Coronas granted more time to reply

Ousted Chief Justice Renato Corona. AP/Aaron Favila

MANILA, Philippines—Prosecutors on Friday again granted a plea of ousted Chief Justice Renato Corona for more time to answer the P150-million tax evasion case filed against him.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) panel conducting a preliminary investigation if the case gave Corona, his daughter Ma. Carla, and her husband Constantino Castillo III 10 more days to answer the charges filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

Senior State Prosecutor Roseanne Balauag said the case would be submitted for resolution if the respondents again fail to file their counter-affidavits.

“The rules have been overly relaxed in this case,” said Balauag.

Corona did not attend the hearing and was represented by lawyer Anacleto Diaz. Diaz had sought an extra 30 days for Corona and 15 days for the Castillos to prepare their counter-affidavits.

He explained that he became their lawyer only on Oct. 1 and that he needed more time to go over the 323-page complaint filed by the BIR.