Aquino says Corona should go, cites case of Davao court clerk fired over SALN

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III said Thursday impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona should be held to the same standards that led to the dismissal from the government service of a court interpreter in 1997.

It is clear, President Aquino said at a “townhall meeting” with students in La Consolacion College, that Corona’s declarations in his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth were not consistent with the evidence presented in his impeachment court by the Senate.

Aquino said a court employee was dismissed in 1997 after she failed to declare in her SALN her ownership of a stall in a public market.

“Maliwanag pa po sa sikat ng araw: Ginoong Corona, ang sinumpaan mong salaysay ay hindi tugma sa natuklas na pag-aari mo. Maski saang paaralan po sa buong mundo, 3.5 million does not equal 31.5 million. Alin po ba ang totoo, Ginoong Corona? [It is clearer than sunlight: Mr. Corona, your sworn statement does not match the properties that have been revealed are owned by you. In any school in the whole world, 3.5 million does not equal 31.5 million. So what is true, Mr Corona?] the president said.

“Bago po kayo naitalaga sa Supreme Court, may isang kaso noong 1997 na Rabe versus Flores. Tungkol ito sa Court interpreter mula sa Davao RTC na hindi idineklara ang pagmamay-ari niyang puwesto sa palengke, kung saan nakakatanggap siya ng renta. Dahil sa paglabag niya sa RA 6713 o ang Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, nirekomenda ng Office of the Court Administrator na sisantehin si Delsa Flores. Nawala sa kanya ang kabuhayang pinagkukunan ng suweldo at benepisyo,” he added.

“Kung si Ginang Flores po ay sinisante, ano po kaya ang dapat hatol kay Ginoong Corona? Kailangan pa po bang tanungin kung impeachable offense ang ginawa niya?” Mr. Aquino said.

Some senator-judges have asked whether inconsistencies in Corona’s SALNs were enough of an offense to merit his removal from office.