More witnesses from real estate firms set to take witness stand

MANILA, Philippines—The impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona resumed on Thursday, the 11th day since it started on January 16,  with witnesses from real estate firms expected to take the witness stand.

The prosecution team is expected to present representatives of Burgundy Realty Corporation , Filinvest Alabang Inc. and John Hay Management Corporation in connection with various properties that Corona and his family allegedly owned but were not declared in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

Corona’s alleged failure to disclose his SALN was one of eight articles of impeachment filed against him.

The last witness presented by the prosecution team Wednesday was the assistant vice president of Ayala Land, Nerissa Josef, who testified about a condominium unit in Makati City allegedly bought by Corona in 2003 for P3.5 million.

But the property, according to the prosecution team, was only reflected in the 2010 SALN of the Chief Justice and the amount that appeared under a current fair market value entry was only P1.2 million, not P3.5 million.