Witness in Corona impeach gives birth; Senate OKs substitute

Leonora Dizon, bank manager of a Bank of the Philippine Islands branch, takes an oath before beginning her testimony as a witness in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona at the Senate on February 9, 2012. AFP

MANILA, Philippines – A witness who was expected to testify on the peso bank documents of Chief Justice Corona at the resumption of his trial Wednesday failed to appear because she gave birth earlier in the day, the lead prosecutor said.

Iloilo Representative Niel Tupas’ announcement on Leonora Dizon, branch manager of the bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) on Ayala Avenue, was confirmed by the bank’s representative Rosario Jurado-Benedicto who said that Dizon gave birth at 7:45 a.m.

Benedicto said Dizon’s replacement has not arrived.

Tupas said that Dizon submitted the documents regarding the monthly statement of accounts of Corona’s BPI peso account.

Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile then asked the senator-judges if they would welcome a substitute witness.

Senator Franklin Drilon, who specifically requested the recall of Dizon, confirmed that he was amenable to another witness so long as he or she could answer questions pertaining to the monthly statement of accounts.

Lead defense counsel former Associate Justice Serafin Cuevas questioned the recall of Dizon and the subpoena for the monthly statements of  account of Corona’s bank account. However, Enrile said that Senator Drilon still has pending questions regarding the bank account in question.