Corona family hopes vile rhetoric vs late ex-CJ ends with Sandigan ruling

Former Chief Justice Renato Corona. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The family of late former chief justice Renato Corona has expressed hope that the unwarranted accusations against him will finally be put to rest as the Sandiganbayan already dismissed the forfeiture cases.

The family made a statement on Friday through their lawyer, Carlos Villaruz, expressing their relief and sense of vindication at the outcome of the forfeiture proceedings involving assets that Corona had failed to list on his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).

The anti-graft court junked the charges Thursday, November 3, and declared that those assets are not “unexplained wealth.”

“CJ Corona’s family has been in agony and suffered all these years because of these cases, and with the dismissal of this last case, they cannot help but feel vindicated since our courts have consistently ruled that CJ Corona and his family did nothing wrong,” Villaruz said.

“CJ Corona’s family already lost CJ Corona due to his early passing. They humbly and sincerely hope that all quarters will accept the decision of the Sandiganbayan, and that they now be allowed to live in peace, and that they no longer be subjected to hate, unwarranted accusations and the trauma of litigation,” he added.

Equally important to the Corona family was that the former chief justice be remembered for his efforts to uphold judicial independence.

“The family and various support groups of CJ Corona simply hope that he will be remembered for upholding judicial independence, the rule of law, and the delivery of justice to oppressed sectors of society. With this recent court decision, they are sure that CJ Corona is cheering and smiling in heaven,” Villaruz said.

“They thank God for this wonderful blessing, and to all those who joined them in prayer, and supported them during these difficult and heartbreaking times. They also give their utmost gratitude to the Honorable Justices of the Sandiganbayan who ensured that true justice and the rule of law would be upheld,” he added.

Corona was removed from office in December 2011 for failing to list assets totaling P180 million on his SALN. In May of 2012, while acting as an impeachment court, the Senate found Corona guilty.

READ: What Went Before: Corona wealth

“This dismissal is very special to the Corona Family. It has been 11 years since the impeachment proceedings, and 6 years since CJ Corona unfortunately passed away at the early age of 67. This is the last, among the numerous cases filed against them after the impeachment of CJ Corona,” Villaruz said.

“Again, CJ Corona’s family gives their profuse thanks to the Lord, whose Loving Hand is clearly present during trying times; their relatives, friends, supporters, and lawyers, who gave them the strength to prove CJ Corona’s and their innocence; and to the Philippine courts, which confirmed CJ Corona’s lack of culpability,” he added.

KGA/abc