Our Plaza Miranda Exclusive –
By Raïssa Robles
Senator-Judge Ralph Recto told lawyer Serafin Cuevas last week that his client, Chief Justice Renato Corona, must testify at his own impeachment trial.
Recto made this statement after asking retired Justice Cuevas the following questions regarding Cristina Corona’s sale of a 1,700-square meter Marikina property in July 1990 to her husband’s cousin Demetrio Vicente:
Senator-Judge Recto: One question to the lead of the defense counsel. Ang dahilan kung bakit pinaharap niyo ang testigong ito (Vicente) ay para patunayan na and lupang ito ibinenta noon 1990. Tama ba yon?
Ex-Justice Cuevas: Tama po yon.
Senator-Judge Recto: At kung bineneta noong 1990, hindi na dapat inilagay sa SALN (Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth) ni Chief Justice Corona after 1990?
Ex-Justice Cuevas: It should be that way.
Senator-Judge Recto: It should be that way. Nguni’t doon sa SALN ng Chief Justifce noong 1992, bakit nandoon pa rin nakalagay yung property ng Marikina?
Ex-Justice Cuevas: Kasi nga hindi niya idinedeclare. Because the purchaser has not declared it in his name. So the records of whether the Register of Deeds or the Assessors Office show that they are still in the hands of the original owner.
Senator-Judge Recto: Bakit noong 1993 tinanggal na?
Ex-Justice Cuevas: Again, again, again? I didn’t hear.
Senator-Judge Recto: Kung yun ang paliwanag ninyo. Ulitin natin. Nabanggit ninyo na ibinenta ito. At mukha namang totoo. Binenta noong 1990. Ang tanong ko, bakit sa SALN ng Chief Justice, noong una siyang pumasok sa pamahalaan July 1992, base sa mga dokumento, naroon pa rin…
Ex-Justice Cuevas: (After a long silence) I’m not privy as yet to the contents of —
Senator-Judge Recto: Therefore, that is why I support the call of the Senate President na ang makakasagot lang ng mga katanungan nito ay ang Chief Justice lamang. Kasi nandoon pa rin sa 1992 SALN. Hinihintay ko tanungin ng prosecution yan. Hindi tinanong.
Cuevas then tried to have this piece of evidence thrown out.
He told Senator Recto that CJ Corona’s 1992 SALN was irrelevant to his impeachment trial because “1992 wala pa po sa Supreme Court si Chief Justice Corona.”
“Correct,” Senator-Judge Recto said.
And ex-Justice Cuevas replied, “so wala itong SALN, (it) will not come into force, your honor.”
But Senator-Judge Recto told him: “Meron kaming kopya dito – 1992, first time he (Corona) entered government.”
Senator-Judge Recto also grilled the prosecution
When Recto, a non-lawyer, turned to grill private prosecutor Jose Justiniano, Recto also elicited this interesting bit of information: The actual title of Mrs Corona’s Marikina property lodged with the Register of Deeds was never annotated with the Deed of Sale to show the property had changed hands.
Ultimately, this means that the only legal proof to show that Vicente now owns the property is his signed Deed of Absolute Sale that was notarized by a fake notary public. [See Part I: Corona listed Marikina lot in his SALN two years after sale to cousin ]
But if this is true, why would the Coronas bother simulating a sale that took place even before he joined the government?
Since there seems to be no plausible argument to explain this aspect, the defense asserts that its explanation is the real one – that a sale did take place but Vicente just never bothered to record it legally.
This explanation, however, leaves the following loose ends:
- Why did CJ Corona still list the Marikina property as an “Asset” in 1992 even though he had personally witnessed the signing of the Deed of Absolute Sale by his wife Cristina and his cousin Vicente in 1990?
- Why did CJ Corona drop it as an Asset the following year 1993?
- Did CJ Corona intentionally get lawyer-accountant Beatriz “Beth” Mantoya to notarize the Deed even though she was not a notary public?
- If CJ Corona did not know that Mantoya was not a notary public, why did he not know even if they once came from the same section (the Tax Division) of the same company (Sycip Gorres and Velayo) or SGV & Co?
The boldest and yet believable explanation for CJ Corona’s action was given by “rene-ipil” of Our Plaza Miranda – the growing community of commenters to this site.
He theorized that the only thing that was really sold in 1990 was the property of Cristina’s sister, Miriam Roco, with Cristina acting as the “Attorney’-in-Fact”. Here’s what “rene-ipil” wrote that intrigued me:
FACTS:
On July 26, 1990, Miriam (Cristina Corona’s sister) sold for P509,000 her 1,700 sqm property to Vicente with Cristina as Attorney-in-fact.
Both Cristina and Vicente had residence certificate issued on July 7, 1990 in QC.
As per deed of sale, Atty. Beatriz Mantoya notarized the document.
Per TCTs (Transfer Certificates of Title), TDs and ORs of payment, Cristina owns 1,700 sqm of land at Marikina Heights adjacent to Miriam’s.
The current market value of Cristina’s property is about P17M.
MY THEORY:
In 2012 (this year), Corona asked for the help of his cousin Vicente and simulated the sale of Cristina’s 7 parcels of land to Vicente also on July 26, 1990. It was agreed that “in due time” the property will be sold for about 17M and Vicente will get a fat commission thereafter.
The deed of sale was purportedly notarized by Mantoya in Makati.
The same residence certificates used in the sale of Miriam’s lot were also used by Cristina and Vicente.
Corona signed the deed of sale as a witness to limit persons with access to the document.
Corona knew that Mantoya was not a notary public for Makati.
No copy would be submitted to RTC Makati (as required of notary public) so that the date of actual execution of the simulated deed of sale cannot be verified.
The purported consideration for the sale was also P509,000 to show that the sale was done in 1990.
The back portion of the purported deed of sale shows that the CGT (Capital Gains Tax) and DST (Documentary Stamp Tax) had been paid to BIR but this could be easily faked with the help of Corona’s friends in the BIR.
Now, Vicente would like to sell all the 3,400 sqm property allegedly because the property is too big for his need.
Actually, Vicente is selling the whole property to preempt any negative effect of his testimony before the IC (Impeachment Court).
Vicente is too smart a witness. He looks credible because he was testifying on lies with the color of truth, i.e., sale of Miriam’s lot to him thereby using most of the truth in that transaction. But did you notice his reaction when he learned that the notarization was fake. It came to him that the sale on Miriam’s lot is also defective. Now, he wants to sell everything before the deluge.
I know a few who are better than him as a witness. An example is Jessica Alfaro of the Vizconde fame.
I noticed also that the testimony of Vicente on Miriam’s lot was introduced by Cuevas only in the redirect examination. Why not in the direct examination? Because it was not meant to be and it was introduced belatedly as damage control measure against the effect of the exposure of the fictitious notarization.
The simulated sale should be exposed as a scam. Questioned document experts may be called. But first, the purported payment of CGT and DST must be verified with the BIR.
Meantime, those with bleeding hearts, courtesy of Vicente may pause a little while before joining the bandwagon steered by Esguerra.
This was in reference to what Esguerra told me that he was willing to lend Vicente the money to transfer the property in his name. See my story – Lawyer willing to lend Mr Vicente cash to transfer Corona property to his name.
So why did CJ Corona initially list the Marikina property in his 1992 SALN and then dropped it altogether starting 1993?
Commenter “rene-ipil” is of the opinion that the Marikina property was meant to be a back-up property to later explain bank deposits.
Of course, he may be way off the mark.
Which is why it is becoming increasingly important for CJ Corona to testify.
Senator-Judge Recto’s call for him to testify is probably going to be echoed soon by his fellow senator-judges.
And the longer CJ Corona keeps silent on the Marikina property, the worse the speculation will get. It is for this reason that Filipinos eagerly await CJ Corona’s explanation on this and other matters.
My hats off to Our Plaza Miranda for generating a lot of ideas and leads :)
The exchange between Senator-Judge Recto and ex-Justice Cuevas can be watched here. Go to 4:16:15 [4 hours:16 minutes:15 seconds]
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Related Story:
Part I: Corona listed Marikina lot in his SALN two years after sale to cousin
carmen says
Ang humarap si Corona sa kanyang paglilitis sa Impeachment Court ay tama at siyang dapat mangyari. Gusto kong makita ng personal ang mukha, mata at pagsagot ni Corona at kung gaano ka-eksperto si Corona sa pagsisinungaling.
Maaaring ang pagsisinungaling ay hindi malaki o mabigat na kasalanan , pero sa kaso ni Corona, bilang Punong Mahistrado ng Korte Suprema, ang pagsisinungaling lalo na sa kanyang SALN ay tahasang pagtataksil at pagwawalang-bahala sa pagtitiwala ng sambayanang Pilipino. Ito ay talampakang “betrayal of public trust” kung kaya’t hindi siya karapat-dapat na manatiling Punong Mahistrado ng Korte Suprema.
Oo, lahat tayo ay may dumi o dungis, Pero sa isang Punong Mahistrado ng Korte Suprema? Hindi dapat kakitaan ng pagsisinungaling, ng kawalan ng integridad, ng pagkagahaman sa kapangyarihan. Hindi maaaring magpanggap o magkunwari ng hindi naman totoo. Nakatapos daw ng mababa at mataas na paaralan sa Ateneo ng may medalya, gayong ang mga programa sa mga taong kung kailan siya nagtapos ay walang kakitaan ng kanyang pangalan. Hindi daw nakikialam sa pag-aari ng asawa pero sa panayam kay Lito Atienza ay kasama siya at nasabi o naitanong pa “kilala mo ba ako” na halos katumbas nang pagsasabi ng “kilala mo ba kung sino ako?” na nagpapahiwatig ng pang-aabuso ng kapangyarihan o posisyon. Nang ibenta yong lupa sa Marikina sa mismong pinsan o kamag-anak niya, isa siya sa pumirma sa bilihan at yong notaryo pang pinili ay wala namang karapatang magnotaryo at kilala at alam niya. Kaya lahat ng isiniwalat ay dapat bigyang-uri o taguriang mga “kuno” at “daw”.
Hindi sapat na dahilan na ang lahat naman ay gumagawa nang pangungupit, nang pagbibigay ng hindi tamang SALN o nang pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan. Tayo rin ang nagiging at magiging biktima ng mga maling gawing ito. Parang pananaw-TRAPO na rin ang magiging pananaw natin.
Elena Lemi says
@Carmen
To know him better read the latest write up of Raissa. Doon mo makikilala si thief justice natin. Interview niya with a palace reporter.
carmen says
@Elena Lemi
Oo, salamat. Napuntahan at nabasa ko na rin yon kaya nga lalong nagtumibay ang aking paniniwala na hindi dapat manatili si Corona sa kanyang posisyon. Marahil yong kanyang “kilala mo ako” ay katumbas din ng “isang tawag ko lang”.
Hindi ko matatanggap na pawalang-sala si Corona ng Impeachment Court na ang ibig sabihin ay hindi siya maaalis sa kanyang posisyon maliban na lang kung pagkatapos ay magbitiw si Corona ng sariling kusa (at wala sa katauhan niya ang ganoon). Hindi siya ang taong marunong magsakripisyo para sa nakararami o sa bayan.
Wala na siya sa katinuan ng isip dahil parang hindi niya alam ang totoo at hindi, ang tama at mali. Mga ilusyon ang ipinipinta niya tungkol sa kanyang sarili para gumanda ang kanyang imahe. Pareho sila ni Gloria parehong makakapal ang mukha. at makasarili. Magandang sumagot at magsalita pero salat sa katotohanan. Ginamit ang batas para sa sarili. Inalisan ng piring ang mga mata ng hustisya kug kaya’t ang hustisya may kiling doon sa may ibabayad ng malaki .
carmen says
Ops…kung kayat’t sa halip na kug kaya’t
Elena Lemi says
@Carmen
Sangayon ako sa iyo. Ang problema ay nag extend nanaman ang SC sa TRO sa pagbubukas ng dollar account ni Corona. June pa ang next session nila about this. Di tapos na ang impeachment trial by that time.
Ayaw ko naman mag resign siya. Ang gusto ko ay ma impeach siya para wala na siyang kawala sa atin bayan. Mas maganda if naumpisahan na ang investigation ng IRS kay Charina. Dahil naniniwala ako na mas mabilis ang justice para na rin sa atin. Kaya ang mga kasamahan natin doon sa US ay masinop na iniinvestigate ang kasong ito.
Sana nga para umunlad naman ang ating bayan.
Estebantot says
Katotohanan ang magpapalaya sa bayan!(sabi nga sa isang awit) Malinaw na malinaw, ang mga manloloko at sinungaling ay dapat, ikinukulong ! Hindi magreresign yang si TJ kase paninindigan nya na wala syang sala. Alam nyo ba yung kasabihan, “Huli na, ay lulusot pa!?” Alam nya sa sarili nya na malulusutan nya pa ito. Abogado e kaya confident. Kaya talagang KATOTOHANAN ang magpapalaya sa BAYAN!Sure na ang impeachment nyan!
Dennis Zarauz says
At iyon lamang pagsisinungaling sa resume at sa kanyang profile ay isa nang malaking kasalanan. Hindi siya karapat-dapat sa kanyang posisyon.
Elena Lemi says
@DennisZarauz
I agree with you 200%! Makapal talaga ang mukha niya!
Romeo Polistico says
Whoever claims that she is upright and has not committed any wrongdoing should be the first one to throw stone to CJ.
Vibora says
@ Romeo Polistico,
The last time I check, there is no St. Romeo. Tell this to your amo, never think of going anywhere there is a desert or I’ll bury him in the sand and throw to him not only stone but tons of stones.
You talk bullshit, so can I.
Dennis Zarauz says
@Romeo Polistico,
That is not accurate. It’s the other way around, Corona was the one claiming as being the righteous one while accusing his detractors as the dirty ones. Baligtad yata ang premise mo pare ko.
At batas ng Diyos ang hinalaw mo, sa buhay ispiritual ay wala tayong karapatan na maghusga kung sino ang dapat batuhin at hindi dapat batuhin. Tanging sa Diyos lamang ang paghuhusga. Ito’y sangayon sa paniniwalang kritiyano.
Subalit sa batas ng tao, ang taong may paglabag sa batas ay nararapat lamang managot sa ngalan ng batas. Isa pa, public servant si Corona at may karapatan ang mamamayan na maglabas ng kanilang saloobin batay sa kangyang gawain.
Yen678 says
… sa halos lahat na naiprisentang mga witnesses ni Corona, walang nakapag patunay na wala siyang kasalanan… bagkus ay nag iwan pa sila ng mas maraming katanungan sa isip ng mga tao na hanggang ngayon ay wala pang kasagutan… kung ang mga Senator-jurors na kumakampi kay Corona ay patuloy na magbibingi-bingihan at magbubulag-bulagan, sila ay walang karapatan na tawaging representate ng mamamayan… ang laban na ito ay hindi lang para sa kasalukuyan… ang laban na ito ay para na rin sa kinabukasan ng bawat isa na naghahangad ng TUNAY na hustisya.
baycas says
In Fr. Bernas latest article (March 26, 2012) here:
http://opinion.inquirer.net/25637/betrayal-of-public-trust
He cited Nolledo but didn’t cite the remarks given above re: “obstruction of justice”, not being a high crime, but nonetheless an impeachable offense because of “betrayal of public trust”.
It will make his argument as regards his invocation of the EJUSDEM GENERIS Rule crumble into pieces.
—–
In his column written on February 6, 2012 he said:
Call it inadvertence, “senior moment” (error), or whatever, Fr. Bernas on that particular day was BETRAYED by a comma. He collectively considered “other high crimes or betrayal of public trust” as one phrase. [In effect making the number of impeachable offenses down to five (5) instead of six, contrary to how they were counted in Francisco vs. HOR 2003.]
However, having considered it as one phrase and to mean that “betrayal of public trust” is synonymous to “high crimes” rather than an alternative (on account of the conjunction “or”), it would not withstand the Rule Against Redundancy. For why was there a need to specify “betrayal of public trust” together with the words “other high crimes” when they just mean the same thing?
Besides, in order to conform to jurisprudence that there really are six (6) grounds for impeachment, “betrayal of public trust” must therefore precede “other high crimes” before we can interpret the former to be an impeachable offense with a gravity of a high crime.
Den says
Renato Corona has the highest form of the Wang-Wang mentality, giving him a warped sense of entitlement.
He thinks he is entitled to the position of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court – so he accepted the position even when it was offered by a discredited president on her way out of the door, and against common decency and ethical standards.
He thinks he is entitled to the legitimacy of his midnight appointment – so he participated in the deliberations of the court where his fellow Arroyo-appointed justices voted to uphold his illegal appointment.
He thinks he is entitled to intellectual prowess, so he accepted a doctorate degree (a real one, not honoris causa) with highest honors even if he had not completed the most basic requirements.
He thinks he is entitled to being served by the Filipino taxpayers hand and foot, so he lets the government foot the bill for his barong tagalog, groceries, gasoline, expensive dinners, hospital bills. Who knows, we might even be paying for his toilet paper!
He thinks he is entitled to not be convicted by the Impeachment Court even if his defense team weaves yarn after yarn of tall tales and lies about his assets and properties, about how he used his position and connections to grab the property of his wife’s relatives and sell it to the government with a premium, and to get travel privileges from an airline that suddenly found itself served a favotable decision on a long settled case against it.
This man thinks he is entitled to make a fool out of the Filipinos. Will you let him?
JohNny lin says
Corona never deserved the honor of sitting in the supreme court since he did not have trial and magistrative experience. His professional carrer delved mostly on wheeling and dealing, compromised and looking the other way. Character of corrupt men.
We asked him to explain his bank accounts, he answered “in due time”. We begged him to put up or shut up, his only answer was ignoring our plea. Now, it’s our turn.
He regarded himself being above the rest of us. Time has come we the people put him where he belongs, the bottom of the pits.
jaime barrios says
Atienza testifying for the coronas? the message is clearly written on the wall and who’s next to testify for the coronas? mike defensor, former doj sec. gonzales, norberto gonzales, ermita, devanadera, guttierez?