Palace: Corona indictment validates our ‘fact-based’ position

Ousted Chief Justice Renato C. Corona. SENATE POOL FILE PHOTO

Malacañang on Friday said the Sandiganbayan’s finding of probable cause to put on trial former Chief Justice Renato Corona for perjury and false declaration in his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN) only affirmed its long-standing position and the latter’s impeachment.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Corona’s indictment proved that their claims were not based on sheer animosity, but on facts.

“That our belief then has been validated now by the fact of the indictment. It shows that our position has always been grounded on facts and not blind animosity against the former chief justice Corona as he would have the public believe,” Valte said.

READ: I now accept the calvary we endured—Corona

Communications Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma, meanwhile, said the grounds for Corona’s indictment were the same merits that led to his conviction.

“We note that the indictment is based on the same offense that merited the former CJ’s conviction in the impeachment trial. Let the ends of justice be served,” Coloma said.

On Thursday, Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang said the court voted 4-1 to dismiss Corona’s motion for judicial determination of probable cause to put him on trial.

“There is probable cause that he has committed the crime… My recollection is that there are certain properties that he failed to include in his SALN for a number of years based on the documents submitted,” Tang said.

Corona was charged with eight counts of perjury and eight counts of violation of Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

READ: Court finds probable cause to try Corona for perjury

Corona, who is also facing a P130-million forfeiture case before the anti-graft court, was impeached by Congress in 2012 for false declarations in his SALN. He was described by President Aquino as a midnight appointee of former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Yuji Vincent Gonzales