SC exec, 12 others summoned as Corona impeachment trial resumes

Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato C. Corona leaves the Session Hall at the Senate after the impeachment trial proceedings on Monday. INQUIRER/NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — Thirteen witnesses, including the Supreme Court clerk of court, were subpoenaed by the Senate impeachment court to testify this Wednesday on the properties allegedly owned by Chief Justice Renato Corona.

“Para sa araw na ito, 13 po ang nabigyan namin ng subpoena para mag appear ngayon [13 persons were subpoenaed to appear today],” impeachment court spokesperson Valentina Cruz said in an interview over radio.

“Hindi po natin alam kung makakarating po silang lahat pero 13 po ang naka schedule for today [We don’t know if they will all attend the trial but 13 are scheduled for today],” Cruz added.

Aside from Supreme Court Clerk of Court Enriqueta Esguerra-Vidal, six city assessors and register of deeds of Marikina City, Quezon City, Taguig City, Makati City, Pasay City and Paranaque City were subpoenaed to attend this Wednesday’s resumption of trial.

“We have issued and served the subpoena to 13 persons,” said lawyer Kenneth Kampal of the Office of the Senate legal counsel.

It was the prosecution team who requested the appearances of the 13 witnesses in relation to the properties being linked to the Chief of Justice.

The prosecutors also requested Vidal to bring with her the sworn statement of assets, liabilities and net worth of Corona from 2002 to 2011 and the city assessors and register of deeds to bring documents pertaining to the Chief Justice’s alleged properties.