Ombudsman is accuser, investigator, judge, executioner in cases—Corona

Former Chief Justice Renato Corona INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Former Chief Justice Renato Corona said on Thursday he had expected Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales to deny his appeal to reconsider her office’s ruling to indict him and his wife Cristina for allegedly amassing P130 million in ill-gotten wealth.

In a statement, Corona reminded that Morales had been a hostile witness in his Senate impeachment trial in 2012.

“What fairness could we have received from an Ombudsman who viciously prevaricated and testified against me as a malicious hostile witness during my sham and an estimated P6.5 billion peso (at the very least) bribe-laden impeachment trial in 2012?” Corona said.

He said Morales’ action “only proves that there was no possibility of getting justice from the present Ombudsman, who from the beginning, exhibited unusual hostility towards to me.”

“My right to due process was denied because here the Ombudsman is the accuser, complainant, prosecutor, investigator, judge and executioner, all rolled into one and the same ombudsman,” Corona said.

In her resolution issued Wednesday, Morales directed the immediate filing of forfeiture with the Sandiganbayan, along with sets of criminal information for eight counts of perjury and eight counts of violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Corona, in his statement, said he did not commit perjury if one was to study his Statements on Assets, Liabilities and Networth.

He also said there was “no proof of wealth beyond what I could truthfully earn from honest hard work of 45 years, invest and save, in addition to my and my wife’s family resources, and a frugal lifestyle.”

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