Bishops welcome Corona decision to testify at impeachment trial

Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo. INQUIRER photo

MANILA, Philippines – Several Catholic bishops on Wednesday welcomed Chief Justice Renato Corona’s decision to appear at his impeachment trial and shed light on his alleged $10 million in foreign currency deposits.

Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo said Wednesday “it was good” that the embattled chief justice was finally testifying so that “people can now [hear] his side of the story from him.”

“That is a very good development so that he can explain his ill-gotten wealth and can be cross-examined,” Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes told reporters on Wednesday.

Bastes also warned the chief justice against backing out, saying that it would only fan suspicion against him if he changed his mind.

“We will become suspicious if he backs out,” said Bastes.

During the impeachment trial on Tuesday, defense lawyer Jose Roy III informed the Senate that Corona would be among several other defense witnesses to be presented to dispute allegations pertaining to his peso and dollar deposits.

Roy said Corona has decided to appear in his own trial, despite the opposition by lead defense counsel Serafin Cuevas, because he was already “outraged” by accusations that he had illegally amassed wealth.

Marbel Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez also said it was good that Corona was taking the witness stand “because it’s the right of the accused to be heard.”

“Personally, I welcome that decision… we will watch what will come up [from his testimony],” said Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez.