Corona bares alleged Palace plan to freeze accounts

MANILA, Philippines – Chief Justice Renato Corona bared on Friday an alleged plan by Malacanang to freeze his bank accounts.

Testifying before the Senate, acting as an impeachment court, Corona said he withdrew his money from the Philippine Savings Banks on Dec. 12, 2011 or the day he was impeached in the House of Representatives after receiving information of Malacanang’s alleged moved to freeze his accounts.

“Sasabihin ko po sa inyo ang totoo. Kasi marami pa rin maman po aking naiwang kaibigan at kumpa-kumpare sa Malacanang. Ilan po sa kanila ang tumawag sa kain. Ipi-freeze daw ang mga deposits namin [I will tell you the truth. I still have a lot of friends in Malacanang. Some of them called to tell me that our deposits would be frozen],” he said, responding to Senator Francis Pangilinan’s query.

“Palagay ko kung kayo po ay nasa kalagayan ko, palagay ko ganun din ang gagawin nyo. Panganagalagaan din ninyo yung pinaghirapan nyo sa buogn buhay ninyo at yung mga perang hindi naman sa inyo [I think  if you were in my place, you will do the same. You will also protect what you’ve worked hard for all your life and the money that doesn’t belong to you],” Corona said.

Corona admitted having $2.4 million in four banks and about P80.7 million in “co-mingled” funds in three accounts.