Defense mulls calling Corona to witness stand

Chief Justice Renato Corona. INQUIRER PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – The defense said Monday they were still studying if they would call Chief Justice Renato Corona to the witness stand.

“We believe that [the prosecution] has not proven any impeachable offense,” defense panel spokesperson Tranquil Salvador said.

He said the alleged $10 million deposit being brought out in the public over the past several days was meant to bait them into calling Corona to the witness stand.

He said Corona was ready to testify anytime but was leaving the final call to his defense lawyers.

The issue of Corona’s alleged $10 million deposits was only being raised to force him to testify “if only to deny it,” Salvador said.

“This was not subject of the presentation of the prosecution,” he said.

He added that this was like the issue of the 45 properties that surfaced on the days before the impeachment trial began.

“We vehemently deny this. The Chief Justice has already said that there is no $10 million,” Salvador said.

He said that he personally would want to have Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales testify on the alleged $10 million deposit issue to clarify the matter.

It’s already being discussed in public but the details are not very clear, that was why the ombudsman should personally set the record straight, he said.