Quitting won’t save Corona from suit – Palace

Undersecretary Abigail Valte. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Neither resignation nor retirement will grant immunity to Chief Justice Renato Corona, nor any other government official, from whatever suit may arise from the evidence presented against him in his impeachment trial, Malacañang said on Thursday.

Abigail Valte, one of President Benigno Aquino III’s spokespersons, made that statement in the wake of a reported suggestion by a cardiologist that Corona retire because of his health.

“Public officials are not immune from suit even after retirement, or even after resignation,” Valte said in at Thursday’ regular Palace news briefing.

Corona, together with his doctor, vowed to appear at the impeachment trial on Friday.

Lead defense lawyer Serafin Cuevas broke the news to reporters at The Medical City hospital in Pasig City when asked if the chief magistrate will reappear to continue his testimony.

Cuevas had just visited Corona when reporters interviewed him.

Although Corona was “incoherent” and hooked up to a dextrose intravenous drip, Cuevas said the chief justice will be present at the trial on Friday.

Son confirms

The Chief Justice’s son, musician Francis “Frank” Corona, confirmed Cuevas’ announcement.

“Whatever Justice Cuevas said is what my father said to him,” Francis said in a text message to INQUIRER.net.

However, contrary to what Cuevas earlier said of Corona being “incoherent,” Francis said his father is in a stable condition.

“He is getting better already.” With reports from Kristine Felisse Mangunay, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Tetch Torres, INQUIRER.net