Aquino aides unimpressed by Corona testimony

President Benigno S. Aquino III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Chief Justice Renato Corona may have been so moved by his own testimony that he  came close to breaking down twice but two aides of President Benigno Aquino appeared unimpressed on Wednesday.

“We remain firm that Chief Justice Corona failed to controvert the evidence against him in his opening speech,”  Abigail Valte, one of Aquino’s spokespersons, said in a text message.

“Nonetheless, we will wait if he submits himself to cross-examination so the truth will come out,” she added.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, on the other hand, would not comment directly on Corona’s condition that Senator Franklin Drilon and the 188 signatories of the impeachment complaint waive their rights under the bank secrecy law before he opens his accounts for scrutiny by the impeachment tribunal.

“We expected the chief justice to be cross-examined yesterday so that the truth will come out but instead, truth suffered a lockdown,” Lacierda said.