalit.
kardozoo says
here we can see that constitutional flaw which is the Judicial and Bar Council.
unlike the Commission on Appointments, it lacks the investigative and fact finding powers of the Legislature. the JBC did not give weight to the BASA opposition and so we the people are left to take the cudgels of their neglect.
dapat i-abolish na yang JBC at ibalik ang screening sa CA. by analogy, Congress has the formidable power of impeachment in its arsenal. its only proper that the initial screening be within their competence. this is in harmony with the doctrine on Appointing-Firing power. like the say, if it’s your mess then you better clean it up. Executive power is merely ministerial as the President exercises discretion on the limited ‘screened’ short listing.
here its a JBC mess and Congress gets to wipe its ass!
it’s gonna take a constitutional amendment though…
Leona says
Why or for what reason or reasons that the JBC panel did not dig deeper as to the letter of the late Mr. Jose Basa about Mr. Renato C. Corona not having the fit character to be appointed to the Court? JBC should have made Mr. Basa elaborate on his letter. And this should be a lesson for the JBC to conduct more examinations like the US Senate when it comes to appointments to the Judiciary. Nag paka caballero ang JBC lang dito?
BE AWAKE JBC BODY POR DIYOS TODOS LOS SANTOS!
Percy says
Hi Raisa,
I am a Filipino-Canadian. Been here in Canada since 1976. Left the Philippines not because of economic reasons- my wife and I were not doing so badly there.
I am a registered Architect and my wife is a Registered Nurse. I think you may know why we left by looking at the year (1976).
Yes, just can’t stomach Martial Law and the widespread corruption happening in the Philippines.
Still a Filipino at heart, we vowed to come back as soon as conditions improved in the Philippines. A glimmer of hope when EDSA 1 happened, I was actually crying thinking that it will be the start of real change but after all these years, I am still waiting.
I think Cory tried her best but the problem was just too great.
Estrada was elected president and I cried again, not from jubilation this time- what are the Filipinos thinking? Arroyo became President, another hope but alas she became worst than her predecessors.
The Marcoses are back into power- I am beginning to believe that crime does pay!
Pnoy seems to be the last hope for I don’t see any alternative. Tell me Ms Robles do we still have hope?
raissa says
No, PNoy is not the last hope.
The hope lies with us.
To make democracy work, we have to be willing to work hard for it.
OUr country is still a young country.
If you look at Europe – they have achieved peace and near unity after over over 500 years of bloody strife. We have been spared that.
HOwever, we as a people have collectively imbibed defense and coping mechanisms to endure nearly four centuries of colonialism.
We have to learn to take destiny in our own hands. Live with the consequences of our actions. and keep trying.
It’s not going to be easy. But if we share the burden together we can do it.
Part of the reason why I’m blogging is that I want to share what I’ve learned covering our politics up close.
Mel says
Mel says
Mel says
Refer to the above articles at these links.
– Part 1. Crowns of flowers, thorns for Sr. Flor Maria Basa | Inquirer News
– Conclusion. Basa-Guidote heir speaks truth to power
duquemarino says
@Mel
Basa-Guidote heir speaks truth to power, the concluding part of Ma. Ceres Doyo’s interview with Sister Flory. May 6, 2012
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/188363/basa-guidote-heir-speaks-truth-to-power
Mel says
OO @duquemarino,
I posted it already, my message is still ‘Your comment is awaiting moderation.‘
These are useful for future readers, incoming news researchers who would follow up on these stories. They have added resource reading materials/links to better grasp, if not closer to the crux of the story.
The blogsite’s mother of article(s) are supported by succeeding articles by other writers/authors. Raïssa’s article (Relative warned JBC in 2001: Corona could bring “disrepute” to SC) still holds the lead in this blogsite.