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. Cuevas claimed Corona only “inadvertently” missed certain items in his SALN.

    Failure to do it once is termed INADVERTENT.

    Doing it year after year is tagged HABITUAL

    Before, Defense was claiming SALN was “submitted” when the charge was “Non Disclosure”

    Cuevas is running out of words to use an an excuse on Corona SALN

    Let us watch out for Cuevas next INGENOUS WORD, he he he.

    • I know he’s Corona’s lawyer, and is obligated to defend him at all costs, but after a certain point, Cuevas just looks like a complete idiot defending the indefensible.

        • Maybe not. But I also wager we don’t have the same moral compass. He chooses to associate with Enrile, Marcos, Tolentino, Santiago, J. Arroyo, Maceda, Tatad.

          As that saying goes, you really are the company you keep.

    • Grabe naman itong si Cuevas ,…tumatanda ng paurong eh … alam na alam niya na sinungaling at magnanakaw si corona eh … tuloy pa rin ang kanyang paggawa ng excuse para kay corona na kurakot.

      • Sa tingin mo ba hindi siya binabayaran? My (pro bono) foot! Madaiming klase ang pagbabayad no.

  2. Yung mga may kaso dyan sa SC at gustong manuhol, alam nyo na ang gagawin nyo – CASH ONLY ang lakaran. Pag may nakakita kase sa suhol madali lang sabihin na salary at allowance yan ni justice so…and so….

    Now I understand for bakit CASH lang ang bayad sa mga sweldo at allowance ng justices.

    O,r baka nman no CHECKS from SC is accepted at baka walang pondo…hehehe

    • Masyadong backward ang SC. Marami nang opisina na sa ATM deposited ang payment ng empoyees. Nasanay kasi na “cash only” dahil check settlement nakarecord sa bangko. Delikado maging ebidensiya.

      And SC employess are more exposed sa hold-up. Nalaman tuloy ng mga hold-uppers saan ang potential victims.

      But huwag sabihin ng iba na meron hold-uppers in robes. Hindi ito tukoy ko.
      But thinking about it, pwede pala at possible.

  3. What do you call a SC justice stuffed with cash money allowance in pockets –
    The Robed Bandit

    Supreme Court jusices after approving en banc restricting all employees from testifying, also decided to rename themselves to:
    The Secret Agents of Corona

  5. Corona is much more concerned with the public’s perception than with the IC regarding his impeachment case as per his recent statement only proves that the truth is coming out more in other venues like your blog. truly, the pen is more mightier than the sword. i may not be active in commenting but i am sure that there other citizens like me that comprises the silent majority that are just monitoring the events and ready to take action should there be a verdict that would be deemed inimical to the best interest of the general public. keep up the good work and Godspeed

  6. We are probably coming to a point where a deal cannot be made anymore. With how the trial is going and with all the recent revelations, the people may not settle for anything less than conviction or unconditional resignation. In this scenario, any deal making will erode PNoys position.

    Also, that counter-offer shows the shallowness of CJ’s thinking. Anybody in their right mind would promptly reject it.

  7. I want nothing more than a judgement from the Senator-Judges, now that the defense side started to present evidence. However, after 3 trial days, the defense has been going nowhere. They are trying to focus on Article 2.4 that was already decided as not part of the allegations. In fact, prosecution was not allowed to submit evidence to prove it.

  8. Isn;t this offer by Corona intermediaries akin to a lawyer talking to a prosecutor for a plea bargain for his client?

    Kaya lang sa plea bargain ata the “charged party” owns up to the crime or misdemeanor in exchange for getting scott free. ‘Am no lawyer; but to me it looks like it.

    But Corona is really of a different ilk, imagine wanting to stay as Assoc Justice and choosing his successor. He really took after his patron, KAPAL MUKS Gloria Arroyo.

    • This shows similarity indeed… GMA from President to Congressman and Corona from Chief Justice to Associate Justice. Pareho nga sila..lulunukin lahat ng pride di baleng ma-demote ang position wag lang matanggal sa Power..kasi tiyak na nila pag wala na sila sa puwesto..sandamukal na kaso ang haharapin nila. Birds of the same feather indeed…and in the end they will both land in the same place; JAIL. abangan

  9. Corona may be off the hook (pilit na kinonek sa blog post na ito) from 5 Articles, but let’s revisit another Article other than the SALN (pronounced “sailin'”) Article 2…

    Can Corona use hefty allowances for personal use?

    An article here:

    http://184.72.62.8/nation/special-coverage/corona-trial/2348-can-corona-use-hefty-allowances-for-personal-use

    Article 3 of the AOI, Par. 3.4.9 states:

    Respondent reportedly dipped his hands into public funds to finance personal expenses.

    Prosecution wasn’t able to present evidence on this due to “judicial privilege”.

    Let’s see if the prosecution panel (esp. Rep. Colmenares?) will follow through on this since Corona emoluments and allowances were now tackled in Senate.

    • Actually, respondent Corona also dipped his hands into private funds to finance personal expenses.

      He made “cash advance” from his account purportedly in trust for BGEI…

      Pati Ito magulo.

      Basta yata “koronadong tao” ka na oks lang magulo ang mga transaksiyon. Bakit, sino bang mag-aakalang malalantad ang mga ito???

    • Corona used public funds when he claimed dinner expenses with his wife using his representation allowance. He cannot claim it is a legitimate business expense.

  10. Ideally, dapat walang deals na mangyari. Dapat makita natin to its conclusion ang impeachment trial para mag-mature din ang ating democracy.
    Pero, let me pose this question. Paano kung i-offer ni Corona na mag-reresign sya at tutulong sa gobyerno sa mga kaso against GMA in exchange for immunity (he keeps what he has). Acceptable ba ito sa inyo?

    • nope!
      PNoy can clean the government without Corona but with the help of 70% citizens who believe in his tuwid na daan.

      • Angie, agree ako sa iyo. No sacred cows. If he offered before the impeachment, baka pwede na-consider sa witness protection program at walang kulong provided he returns all ill gotten wealth. Now water under the bridge. Tuloy ang parusa with all the majesty of the law. How ironic. Justice makukulong.

      • I agree with @angiesays! We don’t need a ” koronang tinik” to help us getting rid of these scumbags. What school did the “crown” says he went? What does the school think of him now? Support him? I believe they aren’t saying anything.

    • He is already being impeached so why should the gov’t deal with him? Pag matino ka, not acceptable yan. No way!

  11. I have been thinking very hard why would the Justices of the Supreme Court be paid in cold cash – actual pesos and centavos – for their salaries and allowances. The salaries and allowances are not small amounts of money – these are tens of thousands of pesos.

    This just doesn’t make any sense. Even lowly GSIS retirees are required to open savings bank accounts so that their small pensions are automatically deposited into the accounts and they can make pension withdrawals via ATM.

    But why pay cash to Justices of the Supreme Court? That seems like a big mystery.

    But then I recall the case of Associate Justice Teresita de Castro. For the convenience of those who are not familiar with the case, here is a link to that case:

    http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2008/aug2008/am_07-09-13-sc_2008.html

    Now, it makes sense to me: if anyone finds a Supreme Court justice with a boxful of money, don’t dare accuse him or her of accepting bribe money – it could very well be just his or her salary or allowances paid in cash, or pesos and centavos.

    No paper trail. Only in the Philippines.

    • Correction: The case involved Justice Consuelo Ynares-Santiago, not Justice Teresita de Castro.

    • i agree, on my experience as disbursement and payroll officer mas malaki ang chance na magkaroon ng irregularities sa ganitong sistema. lalo na ang mga justices ay hindi required na magsumite ng mga resibo sa mga expense allowance nila. and daling mag-padding dito lalo walang nag-check sa kanila. siguro ito na ang tamang panahon na baguhin din ang sistemang ito.

    • Now I know, sabi ni Pacman…..why he needs the 31 guns. There are many hold-uppers in Manila and he needs to protect his cash.

      Now I know also why they have little time to deliberate and decide court cases:

      It takes so long to read what the payments are for sa dami ng emoluments
      It takes so long to count their payments before they certify receipt. Marami pa barya.
      It takes time to make a cash deposit in their banks thinking which account to deposit in.
      They spend more time thinking of what name to use for new allowances.

  12. Hello Raissa,

    Great article as usual. Better than the news paper I read. If you continue this, you will run them dry :D

    Anyway, it seems that your site is a bit slow just now. Either your website is so famous and is getting hit or you are being bombarded to make your site unavailable for reading/posting…

    It’s just a bit slower than usual.

    Its nice that its in US or at least thats what the stress test said. 6Mbit/s link to Europe but hardly 1Mbit/s to japan/Philippines. where most of your target readers are
    Anyway, just letting you know.

    I would like to give the site for stress test but I don’t think it will be nice if everybody stress test your site.

  15. feeling nya eh may hawak syang alas para mang maniobra ng usapan. Out of touch sa realidad ng kinalalagyan nya