Justice Carpio denies owning Makati condo

Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Thursday denied owning a multimillion-peso condominium unit in Makati City.

“`I do not own the so-called 800 square meter penthouse unit with a swimming pool,” Carpio said in a letter sent to the Philipine Daily Inquirer.

A senior court official earlier told the Inquirer that Malacanang should also investigate Carpio’s alleged questionable acquisition of an 800-square meter unit atop Avignon Tower on HV De la Costa Street in Salcedo Village, Makati. Carpio is said to be Malacanang’s favored successor to impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona.

“My family owns one of the two units on the floor below the penthouse, and there is no swimming pool in our unit. Our unit is reported in my SALN,” he said.

Carpio said the Avignon Tower, a 23-year-old building, has been his residence even before he joined the Supreme Court.