MANILA, Philippines— Former Manila mayor Lito Atienza has testified on the veracity of several documents showing that the wife of Chief Justice Renato Corona was authorized by a family-owned corporation to negotiate and accept payment for the sale of a P34 million property in Manila.
Corona claimed the money from the sale was the source of an P11-million loan that he declared in his statement of asset, liabilities, and net worth (SALN). The money was allegedly used by the Chief Justice to buy a property in La Vista, in Quezon City.
Atienza said he met with Corona’s wife, Cristina, a stockholder of the family-owned Basa-Guidote Enterprise Inc. (BGEI), to discuss the sale of the property located in Sampaloc, Manila. He said Mrs. Corona was accompanied by the Chief Justice.
“Nagkita kami for the first time…sa opisina ko po (We met for the first time in my office),” he said, responding to queries of defense lawyer Eduardo de los Angeles.
Asked by De los Reyes how Mrs. Corona introduced herself, “E sila nga raw po ang kinatawan, may-ari ng lupa at handa na silang makipag-usap (She said she’s the representative, owner of the lot and they were ready to negotiate).”
And to prove that she was authorized to represent the BGEI, Atienza said Mrs. Corona submitted a board resolution “stating very clearly” that the corporation board assigned a certain Cristina Corona to act for or on behalf of the company.
The board resolution also showed that Mrs. Corona was authorized to negotiate and accept payment from the Manila city government.
The defense lawyer then showed a document, which Atienza identified as the board resolution.
The board resolution was signed the corporate secretary, Asuncion Basa-Roco, on June 19, 1987.
On March 26, 2001, Atienza said a deed of absolute sale was signed between the Manila city government and the BGEI.
Atienza signed for the city government while Cristina Corona signed for the BGEI.
It was also Mrs. Corona, Atienza said, who received the payment of P34,703, 800 on June 5, 2001.
“Ang tumangap po ay si Cristina Corona (The one who received the money was Cristina Corona),” the former mayor said.