Corona bought P14.5M condo unit, says witness

MANILA, Philippines—A deed of absolute sale pertaining to a 303.5-square-meter condominium unit in Taguig City in the names of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona and wife, Cristina, was presented by a witness during the impeachment trial on Thursday.

The deed of absolute sale was among the documents brought to the Senate acting as an impeachment court by Randy Rutaquio, the register of deeds of Taguig City.

“The deed of absolute sale pertains to the so called Bellaggio…residences with Megaworld Corp. appearing as seller and with the espouses Cristina Corona and Renato Corona being the buyers,” said Cavite Representative Elpidio Barzaga, a member of the prosecution team.

The deed of sale, Barzaga said, covered one condominium unit with an area of 303.5 square meters and three parking slots with an area of 12.50 square meters each listed in separate condominium certificate of titles.

“For the record also, I would like to manifest that the selling price as indicated in this deed of absolute sale is P14,510,225,” said Barzaga.

“And further, I’d like to manifest that, in the SALN (statement of assets, liabilities and net worth) which was presented and identified, these Taguig properties were declared for the first time in the SALN of the respondent, Chief Justice Renato Corona, for the year 2010,” Barzaga added.

Corona’s lead counsel, former Supreme Court Associate Justice Serafin Cuevas, immediately moved to strike out Barzaga’s manifestations.

Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile, who was presiding over the trial, ruled in favor of Cuevas.