Corona lawyers remain confident as prosecution evidence ‘crumble’

MANILA, Philippines – Chief Justice Renato Corona consistently disclosed his statement of assets, liabilities and networth (SALN) and has submitted the same documents before the clerk of court as required by law, a spokesman for his defense team reiterated Monday, ahead of the resumption of his impeachment trial before the Senate, acting as an impeachment court.

Corona is facing eight Articles of Impeachment, including the controversial Article 2, which alleges that he committed culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayed the public trust by supposedly failing to disclose his SALNs.

“It is clear that CJ Corona annually disclosed his assets, liabilities and net worth in his SALN and submitted the same to the Clerk of Court as required by law,” Jimeno said in a statement.

Defense Spokesman Rico Quicho also said in the same statement that the 45 properties the prosecution accused Corona of owning was a “total falsity” and “totally maligns the Chief Justice”, which he added, was “an object goal, which the prosecution seems bent on pursuing”. (The prosecution recently admitted that 45 properties in Taguig and Quezon City which was estimated at P200 million  may be trimmed to about 20 and that the 45 as reported did not come from them).

After 11 days of trial, another defense spokesman, lawyer Tranquil Salvador, described the trial as “slow but moving.”

He added: “[The Prosecution] has a host of witnesses and tons of documents. It has given the impression that it has not prepared for the trial since it has not stopped looking for evidence and has subpoenaed production of documents that are not important, much less relevant, including architectural plans and designs of the condominium units in question.”

Lawyer Mon Esguerra also of the defense stressed the importance of evidence in the trial. “Unearthing evidence during trial only worsens the situation for the Prosecution because appreciation of the evidence may be limited to discovery without connecting the same to the charges made…Without evidence, as we are seeing after 11 days, the deck of cards crumble,” he said.