Inside Philippine politics & beyond

CJ Corona made the Palace a counter offer to get “off the hook”

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My exclusive

By Raïssa Robles

 

Early this year before the impeachment trial began, intermediaries  of  Chief Justice Renato Corona reportedly told the presidential palace that Corona would be willing to step down provided two conditions were met.

 

First, he would stay on as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. And second, he would get to name his successor.

One of the sources I talked to said it seemed there was a third unstated condition – that Corona would not be punished. “The bottom-line is, he would be off the hook. Whether that meant acquittal or stopping the trial was not clear to me,” the source added.

I confirmed Corona’s offer separately from two highly reliable and knowledgeable sources who do not know each other. I am not at liberty to say who they are. However, I can say that one of the sources is not in government.

I first learned of this alleged offer last week before Corona had conducted his blitz interviews with five radio stations and three TV networks. This was also before Corona disclosed the reported offer to him of a term-sharing agreement with Associate Justice Antonio Carpio.

But I decided not to run what I found out until I could get an independent confirmation from another source.

I finally got this confirmation today.

Both sources saw the offer from Corona as credible.

Presidential Palace officials discussed the offer 

In fact, one of them said that officials in the presidential palace actually met early this January 2012 – before the trial started – and discussed the reported offer. And “without knowing 100% for sure if it was true or not, it was rejected,” the source said.

The offer was rejected, both sources said; one of them adding because it was “unreasonable”.

One of them explained that “if he (Corona) would be allowed to choose his successor, it would pretty much negate the whole point” of trying to reform the judiciary and making former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo accountable through the courts. The source explained that if Corona was allowed to choose his successor it was likely he would choose someone “who would also protect Arroyo.”

Asked what it meant for Corona to “be off the hook”, one of the sources said it was unclear what exactly that meant. However, those who discussed the offer had assumed that it meant Corona would not be convicted by an impeachment trial.

That such negotiations could have been going on behind the scenes, away from public view, is quite understandable among political power players.

Shortly after being impeached last December 12, Corona himself told his supporters:

Hindi ko po maintindihan kung bakit nanggigigil ng husto sa akin ang mahal nating pangulo, magmula pa po sa kanyang pagkaluklok sa pwesto.

Despite this, Corona said he had personally reached out to President Benigno Aquino III and offered his help and cooperation:

Tuwing kami’y nagkikita, lubos kong pinararamdam na kami’y dapat mag-ugnayan, magsama at magtulungan para sa bayan.Marami po tayong problema. Nandiyan po ang mabagal na takbo ng ekonomiya, kawalan ng trabaho, kahirapan at kagutuman. Mukhang hindi po niya naintindihan.

I tried repeatedly to get Corona’s side yesterday. His spokesman, Midas Marquez, did not answer his phone. And his lawyer, Ramon Esguerra replied with a text that he was at mass.

I could no longer reach him afterward.

It is very likely, as I write this, that there are people in both camps still trying to find a “win-win” solution to this political problem called the first ever impeachment of a sitting Chief Justice.

But the window for this is fast closing. The summer holidays are nearly upon us and soon, the public will demand a conclusion.

Comments

  1. what we have to watch out are our senator judges like Senator Santiago, Marcos, Villar, Revilla, Sotto, Pimentel, and Legarda. And i hope that once the final verdict come out, I hope that the list of senator judges who voted guilty or not guilty will be open to the public. So that every Filipino must know how many judas iscariot in the senate.

    • Nakakapagtaka, I compute kung sinasabi na Charina bought the property in 2008 that means she is only 30 year old. Dahil she was born 1978. As for me how old when she graduate College? As a physical therapist i assume 20 year old. HOW could it be, that
      she can bought the 2 property na lets assume an 10 years or less pa lang siya nag-worked, Papaano iyon Raisa? Compute it?

  2. This came out last March 20 on ABS-CBN news site

    MANILA, Philippines – The House prosecution said on Tuesday Chief Justice Renato Corona’s camp is willing to admit to all other crimes except those covered by the articles of impeachment.

    Prosecution spokesman Miro Quimbo said, “kahit perang intended na pangdonate sa foundations dineclare nila as salary. The chief justice is willing to admit to all possible crimes including malversation, perjury so long as it is not covered by the impeachment.”

    Quimbo was referring to defense presentations that show Corona has the assets and earnings to justify his ownership of certain properties.

    The prosecution welcomed a Pulse Asia Survey showing that 47% of Filipinos surveyed think Corona is guilty of the articles of impeachment.

    http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/03/20/12/prosecution-cj-camp-admitting-other-crimes
    ——————————————————————-

    are they thinking of throwing in the towel?

  3. Great piece! If only this masterpiece can be just as masterfully translated into colloquial Pilipino and dispersed throughout the land and reach every nook and cranny of every barrio.

    • You give me an idea.

      Why don’t you translate it and I will provide a “Translate” button and append your name to the translation and we can disseminate it on FB?

  4. The defense is trying to justify Corona’s offenses by pointing accusing fingers to other government officials. In everyday life parlance, it’s called “bakit ako lang, eh pati naman sila yun din ginagawa!”

    Mr Renato Corona seems to have conveniently forgotten that his position demands a higher standard of ethical conduct. He is the highest official of the Judiciary, our government’s keeper of the law, dispenser of equal justice and vanguard of freedom.

    The SALN is just but an external manifestation of the real issue here, which is his character. It is a powerful symbol because many other officials of lower stature have been charged and convicted for filing incomplete or inconsistent SALN. You convict these lower officials – removing them from office and forfeiting their benefits and retirement pay, some even going to jail, and then letting Corona off the hook for the same if not graver offense will only reinforce the long held suspicion that in this country, there is a law for the rich and powerful and another for the poor and powerless.

    More than the numbers in the SALN that are being debated by the protagonists of the Impeachment Court, the trial has brought to light the character flaws of the impeached Chief Justice. Consider:

    1. Even if he claims to belong to a family of no ordinary means, and has the money to buy not just one but several high-end properties, he had also openly acknowledged his gratitude to GMA for footing his hospital bills for an operation on his bad back when he was already in the Supreme Court. Against all ethical considerations, he allowed his wife to accept a government appointment by then President GMA.

    2. In the last few days of the GMA presidency, he accepted his nomination as Chief Justice. While the legality of the appointment may be subject to debate, the propriety and ethical aspects are certainly very plain and simple. We can blame outgoing CJ Puno for not doing anything to stop the farce, we can blame the JBC for side-stepping the issue, we can blame GMA for laying booby traps on her way out, but most certainly the buck stops at Corona’s table as he alone has the power to right that wrong – by being a true statesman and saying NO to the midnight appointment.

    3. Mr Corona has been using an embellished Curriculum Vitae that stated honors and recognition that he received from schools he attended. Until just recently before the SC website was updated, these are all reflected in his profile. Public documents from these schools show that while he may indeed have received honors and medals, these are of lower rank and significance than what he declared. If he had undervalued properties in his SALN, it now appears that he has over-valued his achievements in his CV.

    4. While he claims to be a gentle person who would not hurt anyone much less an old man, PNP records show more than 30 firearms registered under his name, including high-power automatic weapons. Not only is he quick with his hands, he is also quick with his tongue. In not a few public occasions, he did not hesitate calling President Aquino a dictator, accusing Justice Carpio of plotting his ouster and calling the 90-year old Franciscan nun who is also an aunt of his wife a liar.

    5. While he rues the use of the “awesome powers of the presidency” against him, he finds nothing wrong with court employees skipping case hearings to march to the supreme court to hear him lambast his detractors, see him cry and raise his hands to heaven. Instead of admonishing judges and justices to remain neutral and be loyal only to the country, the constitution and the Judiciary as an institution, he chose to drag the entire judicial system into a battle that questions only his fitness to remain as Chief Justice. What if he gets convicted? How will the court employees react to the new Chief Justice? He has put the entire Judiciary between the devil and the deep blue sea.

    6. While he asked justices Carpio and Sereno to inhibit themselves in the cases he filed in the Supreme Court regarding his impeachment, he himself has not taken a leave of absence. He continues to benefit from his position, exerting persuasive influence on the Arroyo block of associate justices. He mocks the independence of the Impeachment Court by asking the SC to intervene in the proceedings.

    7. When confronted with his alleged bias towards GMA in cases that was brought to the SC, he declared that he is just 1 vote in the collegial body. However, when he talks about his favorite scapegoat, the Hacienda Luisita case, he said he was the only stopping the request of HLI to be paid 10 billion as payment. In the course of his public pronouncements, this is not the only instance he contradicted himself. In the BGEI case, he said it distanced himself from his wife’s family feud, yet then Manila Mayor Lito Atienza confirmed that it was Corona himself who negotiated for the higher price paid by the government for the BGEI property in Sampaloc. Payment for that property was in his personal bank account until he withdrew them on the day he was impeached by the House of Representatives.

    These are just but 7 of the many instances where we can get a glimpse of the flawed character of Mr Corona. No amount of technicality, no amount of finger-pointing and no amount of white-washing can justify his remaining a minute longer as the Honorable Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Like the adulterer in The Scarlet Letter, he will forever wear the mark of his sins on his chest for everyone to see.

      • I agree. This should be part of the prosecutors summation when the time comes.

        • How can that be when no evidence related to it was not introduced or testified too in court.? Can Raissa testify in court and be cross examined by Cuevas? Most likely, her testimony will treated as hearsay or tsismis which best descibes his blog entries.

        • Is there a way that the prosecution and the senator-judges could get a hold of this?

    • Love this article…not just an eye opener for those who still believe “Cheap Justice”….. it also strenghtens the belief of those who are already anti-Corona. Mukha pa lang nya…nakakasuya na…oozing with corruption ang aura nya.

    • Tsismis lang ito unless backed up by concrete testimonial evidence. Pakilabas nga tsismosang Raissa.

        • It’s really amazing how people can really turn a blind eye sa mga nagdidilatang katotohanan. Basta ma’am, continue doing a good job. Not only we are closely following your expose, but we also pray that this talakayan will spread fast throughout the land.

      • @Botsokoy – May I know which among the 7 points I raised are “tsismis” as you claim? I am not a lawyer, and I am not good at twisting facts and doing legal contortions and somersaults. Aside from my own opinions and reactions, all information that I included in my comments are verifiable facts – some even coming from the defense team, their witnesses and Mr Corona instead.

        Is that how it works in your camp? If you can’t refute it, shoot it? You can’t refute it with more credible arguments, so you call it tsismis.

        Pathetic.

    • Very well written @Den. The depth and breadth of your condensed write up is very good.

      I wish I wrote even just one of it – word for word.

      It sums up what every one,who are in their right frame of mind, reluctantly accept their nation’s Chief wielder of Justice ashamedly.

      YET, he symbolically represents what is wrong in our nation’s culture. But it doesn’t have to end with him and there, Filipinos are civilly rising up to the challenge to bleech a blot in its culture.

    • i truly believe cj has to go. notwithstanding the 7 bullet points above. delicadeza alone is something to reckon with. cj, do a sen zubiri. our country doesn’t need you, only gma et al.

    • @Den:
      Very simple but very eloquent and compelling. Like!

      This can surely open the eyes of our fellow Filipinos to what is at stake here, because sadly they are finding it hard to understand due to the actions of the defense and CJ himself.

    • I agree with you on most of what you said. You sir(or ma’am) are one articulate person who is “well-informed.” NO question about it.

      But what I find a struggle to agree with you on is something you said at the beginning of your message that said, “Mr Renato Corona seems to have conveniently forgotten that his position demands a higher standard of ethical conduct.”

      I did not know that there are “different” standards of ETHICAL conduct. I know of only one – THE RIGHT ONE! There is only ethical standards and it applies to everyone.

      I think the DEFENSE thinks the Filipinos are “that stupid” and will nod with them in their reasoning that “everybody else is doing it therefore what’s the fuzz with CJ?” Just because everybody sins doesn’t mean we are justified when we sin. It IS, NOT JUST OK – Jesus had to die on the cross for that, remember?

      Ker-Lex

      • @Ker-Lex, I agree with you 101% that there is only one standard of ethical conduct. My statement was more on the context oh how we are accountable to the standard. Corona and his defense team wants us to believe that when a mistake in SALN is made by an court employee, the full force of the law must be applied. But when it is the Chief Justice who makes a “mistake” on his SALN, it is a “correctible error”. Yes we must only have one standard of ethical standard, but the more power you wield, the more accountability is expected from you.

        When Corona say’s “everybody else is doing it!”, it does not expunge his sins, nor does it expunge the sins of others. It only means that we have to work more in convincing our fellow Filipinos not to vote these people into office – that is a power that is available to us. And because Corona and the other SC justices are not elected, we have to do house cleaning of the judiciary by other means. And that is why we have the impeachment.

    • Please count me in Den, well done, let.s put an end to all of TJ corruptions, I just hope after the conviction, comes the real justice, let him pays for whatever crimes this justice committed to the Filipino people.

    • If atty. cuevas offer free services for corona in his personal belief corona is clean….
      If Father Bernas believes Corona has the right not to show his dollar account ….
      I really dont know what happens to these two respected people of the law…. thinks to our country ……

  5. napaka-simple lang… magkano ang yaman mo? magkano ang pera mo? magkano ang mga ari-arian mo? magkano ang mga pagkakartang mo? pag binawas mo ang kabuuuang pagkakautang mo mula sa kabuuang yaman mo, nailagay mo ba ang tamang net worth mo? nai-deklara mo ba yan ng buong katotohanan sa iyong SALN dahil ikaw ay inoobligahan nang saligang batas? oo ba ang lahat ng sagot mo sa mga tanong na yan? edi tapos.. kapag hindi, aba eh pagtataksil sa tiwala ng taong bayan yan at wala ka nang karapatan na manatili pa sa pwestong pinakagtiwala sa iyo ng taumbayan! alam mo na dapat ang gawin mo!

    • @ jeffcrazy,

      Palagay ko OO ang isasagot ni thief justice nato corona dahil napaka sinungaling nang taong ito at napakakapal nang pagmumukha…at Mandarambong dahil kahit pamilya nang asawa ay ninakawan pa, tapos magsasalita pa na sinungaling si sister flory basa samantala sa kanila itong ang BGEI at isa sa tanging shareholders nang companyang ito (BGEI) na nabubuhay pa. Ano kaya ebidensiya ni thief justice nato corona, LAWAY at Kasinungalingan kasama mga abogago niya na mga sinungaling din…

      At hindi ipinagkatiwala kay thief justice nato corona ang puwesto sa supreme court dahil sa sabwatan nang mga bayarang justices nang supreme court na mga TUTA ni fake pres.GMA sa ay nalukluk kahit pa bawal ang midnight appointment ayon kay c.j. narvasa noon. saka nakipagsabwatan din ang mga miyembro nang Judicial ang Bar Council (J.B.C.) noong ilukluk itong si thief justice nato corona para sa stupid court este supreme court pala.

      Karma na mga nangyayari sa iyo thief justice nato corona dahil walang lihim na hindi mabubunyag. pero ang pinakamasakit sa iyo ay pati mga anak mo ay dinamay mo? saka mga kasamahan mong justices ay nabulgar mga CORRUPT practices ninyo. Tandaan mo saka TJ na ang allowances para sa gasolina, kapi, damit, lunch, travel etc. etc. ay hindi puwedeng ibili nang mamahaling apartment @ condo unit dahil bawal ito? ang anomang allowances ay dapat gastosin ayon sa dapat pagkakagastusan nito dahil hindi puwedeng lagyan mo tubig ang sasakyang kondi gasoline lamang at doon dapat gastusin ang gasoline allowances na kinukubra ninyo Thief Justice nato corona. sana hindi ka magpakamatay sa kahihiyan… dahil gusto kong makita ka sa loob nang kulungan…

  6. Replay says:
    March 17, 2012 at 1:46 am

    let’s leave the issue on the chief justice to the impeachment court.. move on Filipinos lots of things to be done!

    —–

    i will reply to you with a replay of my comment over at ellenville on january 10, 2012:

    More on the American Alexander Hamilton, he stated (in FEDERALIST PAPERS, Federalist No. 65):

    Where else than in the Senate could have been found a tribunal sufficiently dignified, or sufficiently independent? What other body would be likely to feel CONFIDENCE ENOUGH IN ITS OWN SITUATION, to preserve, unawed and uninfluenced, the necessary impartiality between an INDIVIDUAL accused, and the REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE, HIS ACCUSERS?

    Nevertheless, he enumerated the objections to the Senate as the proposed court for the trial of impeachments (FEDERALIST PAPERS, Federalist No. 66):

    The FIRST of these objections is, that the provision in question confounds legislative and judiciary authorities in the same body, in violation of that important and well established maxim which requires a separation between the different departments of power.

    A SECOND objection to the Senate, as a court of impeachments, is, that it contributes to an undue accumulation of power in that body, tending to give to the government a countenance too aristocratic.

    A THIRD objection to the Senate as a court of impeachments, is drawn from the agency they are to have in the appointments to office.

    A FOURTH objection to the Senate in the capacity of a court of impeachments, is derived from its union with the Executive in the power of making treaties.

    In the end, the advocates for the Senate as impeachment court had won. The framers of the U.S. Constitution may have regretted putting this decision in the hands of the legislature for fear that it would act on partisanship, but gave this power to the legislature BECAUSE THE PEOPLE MUST BE THE ULTIMATE DECISION-MAKERS (modified comment of T. Vincent, commonlawdotcom 2001).

    Framers of our Constitution adapted this (part of the umbilical cord to the U.S. as some lawyers put it) and it goes:

    The Senate shall have the sole power to try and decide all cases of impeachment.

    Well, Senator Trillanes is just living up to expectations as part of the Impeachment Court and he, in fact, said:

    This does not mean, however, that the evidence should be completely disregarded. Definitely not! Because the strength or weakness of the evidence, and how they are presented could very well affect the political acceptability of either policy alternative. Having said this, it would help if the prosecutors and defense counsels would not to be too technical in their presentations. Ultimately, they would have to win the hearts and minds of the people.

    In this Corona impeachment saga it may be said that “history will predict a Corona victory” as can be gathered here:

    From 200 years of challenges to judicial independence, some fairly clear lessons have emerged. First, attacks on the judiciary throughout history are inevitably political. By this I mean they are launched to express dissatisfaction with the content of particular judicial decisions. Second, those attacks have come from every point on the ideological spectrum. Third, virtually every technique one might think of to limit judicial decision making has already been suggested or tried. Finally, and most important, almost invariably challenges to judicial independence fail, because the public does not support them. Once the citizens of this country pay attention to the debate, they are approving of judicial independence and disapproving of attacks on it. Unquestionably this popular sentiment has grown over the course of the more than two centuries of attacks on the federal judiciary. In the rare instances in which Congress has taken steps to influence judicial decision making, the almost invariable public response has been regret. (from Barry Friedman’s “Attacks on Judges: Why They Fail”)

    Bottomline here is that we are in the Philippines (#1 for fun to most netizens) and Senator Trillanes et al is expected to vote accordingly, i.e., Philippine-style.

  7. BAGONG AWIT “KAYMALAS MO PILIPINAS” TO THE TUNE OF KAYLUPT NG KAPALARAN

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81KJByso-5Q&feature=related

    Kaylupit mo Renato
    Sa bayan kong ito
    Sinumpaang tiwala
    Pinagkanulo mo

    Na hindi magmamaliw
    Ang isang tulad mo
    Natiis mong linlangin
    Ang bayan mong ito

    refrain
    Kaymalas mo pilipinas
    Laging sawi na lamang
    Punong Mahistrado
    Bayan iyo’y ginagago

    Luluha ka rin
    renato renato
    O corona
    Maawa sa bayan

    Kaymalas mo Pilipinas
    Laging sawi na lamang
    Punong Mahistrado
    Bayan iyo’y ginagago
    Punong Mahistrado
    Bayan Iyo’y ginagago

  9. @raissa
    I posted two similar comments because I thought the one was lost after trying to edit it.
    It is under moderation. Cancel it please because the other posted already

  10. Latest News Inquirer: DEFENSE: NO INTENTION TO HIDE

    Atty Esguerra said: Corona consistently did not put down the acquisition costs of his properties in his DALN because they were available in other documents in BIR and Register of Deeds. This he said is called the consistency of principle in accounting.

    Principle of consistency inaccounting applies when there is an accounting method used. Deviation from this principle requires the accountant or bookkeeper to give explanation. In fact Corona violated this principle. He listed his properties under assessed values but switched their sum to the space under total acquisition costs. Since all the spaces of accounting costs were left blank, there was no accounting method used thus there was no consistency ofprinciple in accounting.

    BASIC COMMON SENSE and this is perfect example:
    If I file my taxes annually by just writing my biodata without filling up the any numeral entries in the form leaving every space blank, that is NOT consistency of principle in accounting. That is failure to file ITR or tax evasion. Imagine if everybody does it based on the principle of consistency cited by Esguerra which is idiotic.

    He also said in this interview that there is NO LAW required the declaration of assets based on the acquisition cost. His cited his reason from a report from PCIJ. Since when a lawyer based his legal knowledge from journalistic report than what is written in the Constitution. By this time every Corona lawyer is expected to memorize RA 6713 which Section 8A(1) specifically says Real Property shall contain acquisition cost, assessed value and fair market value. “Contain” is specific word, nothing is written about “choice or either or anyone” in this section.

    He he he Atty Esguerra and I are not both accountant but this lawyer is losing his common sense and does not know his Law on SALN or intentionally lying making him look like a moron.

    He also said that Cuevas is threatening to release all the SALNs of Senators which is goodfor the following reason:
    1. Cuevas action is ADMISSION THAT CORONA VIOLATED SALN LAW
    2.Proof that SALNs are public documents except those from justices of SC which they persistently refused to divulge.
    3. The Senators are not under trial, Corona is so impeachment is not going to stop.
    4. If Cuevad thinks a Senator violated violated SALN the way Corona violated it, then as a citizen he has the right to file a lawsuit with Ombudsman.
    5. Mass release of Senators SALN without specific intention is a form of EXTORTION by pressuring them to rule in Corona’s favor.

    Defense run out of last alibi on the acquisition cost, he he he.

    • it has always the practice even in accounting principle (if he choose to use that) to use “which ever is higher”. Even that he claims that there is no “LAW” those spaces (don’t want to use blanks) were there for a purpose.

      So your horrorable corona, and cuevas argument not acceptable!

      • That concurs with what my accountant friend says, if it is not needed, then those blanks for Acquisition Costs should not be there. The fact that they are there means you have to fill them up.

        Pati ba naman pag fill up ng form pag dedebatehan pa natin?

        Akala ko ba panay ang hirit ng kampo nila ng rule of law, follow the law, etc. Now that Corona is being scrutinized for not following the law, sasabihin nila “look at the senators!”

        Nasaan na ang rule of law na pinagsisigawan nyo, mga pro Corona lawyers and supporters?

        • Defense is floating different trial balloons to find out if somebody could support their alibi with fool proof explanation. Their problem their client started on lies, followed by lies and after lies. No way they could defend him.

          We the readers easily debunk their alibis, how much more when the experts dissect them.

          Surprising they allowed SC clerk to testify because they came out with a sum of 21 M received by Corona without thinking of complications which were far worst than the result they expected. Now everybody thinks all SC justices are abusing their allowances.

        • The worst news lately is this Esguerra claiming na wala sa law daw ang paglagay ng acquisition costs, in effect saying walang mali ginawa si Corona.

          RA 6173. Rule of law. Atty. Esguerra, read before you make statements like that. Nakakahiya.

        • Hindi ba ninyo napansin mga abogado ni Corona. Pag sunod sunod na nabubuko yung mga dahilan, magpapalit sila. Nung Lunes puro si Jimeno, pagkatapos si Esguerra, simula kahapon si Esguerra naman.

          Ang modus operandi nila magsinungaling kahit walang basehan ang sinasabi tutal bale wala nga naman kung magsinungaling sila sa interview. Sa loob ng korte hindi mahirap magsinungaling. Pagkataposipapalabas nila sa mga bayaran nilang columnists at reporters.

          Kaya lang dito sa Raissa blog wala pang isang araw nababara sila kaagad at kakalat na sa buong mundo ng Pilipino na sinungaling sila.

          Kaya galit na galit sila sa Raissa blog kasi yung ibang columnists at newspapers kagaya ni Ducky Paredes ng Malaya , cited pa nila itong blog.

    • It’s like I said: when it’s not to their favor, they suddenly forget about their favortie lag line “rule of law”. So my earlier question about this Esguerra fellow was justified: what the hell kind of lawyer is this guy that he can say it is not required to place Acquisition Costs?

      Rule of law. Johnny already cited where this is from, RA 6713.

      Akala ko ba kailangan natin sundin ang rule of law. Hindi ba nagpuputak kayong mga Corona lawyers about rule of law kamakailan lang? Pati mga supporters nyo?

      Rule of law. And Corona CLEARLY broke the law.

      Our “Chief Justice”, ladies and gentlemen.

      • About Esguerra’s reasoning,”if you want to look at acquisition costs of properties go to BIR and Register of Deeds?

        When a vicious dog is cornered all it does is growl incessantly.
        Based on law, Esguerra reasoning is growling unintelligently.

        I will never recommend their legal service. They must be winning their cases by two ways: the judge is dumb impressed by their distortion of laws and diversionary tactics or bribe their way to victory.

        He he he

        • That’s what I’m afraid of, that some of these senator-judges are “dumb” that they will just nod and say “tama si Esguerra”.

          All the more we should be vigilant, time na ng defense. Wala silang napatunayan this week that helps Corona, in fact, lalo naungkat ang maraming tanong, like how much allowances – unaccounted for! – kinukuha sa judiciary, and how you can try to circumvent SALN declarations by saying inane excuses like “nakalagay naman ang fair market value/assessed value ah, di na kailangan yung Acquisition Cost”.

          Is the defense team secretly working for the prosecution?!?

    • there are legal aspects accountant/auditors may not fuly comprehend,inthe same manner, there are accounting/business/financial terms lawyers may also not fully comprehend.

      nakakalito at minsan nakakatawa…walang common ground…kasi each one assumes competence of a field were he appeated less proficient.
      may senator judge na lawyer…maganda na ang banat.. pagdating sa accounting… bitin…sayang..dale na sana kung maganda ang cross
      ika nga sa boksing…solid na suntok.. jab lang ang dating.

      mas malinaw seguro kung ang article 2 will be prosecuted and defended by practicisng CPA-lawyeers from both sides. di ba ang respondent lawyer by rpofession and had extensive work experience sa isang accounting/auditing/tax firm?

      • VP for the most well known accouting firm in the country, if I remember the news report I read correctly. Which is why it is so straining my disbelief level when Cuevas keeps saying that walang bad faith, it is unintentional, gawa ng secretary…ano ba talaga?

        Of course, that Atty. Roy also said that they cannot compel Corona to testify himself. Wag syang maglulupasay at magiiyak kapag guilty ang verdict. He had a chance to face the charges himself and he wants to hide. Gawain ba naman yan ng isang taong walang kasalanan?!?

      • Sample

        Pag me alleged unlisted under declared assets .either cash and cash equivalent (all currencies) or real estate
        DEFENSE:
        pag dating sa maepal na abugado..
        objection your honor..irrelevant, immaterial..falling under 2.4 ill-gotten wealth.. excluded

        ruling: falling under 2.4 ill-gotten wealth.. excluded

        PROSECUTION:
        pagmabilis and prosecution… manifestation kaagad
        to the effect…. unlisted under declared assets are assumed legitimate.. hence required to be INCLUDED sa SALN.
        Were it included? Objection based on 2.4 ill-gotten wealth is IRRELEVANT.

      • Enrile is a tax expert. He also knows a lot about corporate and banking laws. Remeber he was Marcos lawyer/ Adviser. When he explained to Cuevas the simplicity of the lawhe did it because he got tired of their argmuents based on irrelevant numbers. The reason it was prolonged was Defense was exploiting the topic and Prosecution, due to their incompetence, fell into the trap of Defense. Defense is distracting only, they know the law.

        Law is specific, easy to understand. If you did not follow the instructions every year it is faiure to disclose

        “stubborn person pretending not to understand is the worst person to convince”

        This is the principle Cuevas is employing against Prosecution and Senators. They are falling to Defense recycling of tricky words in defending their contention.

        No malice and good faith are similar in meaning. If you listen intensely,they are only interchanging these words to prolong the process.

        • Very true. After all those percentages, city assessors schedules, etc., they were declared unimportant by Enrile, because the only thing that is important is the very thing Corona left blank.

          Simple lang ang tanong: Paano mo nakayanan bumili ng mga lupa/condo, etc., kung eto lang ang kinikita mo?

          If you can justify it, well and good.
          If you cannot, you have to explain.

          Kung sasabihin mo “may bonuses and allowances ako eh” then that should have been declared as part of your assets, PERIOD.

          Kung sasabihin mo “may dollar account ako eh”, that should also be declared in the SALN. Walang nakasulat sa RA 6713 na peso accounts lang idedeclare at ang dollar pwede ilihim.

          Kung sasabihin mong “mayaman ako bago pumasok ng gobyerno eh” dapat naisulat mo yun sa unang SALN mo pag pasok mo sa gobyerno. At mag ke-carry over yung kayamanan mong yan in your succeeding SALNs mo, wala ka dapat katatakutan kasi ang salary mo lang as govt official ang itatax, yang ariarian mo bago ka nag public official is needed to verify na hindi ka nagnakaw habang nasa gobyerno ka. It is for the PROTECTION ON EVERYONE CONCERNED.

          Ang simple simple, pinapahirapan.

      • tama ka dyan kaibigan. yun din ang pananaw ko. aside from that, dapat merong silang, acounting expert naka standby, pag tungkol sa lupa dapat merong mga licensed real estate agents, assessors etc. bitin talaga ang cross. siguro sa loob na talaga ng paglilitis after ng offer of evidence. tulad noong gusto ng prosecution makita kung merong declared statement si cj sa assessor. i would have pursued that dahil possible na talagang binaba ni cj ang pag declare ng true value for tax purposes.. sa research ko, real estate tax is based of FMV or true value whicever is higher. so kung binaba ni cj ang acquisition value, then yung FMV ay bababa siempre and bababa din ang assessed value kasi based on percentage lang ang assessed value based sa FMV and FMV is based on Acquisition value or assessor schedule whichever is higher.

    • then why he put assessed value and fair market value,,they already exist in other places,, thats even public records

      The Law are loud and clear

      Republic Act No. 6713 February 20, 1989

      AN ACT ESTABLISHING A CODE OF CONDUCT AND ETHICAL
      STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS

      (a) real property, its improvements, acquisition costs, assessed value and current fair market value;
      (b) personal property and acquisition cost;

    • The rule of law also said one can correct it. Therefor if it is correctible, no law is violated. Iti is not an impeachable offfense that is on the level of a high crime.

    • How true is the rumor that the Crook’na defense team has been hand-picked from bar takers given passing grades by the SC just for this eventuality??? Whaaaaa..gago!

  11. as i see it, it comes down to character and pattern of behavior. it is not in the detail, not in the evidence of this or that transaction. it is in the accumulation, the pattern, the thread of the narrative. the pattern that emerges is of untruthfulness calculated to achieve a certain outcome. claiming untruthful school honors. claiming untruthful non-involvement in wife’s family business. claiming untruthful allegiance to judiciary independence as the main motive behind his fight to stay in his job. predilection to abuse power seems evident also (talking with a judge who is about to hear the case involving his wife, threatening an elderly caretaker with a gun).
    also as i see it, his support comes from the fear that judges have that if the bar or standard is raised for corona, it will also be raised for them.

  12. LATEST NEWS by TJ Burgonio Philippine Inquirer
    Defense: No intention to hide according to Atty. Esguerra. It seems this reporter just write what was told to him instead of asking obvious question based on” common sense unless he was paid just to write a one sided propaganda. Very obvious

    Defense is giving this new excuse about blank Acquisition costs.
    Corona was consistent in not reporting acquisition assets which fall under the principle of consistency in accounting. He is talking about Negative consistency while that principle applies to consistency in an accounting method like the assessed values are always entered, that is consistency. If acquisition asset is entered irregularly that is non consistency.
    When there was no accounting method entered like blank spaces then that principle is not applicable because of absence of method required.

    Example of Common Sense application of this principle
    If i file my ITR every year and I dont fill up any numbers in the form except my name, that is considered non filing or tax evasion.
    Following Esguerra’s contention this method of leaving every space blank year after year is principle of consistency. Imagine if entire population does it and could not be charged of violation on taxation because of principle of consistency. That is how crazy this Defense principle. Even a high school student understands it. I am not an accountant but it is basic principle in accounting 101.

    Esguerra floated this idea before their accountant does it because if it comes from the mouth of the accountant it is the best evidence of incompetence subject to stripping of accounting license.

    Consistency of non reporting falls under persistent Refusal to Release Vital Information.
    He said acquisition values were recorded in BIR and Register of Deed so anyone who wanted to look at them, just look in those places. Clever but against the law because if that was the intention, the SALN law would not have included those exact words, Acquisition Values.
    Defense is trying to deceive the public again with semantics.

    Cuevas is also also threatening to publish all the SALNs of Senators which is good for many reasons.
    1. It will prove that SALNs are public records compared to justices of SC who refused to reveal their SALN.
    2. Senators are not under impeachment. Corona is, so whatever happens the trial will proceed.
    3. If any senator is guilty like Corona, Cuevas could file a complaint against them but it will not stop impeachment.
    4. Cuevas action is a form of EXTORTION because it is mass publication without any intention except intimidate the Senators to act in Corona’s favor.

    Defense run out of excuse because principle of consitency was their last escape route.