Morales submits report on Corona dollar deposits to House speaker

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales. ALEX NUEVAESPAÑA/PRIB/SENATE POOL

MANILA, Philippines—Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales furnished Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. a copy of her fact-finding report on Chief Justice Renato Corona’s alleged unexplained wealth ahead of her testimony at his impeachment trial, saying she hoped this could be used in another impeachment complaint.

“Four to five people went to my house on Friday,” Belmonte said, explaining that they could not have taken it to the House of Representatives that day because they were closed on Fridays. The report consisted of voluminous documents, he added.

House majority leader Neptali Gonzales II explained that the report was turned over to the House of Representatives because they had the sole authority to initiate an impeachment complaint after the one year ban. “That’s the only reason it was turned over to Speaker.”

Belmonte brought the sealed report over to the House of Representatives on Monday afternoon for official turnover, and only then did he open it and ask Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales III to read its contents.

“I wasn’t that curious. I knew the proper place for this was here (Senate),” Belmonte said when asked why he did not take a look at the report. “I read the cover letter. Boyet (Gonzales) read the report.”

Morales testified at the impeachment court last Monday afternoon that Corona had $12 million in accounts in five banks. She said she obtained the information from documents from the Anti-Money Laundering Council.

Belmonte and Gonzales said they believed the Ombudsman’s turnover of the report was for the possible filing of another impeachment complaint against Corona this year. Belmonte said he did not ask for such a report from Morales.

“Presumably, while the Ombudsman can’t file a criminal case, they can refer a case for the initiation of impeachment proceedings. Obviously, any impeachment starts at the House. That’s the only reason why this was turned over to the speaker, who is the sole authority to initiate an impeachment proceeding, in the event the one year ban is lifted,” Gonzales said.

There were details in the report that were not included in the current impeachment complaint, and could form the basis for the filing of another one, he added.

He told reporters to ask Morales herself if she submitted the report to Belmonte so the House prosecutors would have an idea what she would testify on.

“The speaker opted to keep quiet about it. Otherwise we might be preempting the Ombudsman,” Gonzales said.

The report summarized the salaries of Corona and his wife Cristina, and the wealth that the chief justice accumulated over the years, including at least $10-million in foreign deposits and more than P200 million peso accounts, based on documents from AMLC and complaints of several individuals, Gonzales said.

Gonzales added besides information from the AMLC, there was also the complaint filed by former Akbayan Representative Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel and Akbayan Representative Walden Bello, and a dissertation on the results of the investigation.

Gonzales said there was also data on peso accounts and information which indicated that the Corona couple’s bank accounts held cash that was “grossly disproportionate” to their income.

“It was a sort of lifestyle check,” Gonzales said.

Belmonte and Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada maintained that the defense has presented testimonial and documentary evidence sufficient to convict Corona, and that Morales’ testimony only “added” evidence on his non-declaration of assets.

“I’m wondering why it’s the chief justice who’s asking for the resignation of the Ombudsman,” Gonzales said. “The one who’s asking for it should be the first to resign.”

Belmonte said that if it was true Corona had $12 million in banks, then “He’s rich.”

“This is the endgame. I read somewhere that he’s going to take the stand in two days’ time,” Belmonte said.

“Maybe there’s another Renato Corona,” Belmonte said when asked if Corona could dispute the AMLC documents.

Gonzales interjected: “This could be from Basa-Guidote Enterprises.’’

Representative Erin Tañada said the source of the Ombudsman’s information on Corona’s dollar accounts should not be an issue.

The AMLC tracks the movements of money in the banking system, from P500,000 above or its equivalent in dollars, Tañada said. “What we have now is that Corona has dollar deposits circulating in the banking system. The question is, ‘Is this declared in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth’?”  With a report from Karen Boncocan, INQUIRER.net