Senators who convicted Corona got P50-M ‘incentive,’ says Estrada

Former Chief Justice Renato Corona. SENATE POOL

MANILA, Philippines – Senators who voted to convict former Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona in 2012 were allegedly allotted P50-million “incentive,” Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada said on Wednesday.

“After the conviction of the former Chief Justice, those who voted to convict Renato Corona were allotted an additional P50 million as provided in a private and confidential letter memorandum of the then chairman of the Senate finance committee,” Estrada said in a privilege speech.

The head of the finance committee then was Senator Franklin Drilon, now the incumbent Senate president.

“Saan galing ang pinamigay na pondo? I am sure alam ni [Budget] Secretary [Florencio] Abad ang sagot sa tanong na ito. At sigurado din ako na hindi unilateral decision ni Senate President Drilon ang pamimigay ng P50 million kada senador,” Estrada added.

(Where was the fund sourced? I am sure Secretary Florencio Abad knows the answer to this. And I am very sure that this was not a unilateral decision of Senate President Drilon.)

Estrada,   who was among the 20 senators who voted to convict Corona, did not say whether he accepted the amount.

“I maintain however, Mr. President that I stand by my decision in my vote to convict the former Chief Justice and assure our people that I was never influenced by this incentive which came after the fact,” he pointed out.

Estrada then urged Abad to disclose all “additional”  “rewards” and “bribes” being given to legislators.

He said Abad’s office’s silence on the PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund issue was “puzzling.”