MANILA, Philippines – A veteran journalist and other staff members of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism have been requested to appear before the Senate by the defense team to “disprove any alleged willful omission” of entries in the statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth of Chief Justice Renato Corona.
Those requested by Corona’s lawyers to attend before his impeachment trial in the Senate were Malou Mangahas, executive director of PCIJ, its research director, Karol Anne Ilagan and the cameraman or crew of PCIJ.
In a six-page request for subpoena filed last Friday, the defense team also requested Mangahas to bring with her copies of SALNs, letters, requests and other documents she mentioned in several articles posted on the PCIJ website and a copy of video used for her article “Who shall cast the first stone?”
Ilagan was also requested to bring with her pertinent documents and videos pertaining to news articles “SC Justice, Ombudsman, House keep SALN Secret” and “House of Secrets” also posted on the PCIJ website.
The cameraman or crew members were likewise asked to bring with them the video of said stories.
“CJ Corona believes that the testimony of Malou Mangas, Karol Anne M. Ilagan and the cameraman/men/crew, all from the PCIJ, together with the above requested documents and video, will disprove any alleged willful omission of the entries in his SALN and likewise show good faith in filling up the same,” said Corona’s lawyers.