Category: Supreme Court

Ombudsman asks anti-money laundering body for Corona’s bank records

Published by Ellen on March 19, 2012

By Ellen Tordesillas, VERA Files

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales has asked the Anti-Money Laundering Council for a copy of the records of impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona’s bank deposits, including dollar accounts that are the subject of a temporary restraining order issued by the Supreme Court.

cj_2010saln — Waiver signed by Corona in his SALN

A highly placed source in the Office of the Ombudsman confirmed that Carpio-Morales sent the request after her office received a complaint seeking an investigation on Corona’s supposed ill-gotten wealth and possible money laundering. But AMLC Executive Director Vicente Aquino said he was not aware of such a letter in his office. “We have not received such request,” he said.

Aquino also said he refuses to talk about Corona’s assets in the media, calling it a “sensitive” issue.
The Anti-Money Laundering Council is composed of the governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Insurance Commissioner and the Securities and Exchange Commission chairperson.

Mistake in Corona SALN without malice?

Published by Ellen on March 18, 2012

Corona's SALN and bank deposits from Interaksyon — Thanks to Interaksyon.com for the graph.

It seems that the strategy of the defense in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona ’s strategy is leading towards admission that yes, he made “inadvertent mistake” in the filing of his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth but that is not an impeachable offense.

This line of reasoning first surfaced in the March 14 hearing when Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano followed up on the point raised by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV that the issue is not whether the income of the chief justice was huge, or his wealth was earned legitimately or not, but whether what was stated in the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth are true and accurate.

Cuevas replied, “Even assuming there is discrepancy or quite a difference in the making of the return which may be considered inaccurate, Your Honor, that is not a ground, in our thinking, for impeachment.”

Still unexplained: The gap between Corona’s wealth and SALN

Published by Ellen on March 15, 2012

Demetrio Vicente inside an SC car — Corona cousin in an SC car

It’s perfectly understandable for Chief Justice to take care of his cousin, Demetrio Vicente, who testified in his favor Tuesday at his impeachment trial.

The 70-year old Vicente is not in the best of health having suffered two strokes and Marikina is quite a distance from the Senate in Pasay City.

But he should have used his personal car, not the vehicle belonging to the Supreme Court,

Solar News reporter Albert Alicer and his crew caught on video Vicente riding in a beige Toyota Camry 1996 model with a red plate SEJ.953 after the impeachment hearings Tuesday evening. The vehicle turned out to be registered with the Supreme Court.

Corona brought cousin Demetrio Vicente home in SC car after trial court testimony

Published by Ellen on March 14, 2012

Solar News caught on video defense witness Demetrio Vicente being ferried home by a Supreme Court vehicle after his testimony at the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona Tuesday evening.

Inquirer apologizes to Vicente for the series of photos of him that they used in their Wednesday issue.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/161513/inquirer-apologizes-to-vicente-readers

Solar News video clips showed Vicente inside the beige Toyota Camry 1996 model with a red plate numbered SEJ.953. A red plate means it’s a government vehicle.

Solar News reporter Albert Alicer and his crew took the video of the vehicle as it was leaving the Senate premises.

Corona’s latest offer: I’ll resign but I keep everything I have

Published by Ellen on March 11, 2012

Benigno Aquino III, Renato Corona, Juan Ponce Enrile — Unfriendly meeting

I find the revelations of Chief Justice Renato Corona of the meetings that he had with President Aquino and other administration stalwarts very interesting. I just wish that he tells the complete story and not just be selective in his sharing with the public.

I also expect the same from Malacañang.

Corona disclosed the proposal of administration ally Sen. Teofisto Guingona for a term sharing with Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, which Guingona denies.

He should also disclose his counter-offers especially the latest ,made through a retired associate justice , that he was willing to resign on condition that he would keep everything that he owns now.
What Corona has only disclosed were his meetings with President Aquino and the Guingonas, father and son.

The Aquino-Corona meeting has been confirmed by Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda. It took place in July 2010, a few weeks after the latter was sworn into office by Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales, in the house of the President’s sister, Pinky Abellada.

Dinidiin ni Corona ang sarili

Published by Ellen on March 10, 2012

May kasabihan tayo na ang isda ay nahuhuli sa sariling bunganga.

Ganyan ang nangyari kay Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Itong nakaraang linggo, nag-media blitz siya. Pa-interview siya kaliwa’t kanan,mula umaga hanggang hapon. Palipat-lipat ng TV at radio stations.

Siguro ay preparasyon ito sa pagpresenta ng kanyang kampo ng mga ebidensya sa impeachment court mula Lunes. O baka naman dahil sa matindi ang dating ng pahayag ng mga kamag-anak na sina Ana Basa at ang 90-taong gulang na madre na si Sister Flory Basa tungkol sa gulo nila sa kanilang mga minanang ari-arian, naisip niya na kailangan din siya magsalita sa media.

Corona rattles the closet

Published by Ellen on March 8, 2012

Corona on the offensive — On the offensive

Talks of meeting Aquino on TruthCom

By Evangeline de Vera,Malaya

Chief Justice Renato Corona yesterday accused a senator-judge in the impeachment trial of lobbying for a term-sharing agreement between him and Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio.

On Day 2 of his media blitz, Corona said Sen. Teofisto Guingona III called him up sometime in March 2011 to propose that he retire early so that Carpio could take over, being the next most senior magistrate in the high court.

Corona also talked of a lunch meeting with President Aquino sometime in July 2010, or shortly after the President was sworn into office by retired Justice Conchita Carpio Morales.

Senate accepts Corona bank records as evidence

Published by Ellen on March 6, 2012

By Ryan Chua, ABS-CBN News

The Senate on Tuesday ruled that it will accept the bank records of Chief Justice Renato Corona with the Philippine Savings Bank submitted by the prosecution as evidence in the magistrate’s impeachment trial.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile also announced at a press conference following a caucus of senators that the impeachment court had denied the motion of Corona’s defense to suppress the bank accounts as evidence on the grounds that these were illegally acquired.

“As far as the evidence on bank records presented by the prosecution … (these) are accepted,” Enrile said. “So (we) have accepted the formal offer of evidence submitted by the prosecution panel.”

Waah vs Pweeh

Published by Ellen on March 2, 2012

Update: Senate decided not to detain Aguirre

miriam vs aguirre — Waah vs Pweeh (Thanks to Inquirer for photo)

The Corona impeachment trial has lived up to the expectation of many as another telenovela that would distract the people from the depressing reality of deteriorating peace and order, rising unemployment , unabated corruption and many more.

The Miriam Santiago-Vitaliano Aguirre fight was a fitting scene to end the prosecution’s presentation. Defense will start its presentation of witnesses on March 12.

Presiding Judge Juan Ponce-Enrile said they will discuss Tuesday next week the punishment that they would impose on Aguirre, one of the prosecution’s private lawyers, after he was cited for contempt for covering his ears while Santiago was berating the prosecution.

‘Wah’ happened! Miriam Santiago goes ballistic

Published by Ellen on March 1, 2012

Proposed punishment fro Aquirre:

Sotto, the majority leader, later told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that the senators would take up the penalty to be imposed on Aguirre in a caucus on Tuesday.

“I don’t know if this is serious or not but it is being suggested by Senators Francis Escudero and Panfilo Lacson that we place attorney Aguirre in a room in front of a television set playing the videotape of one of Miriam’s privilege speeches.”

By Cathy Yamsuan, Michael Lim Ubac, TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer

An irate Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago covers her ears during a tumultuous moment in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona on Wednesday after private prosecutor Vitaliano Aguirre III was caught on camera covering his ears as Santiago was berating the prosecution panel. Aguirre, who said his ears “were hurting,” was later cited in contempt for disrespect of a senator-judge.

Private prosecutor Vitaliano Aguirre had had enough of Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago and had the guts to stand up to her.