Calls for Corona to testify snowball in Senate

MANILA, Philippines – Calls for Chief Justice Renato Corona to testify before the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, gained ground on Wednesday, saying he is the only one who can best explain his bank accounts.

Chief Justice Renato Corona. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile, who led the calls in the Senate, assured Corona that he would be accorded due respect when he testifies in his own impeachment trial.

“Palagay ko he [Corona] might appear. He is the only one who can explain the bank accounts,” Enrile told reporters in the Senate.

“Hindi naman natin babastusin sya. Hindi naman naming papayagan na babastusin ang pinakamataas na mahistrado ng Pilipinas [We will not disrespect him. We will not allow anyone to disrespect the highest magistrate of this country],” he said.

Enrile believes that Corona’s appearance in the trial will expedite the proceedings.

“Kung sya lang, dalawang araw lang tapos yan. Siya ang principal witness [If it’s only him, then we can finish it in two days. He’s the principal witness],” he pointed out.

Senators Gringo Honasan, Serge Osmena III and Lito Lapid joined calls for Corona to testify in the trial.

“There are some issues that only the Chief Justice can answer. I think it will be good if he will face the issues squarely. This is just my humble opinion,” Honasan said in a separate interview.

“Considering how the trial has developed, it will be good for him to face the issues squarely,” he pointed out.

Osmena said: “Just my analysis, he is the best person to explain the entries and the living out of certain items in his SALN [statement of assets, liabilities and net worth]. Siguro pwede rin siyang magpadala ng kaniyang accountant [Maybe he can also send his accountant].”

Lapid said only Corona could answer whether he owned or not the bank accounts that were presented in the Senate.

“Dapat siya lang ang sasagot dapat dito sa mga tsekeng lumabas dito kung totoo o hindi [He should be the only one who should answer about these cheques whether they are true or not],” he said.

“Syempre sasagutin nya: Sa iyo ba talaga? Nag-withdraw ka ba ng P30 million noong December 12 pagkapasa ng impeachment?” Lapid further asked.

Lapid was referring to the prosecution’s allegation that the Chief Justice had withdrawn his multimillion-peso bank deposits on the day the impeachment case was formally transmitted to the Senate for trial.