Prosecution: Corona yet to answer allegations

Chief Justice Renato Corona. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Members of the House prosecution panel on Tuesday said that Chief Justice Renato Corona has not answered allegations in his speech.

An hour into the chief magistrate’s speech, spokesman for the prosecution Marikina Representative Romero Quimbo said that Corona has still not shed light on his alleged unexplained wealth.

Oriental Mindoro Representative Reynaldo Umali said that such a statement in the impeachment trial was not in accordance with court rules.

He said that in other court trials, such a speech would not be allowed. However, he declined to comment on the chief magistrate’s emotional speech.

Corona declined to comment on Corona’s statement that the prosecution’s allegations were lies, telling reporters to wait for the cross examination.

Aurora Representative Juan Edgardo Angara meanwhile saw the speech as an effort to gain public sympathy.