MANILA, Philippines—Chief Justice Renato Corona described as part of mind conditioning the Social Weather Station survey that showed that six out of 10 Filipinos believed he had hidden wealth.
The survey, which was conducted from March 10 to 13 and whose results came out on Monday, said that 63 percent of Filipinos agreed that the Chief Justice had hidden wealth based on the reported assets not reflected in his statement of assets, liabilities and networth, or SALN.
Corona is being tried by the Senate impeachment court following his impeachment by the Lower House. He is accused of, among others, underdeclaring his SALN and favoring former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in cases involving her administration. Arroyo appointed him as Chief Justice a month before her term ended.
“It’s part of black propaganda and mind conditioning. Lahat naman ng expose nila puro (All of their exposes are) black propaganda. What more have they not invented against me?” the Chief Justice said in a text message sent to reporters.
“Tawanan na lang natin (Let’s just laugh it off. (There is) nothing we can do about it. Kasama sa (It’s part of) psywar, I guess,” he said.
The impeachment trial is set to resume on May 7 after a Lenten break of over a month.