Corona ‘prayed’ and ‘thought deeply’ about decision to testify

Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato C. Corona. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Chief Justice Renato Corona “prayed solemnly” and “deeply thought” Monday night about testifying in his impeachment trial before he decided to inform his counsels of his decision, a spokesman for the defense said Tuesday.

Rico Paolo Quicho said Corona told the defense panel in a meeting early on Tuesday that he would clearly and directly answer the allegations being thrown against him as long as those people would testify under oath regarding their accusations.

He said that it was a “personal and voluntary decision of the Chief Justice” to testify.

“The bottomline here is Chief Justice Corona will answer all the allegations being thrown against him,” Quicho said.

Defense spokesperson Karen Jimeno said they never stated that Corona will not testify. She said they were just calculating when he would be brought to answer the issues which only he can answer.

She said that Corona would answer the allegations that he has $10 million in his bank account if the people making the allegations would testify to it in the trial.

Defense Spokesman Tranquil Salvador said that since Corona has expressed willingness to appear in the impeachment court it would be best to wait for him to personally take the witness stand and answer all allegations.

He said that Corona’s decision to testify not a sign that they were very confident that the prosecution would not be able to prove anything.

“Let us allow him to speak, and to answer the allegations,” Salvador said.