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Who will dare ask Chief Justice Corona these questions?

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By Raïssa Robles

[UPDATE: Was it me you were referring to, Mr. Renato Corona, in your opening statement at the Senate impeachment court? Because there are a lot of other journalists who have been writing about your alleged hidden wealth. But I seem to be the only one who wrote about your name’s connection to certain US properties.

If that was me you were talking about, then I suggest you get together with Ninez Cacho-Olivares and Bobi Tiglao and form a fan club. I warn you, admission is high. Only dollars are accepted.]

After a defiant and feisty opening speech, CJ Corona abruptly left the court. But apparently, the Senate was prepared because the lockdown was swift. Corona was forced to return to the court - on wheels.

Meanwhile, these are the questions I wanted to ask you, being the Supreme Court Chief Justice, but I never got the chance because all my requests for interviews were met with silence:

1. On September 26, 2001, Marichu Villanueva of The Philippine Star quoted you as having issued a press statement inside Malacanang Palace where you were then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s chief aide. In answer to allegations made by Jose Maria Basa III that you were using your office to sway decisions in your wife’s favor in the matter of the family feud inside Basa-Guidote, you said in a Malacanang Palace statement which Marichu wrote for the Philippine Star:

“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.

Unknown to us then, but now known to us because of the direct testimony of former Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, your wife Cristina received P34,703,800 payment from the city of Manila on June 5, 2001. The check was made out “in trust” to her. June 5, 2001 is only around three months before you issued that September 26, 2001 statement from Malacanang Palace that you had “purposely stayed away from the financial and material affairs of my in-laws.”

1.1 How do you now reconcile that statement you made in Malacanang Palace with ex-Mayor Atienza’s recent testimony that you had accompanied your wife  twice to see him on the Basa-Guidote property?

1.2 How did you introduce yourself then to Mayor Atienza? Did you give him your calling card? And what was written on your calling card?

2. Unknown to us in 2001, but now known to us because of the direct testimony of former Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, your wife Cristina received P34,703,800 payment from the city of Manila on June 5, 2001.

I heard you say just now during your opening statement before the Senate impeachment court that Malacanang Palace is very powerful and can do anything. Do you think that on June 5, 2001 when your wife Cristina obtained the P34 million check from the city of Manila – at a time when you were already a close Malacanang aide of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo – the P34 million check was a manifestation of what you just said – that Malacanang Palace is very powerful and can do anything?

3. Your defense lawyer Judd Roy told the Senate impeachment court that you took out the CASH ADVANCE  between September 5 and September 30, 2003 from Basa-Guidote Inc. when the shares had not yet been auctioned off to your daughter Carla Corona-Castillo.

3.1 When was the exact date you obtained the CASH ADVANCE?

3.2 Whom did you request to obtain the CASH ADVANCE?

3.3 What exactly is the CASH ADVANCE for? Why would a corporation like Basa-Guidote give you a CASH ADVANCE when you are not even connected to it; while (in fact) you were an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court at the time?

3.4 Why call it a CASH ADVANCE? Why, for instance, not call it a LOAN?

3.5 Was there anything put in writing that had to do with the CASH ADVANCE?

4. After your daughter Carla won the auction on September 30, 2003, was it your understanding that she in effect owned the company Basa-Guidote?

5. If she owned the company, were you paying back to her the CASH ADVANCE you got from the company?

6. I am confused in this matter. Your lawyer Ramon Esguerra told me that your wife in effect owned Basa-Guidote. To your knowledge, who now owns Basa-Guidote – your wife or your daughter?

7. Did you pay any interest for the CASH ADVANCE?

7.1 If you did not, why not?

8. Your Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) from 2005 to 2009 show that the amount of the CASH ADVANCE was dwindling, until it totally disappeared in the 2010 SALN. Does this mean you were paying off or reimbursing the CASH ADVANCE?

9. To whom were you giving back the millions that you were returning to Basa-Guidote? To your daughter or to your wife? Or to someone else? Or to no one in particular?

10. Do you have documentary proof to show that you were indeed paying back the P11 million CASH ADVANCE from 2005 to 2009/2010?

11. How did the Basa-Guidote money from the sale of the Manila property end up in an account in which you are the sole signatory?

11.1 Who put it there and by what authority?

11.2 Is there any documentary proof that you in effect became the “trustee” for the millions of Basa-Guidote?

11.3 If yes, please may we see it?

12. When your daughter Carla Castillo-Corona won the auction of the Basa-Guidote shares, were you knowledgeable about the fact that the one whose shares were being auctioned off had already died?

13. As an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court by then (since you assumed office on April 9, 2002) is it your sworn duty to ensure that justice is done to every Filipino including the late Jose Maria Basa III?

14. Assuming that you did not know then that Jose Maria Basa III had died even before the auction, we can assume that you know now that he did die before the auction because this was revealed during your trial.

15. Now that you do know that Jose Maria Basa III died even before the court could rule on the libel complaint against him, what in your opinion as Supreme Court Chief Justice should now be done with the sales proceeds of the Basa-Guidote property?

16. As the Supreme Court Chief Justice, do you believe that the crime of libel of Jose Maria Basa III was extinguished upon his death and therefore he could no longer be convicted and his property in the form of Basa-Guidote shares of stock could no longer be garnished and then auctioned off?

______________________________

Stories related to Chief Justice Renato Corona and the Basa-Guidote case

More questions about that P11M “cash advance” stated by Chief Justice Corona in SEVEN of his SALNs

CJ Corona’s P11M ‘cash advance’

 

Comments

    • “I cannot imagine removing a chief justice on account of his SALN,” Joker Arroyo said.

      Why do they refuse to acknowledge that it’s not simply the the non-declaration but the huge disparity and the lies and coverups?

      As noted, if a supreme court employee was sacked with all benefits deprived of him for not declaring that he has a market stall, why should it be different for Corona when the undeclared cash and assets is way much much higher. Probably TEN-THOUSAND FOLD

      • I’m sorry about the gender error. The supreme court employee is Mrs Delsa Flores, a court interpreter from Davao City who lost her government post because she failed to declare in her SALN her ownership of a market stall that she rents out to augment her pay.

        As PNoy asked, “If you were Delsa Flores, how would you feel if you learn that there’s a person who withheld declaring a bigger amount in his SALN?”

        Anyway, glad its over. Wonder what’s next

      • JOKER IS A JOKER ; I can not imagine how come this person can not logically accept that corona is a liar, how much loyalty he must commit to corona? Never mind Brenda, she is out of the topic, she is not an earthling, she does not belong to us, bongbong ? he signed his political career, he is good in ilocos ,where he can buy with his money his kapwa ilocano,, they can own ilocandia , from governor to congressman/woman. but senator never again..

  2. CONG FARINAS, was the right man in the right time; he delivered the most exciting ,simple but full of elements in destroying the shield of the defense. Yan ang tunay, may dating at madali masakyan ng karaniwang tao. I like the word PALUSOT, it was a double kill; ng tanungin ni JPE si cuevas ng salitang CULPA. CULPALUSOT YAN ANG DOUBLE KILL; congrats Hon Farinas,

    • And it was brilliantly delivered in front of the face of MDS who was at the wron g place at the wrong time. Luckily blood pressures did not shoot up.

  3. Former SC Associate Justice Cuevas dismally failed to respond to Enrile’s qustion on the culpability of anyone, if any, who observes the SALN requirement involving the disclosure of one’s foreign currency deposits are concerned. Cuevas resorted to the “safety” of the foreign depositor from kidnappers and criminal elements should this disclosure becoomes public knowledge which is contrary to the provisions behind the law geverning the SALN.

    Needless to say, it would be quite a challenge for any IC Judge to acquit Corona with a clear conscience. It would be interesting to know what judgment each member of the Gang of Four in the IC would make. Though I tend to believe it is a foregone conclusion, I still hope they would do what is right and just to redeem themselves, for self-serving reasons, or to avoid disservice to the Filipino nation.

      • I gathered he will convict Corona too. JPE’s line of questioning to Cuevas was a good indicator of what his thoughts were.

      • @ Maddog

        Hindi alam ni cuevas yung culpa ang alam nya lang kupal kaya ayun nagkandakupalkupal. Ha ha ha!!!

  4. natutuwa ako at meron tayong ganitong preseso (impeachment).
    meron ako masasabi sa aking mga apo na may ginawa kayo taga CPM para mamulat kami sa tunay na pangyayari sa likod ng mga balita.
    salamat sa inyo.
    mabuhay tayong lahat na nagmamahal sa ating bayan

  5. Latest from Inquirer
    ————————

    SC will accept senator-judges’ verdict in impeachment case
    (portions of the article read as follows)

    MANILA, Philippines–The Supreme Court will accept “whatever verdict” the Senate impeachment court will render on embattled Chief Justice Renato Corona, a member of the high tribunal said Monday.

    Associate Justice Martin Villarama, who has been assigned to write the high court ruling on Corona’s petition to stop his impeachment, said the tribunal would accept any Senate decision, which is expected to be out Tuesday.

    He also said that his draft ponencia on Corona’s petition was ready but he partially agreed with a reporter’s question that it could become “moot” due to the Senate ruling expected on Tuesday.

    “We’ll accept anything. We’ll accept the verdict. Whatever it is, we’ll accept it,” Villarama told reporters during an ambush interview at the Supreme Court.

    “If there are adjustments to be made, we will try our best to serve the Filipino people and the nation. It’s hard if there’s no justice. That cannot be shattered,” he said.

    “You have to improve or regain the confidence of the people on the judiciary. Well, congratulations if (Corona’s) acquitted. We’ll try to do better in the times ahead,” he added.

    Villarama urged senators to be “objective” in their decision and not let political considerations affect how they vote on whether to convict the chief justice.

    “They’re all intelligent. They’re all upright. I hope there would be less politics … be objective about the whole thing for the good of the Filipino people,” Villarama said.

    “Well, good luck to the chief. I can say that he’s a good man. He’s been very good to us. He’s been a good leader since I joined the court. I wish him luck,” he added

    • Has SC got any choice? Has it got any legal grounds not to accept the IC verdict? If none whatsoever, it is a futile effort on their part to make such declarations.

      Interesting to note though that the content of the above article refer to personal relations with Corona and did not touch on the concrete issues and charges raised against Corona. Hmmmn…makes me wonder why and how come.

      • they have to issue this statement, due to cuevas made a radio interview saying that will definitely go to the SC in case that the verdict is not in their favor

  6. if villar will vote for acquital, please (as I will) campaign to your friends, etc. not to vote cynthia villa….. same with the senators up for re election….

  7. Kuha ni Enrile ang ibig sabihin ng RA 6426. Hanga ako. BS ang sagot ni Cuevas: kidnappers might get the depositor. So, kung P100 million (wala kang dollars), dapat huwag mo rin i-declare dahil takot ka sa kidnappers?

    • takot sila from kidnappers, but their SALN are locked in the SC vault, so who’s to know? they are cowards…. what made them think they are more special than the rest of the government officials?

      • At saka kung takot si Corona sa kidnapping, extortion, etc. dapat di sya pumasok sa gobyerno. Takot siya sa extortion, hmmm.. bakit kaya?

    • Let us not be misdirected by Cuevas’ lame alibi for corona he dished out in lieu of nothing else that might be deemed credible. The defense has really gone awry, for it is very difficult to estabish a strong defense for corona…he is sooo guilty of his hidden assets and yet desperate for alibis.

    • Then close down all exclusive subdivisions, luxury condos like bellagio and the sales of luxury cars as a move against kidnapping. Pero as they say, ang magnanakaw galit sa kapwang magnanakaw whether it be unexplained wealth, tax evasion or kidnapping.

      Nagbabayad kaya ng tamang buwis mga lawyers ng defense?

  8. Oh, masterful move on the part of the Prosecution to have the Speaker of the House end their closing! SOMEBODY over there is quick on their feet. Bravo!

    • Of course, there’s a political texture to the move, as Raissa correctly points out.

  9. Sure, the Prosecution waived its right to cross – pardon me, but I seem to recall Cuevas saying, as he presented his witness, that the Prosecution had previously indicated it would waive cross, and he was expecting them to make good on that commitment (or words to that effect).

    Now they decry the decision to waive cross? Prosecution, please set them straight on this point!

    • Himaymayin natin ung transcript para malaman ng taga defense ; kaya di na nag cross ang prosecutor ng mag declare ang defense na di na rin sila mag direct ; at itong si atty matalo daldal ng daldal na kung bakit daw di nag cross ang prosecutor para malaman ang katotothanan, atty matalo, papano naman ma tanung ang cliyente nyo, ay halos sya na lang ang kumuha ng lahat na oras, tapos may pa cry-cry pa, at sakit-sakitan pa, pagod na daw sya,, arte subrang halata, kulang sa ensayo, atty better change ur language dapat kasi mag review muna kayo sa mga pinagsasabi nyo, panay PALUSOT, CALMA LANG AT HINDI CULPA. CULPALUSOT…

  10. Farfinas talking. Mga nilantad niyang palusot, na-discuss ng CPM thoroughly ditto. Congrats, Raissa and CPM.

  11. Nagumpisa ang defense with Angeles on RA 6426 and SALN law. Absolute confidentiality daw, kaya Mr. Corona need not declare his FCD. But he waived it daw. Inconsistent daw.
    Mababaw ang arguments. Cf. Message 696 below. Didn’t touch this point at all.

  12. THE SIMILARITY OF MAYWEATHER AND CORONA

    When Mayweather was cornered by repeatedly ducking Pacquiao, he suddenly positioned himself as an advocate of cleaning boxing from PEDs. Corona, when pushed on a wheelchair, suddenly becomes an advocate of transparency.

    Mayweather’s nick name is “Money”, Corona worships money at the expense of the whole country.

    Maywether has Golden Boy as a promoter, Corona has the pan-duck that lays the golden egg (GMA).

    Mayweather lives in a bubble of lies around loyal supporters whose job is to say “yes” to him, just because they all make money out of him. He has the rapper 50 Cents as his most loyal follower, Corona has a 50 cent worth puppy called Midas.

    Mayweather beats his former live-in partner, Corona has Mang Indo.

    Mayweather was found guilty and will serve his sentence by June. Corona will be found guilty tomorrow and will be out of SC before June.

    • Funny indeed! Thanks for this lighter side of our nation’s trouble.

      There’s still the Ombudsman and I hope most if not all of the various points raised on Corona’s culpaibiity will be properly tackled and raised.

        • @Kim, thanks for reminding. Corona did not declare his foreign currency deposits and were not subjected to tax? Whew! What about his “co-mingled assets, were they not taxed too?”

  13. The SENATE owes it to the people to come out with a COMPLETE VERDICT on all the 3 Articles: 2, 3 & 7, so that it leaves nothing UNKNOWN.

    The defense should be STOPPED from saying “coniction on Art. 2 is illegal and unconstitutional,” and everybody does not know what happened to the other 2 Articles because “anyway CJ was already convicted in one Article.” If there are 3 convictions on the 3 AOI, promulgate the verdict on all three.

    For the defense to question “for any grounds on all Articles where a guilty verdict” is made, it would be very difficult to be making “monkey’s arguments” questioning 3 guilty verdicts or 2 guilty verdicts, etc., as compared to one guilty verdict and the rest of the AOI remaining UNKNOWN. In the same manner of “not guilty” verdicts.

    The Senate should not commit a blunder by an incomplete rendering of verdicts on ALL AOI charges vs CORONA.

    It is not that difficult anyway to have a complete rendition of 3 verdicts for each Article.

  14. “And whatsoever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:13) “Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.” (John 16:23b)

    Father God, your children bought and washed by the blood of your one and only begotten Son come humbly before your throne of grace at this very moment. We claim your promise, that if we ask anything in Jesus name it shall be given unto us. We cry to you for mercy for our country and its people you have given us to love, to cherish, to care and die for if need be. Let your righteousness and justice prevail as the members of the IC render their verdict to the CJ on trial. We love you. In Jesus name, Amen.

  15. What I can;t understand is this. Corona has unexplained wealth. Well, he did explain it actually but without supporting documents or supporting testimonies. I am not a lawyer but I would think that someone with unexplained wealth should have the burden of proving that it is legal.

    Any thoughts?

    • There’s still the office of Ombudsman where punitive measures could be imposed. Can’t wait for it to commence.