Ombudsman Morales to testify at Corona trial if summoned

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales will take the witness stand in the impeachment trial of her former colleague, Chief Justice Renato Corona, and would bare all that is necessary about her request for him to answer allegations about his alleged $10-million dollar account.

Morales on Wednesday told reporters that she would heed the Senate’s subpoena to appear in the trial once she receives it.

“If I am subpoenaed by the Senate, I will obey the Senate,” Morales told reporters as she walked along Agham Road for the Office of the Ombudsman’s indignation march against corruption, which is among the activities for the agency’s 24^th anniversary.

“It is just right for a citizen to obey the orders of duly constituted authorities,” she added.

The request of Corona’s camp to subpoena the Ombudsman was made after it came to light that she had asked him to respond to allegations that he had $10 million in foreign currency accounts that were supposedly disproportionate to his income.

Corona had denied having $10 million in his accounts in the media, and had also said the Ombudsman has no jurisdiction over him.

Morales on Wednesday said there were three complaints filed against Corona with her office and the Ombudsman’s mandate is to evaluate these to see if they can give leads to charges. It was also her mandate to ask Corona to respond to these complaints if she believes that there is a need for further investigation.

“If the Ombudsman believes that after evaluating the complaints and the supporting documents, that there is ground to conduct further—I want to emphasize the word further—investigation, then we notify the respondents, the impeachable official to answer or comment on the complaint,” she said.

Under the law, the respondent should submit an answer within 72 hours from receipt of the Ombudsman’s directive.

Asked if the $10-million figure came from the complainants, Morales said to wait for her testimony before the Senate.

“Just wait when I should appear before the Senate. I will tell everything there that is material and relevant to my request for the CJ to answer,” she said.

She also said that as of Tuesday, Corona has filed no answer to the complaints. She added that he may have sent one by mail and if he did, it might still be on the way to the agency.

Corona has been impeached and is facing trial for, among others, failing to declare several properties and accounts in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth.

The prosecution’s earlier attempt to look into Corona’s foreign currency accounts was thwarted after the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order that stopped the Senate from compelling the Philippine Savings Bank to disclose the records of his dollar deposits.