Palace aide questions timing of Corona bank accounts closure

MANILA, Philippines—A Palace aide on Friday said she found it fishy that Chief Justice Renato Corona closed three time deposit accounts with the Philippine Savings Bank and withdrew P32.6 million on same the day the House of Representatives impeached him.

Abigail Valte, a spokesperson of President Aquino, would not say if the multimillion-peso withdrawal was a sign of guilt but said it was something that definitely needs explanation.

“Well the timing is certainly suspicious,” Valte said during Friday’s news briefing in Malacañang.

Valte also recalled that the signing of the articles of impeachment happened on Dec. 12, a Monday, “but (on) Sunday, the court administrator had already released a statement denouncing the impeachment that has not yet happened.”

“So the timing is certainly suspect, which was also stated by Sen. (Jinggoy) Estrada on the floor and it is something again that would have to be explained by the defense,” Valte said.