‘Small lady’ source of bank records, says prosecution team member

MANILA, Philippines–A small lady was pointed by the prosecution team as the alleged source of certain bank records attached in a pleading they filed before the Senate last week.

Oriental Mindoro Representative Reynaldo Umali, a member of the prosecution team, told the Senate on Monday that Chief Justice Renato Corona’s alleged identification and specimen signature cards in Philippine Savings Bank were handed to him by the lady last Thursday.

“I couldn’t actually recall what particular instance that this document was given to me,” Umali said, responding to queries of Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero.

“I could recall a small lady but I couldn’t remember at all who this person was because it was just handed to me and I was on the way out,” Umali added.

Escudero said whoever released the documents violated the secrecy of bank deposits law, explaining that the documents came up even before the Senate granted the prosecution team’s request to subpoena the bank records of Corona from Philippine Savings Bank branch in Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City, and Bank of Philippine Islands branch in Makati City.

Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile, the presiding officer, explained that the Senate’s decision was simply to authorize the issuance of subpoena to bank officials and documents but whether those evidence subpoenaed were “visible evidence” would still be resolved by the chamber sitting as an impeachment court.