Evidence of irregularity on Basa-Guidote property sale ‘irrelevant’–Santiago

Cristina Corona INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago dismissed as “irrelevant” in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona evidence tending to prove any irregularity in the sale of a P34 million property owned by the Basa-Guidote Enterprise Inc. (BGEI).

BGEI was owned by the family of Corona’s wife, Cristina.

“Applying the test of relevancy, and under the principle of criminal due process, I humbly submit that any evidence tending to prove any irregularity in the sale of BGEI property to the City of Manila would be irrelevant to impeachment proceedings over the alleged omissions in the SALN of the defendant,” Santiago said in a statement on Monday.

“Evidence on alleged irregularities should be presented to the Solicitor General for litigation in court,” she said.

Besides, Santiago noted the fact that Corona did not conceal the sale of the property to the Manila government when he reflected in his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth an P11-million cash advance he made from the company.

The senator said that Corona did not only include the purchase price of the property because Cristina Corona apparently received it from the City of Manila in “trust for the corporation”.

“The 1994 SALN form did not require the declaration of trust arrangements.  Subsequently, the 2006-07 SALN Manual required the declaration of assets held in trust but the Civil Service Commission has deferred the application of this Manual,” Santiago said.