Corona dare to Drilon, 188 solons a ‘diversionary tactic’—House leader

House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II

MANILA, Philippines – Chief Justice Renato Corona’s dare to Senator Franklin Drilon and the 188 congressmen to sign a waiver like him on their bank accounts was a diversionary tactic to shift focus away from him, a leader at the House of Representatives said Wednesday.

Congressman Neptali Gonzales Jr. said it was clear that the challenge was meant “para ilayo ang issue sa kanya papunta sa 188 congressmen at Senator Drilon [to veer focus away from him to the 188 congressmenr and Senator Drilon] and turn the tide.”

Gonzales stressed that it had “nothing to do with the impeachment” but admitted that “he [Corona] has succeeded [in diverting focus from him]” after being repeatedly asked by reporters whether he would sign a waiver.

The waiver which Corona presented before the Senate, acting as impeachment court, Tuesday during his testimony and which would have led to the opening of his bank accounts wasn’t valid since it came with a condition, he said.

He said that personally, he chose not to respond “not because takot kami [we’re afraid] but in doing so we are giving credence [to the challenge]” and allowing Corona to divert attention from the proceedings.

Gonzales refused to say whether he would sign a waiver, saying that they would address the issue at a later time.

Instead he asked how Corona could task his accountants to look into bank accounts that he claimed were not his.

“Why was he allowed by banks to examine [the accounts]? Once upon a time those were his, otherwise di niya malalaman yun [he wouldn’t know them].”