Prosecution team summons SC clerk of court anew

MANILA, Philippines – The Clerk of Court of Supreme Court has been requested by the prosecution team to return and testify in the Senate in connection with the appointment of Chief Justice Renato Corona’s wife as president and chairman of government-owned John Hay Management Corporation (JHMC) in Baguio City.

In two separate requests, the prosecution team sought the appearance of Clerk of Court Enriqueta Esguerra-Vidal before the Senate along with pertinent documents; the original and certified true copy of the minutes of the meeting of the Judicial and Bar Council on April 21, 2010 and the certified true copy of 14 cases in court some of them involving former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The prosecution team said they requested the documents to prove that the JBC advised the Chief Justice about a conflict of interest relative to the appointment of his wife, Cristina and that she was appointed while there were pending cases involving Arroyo.

In a separate request for issuance of subpoena, the prosecution also sought the testimonies of two JHMC officials – Attorney Lyssa Pagano Calde and its corporate secretary, Marissa Bondoc.

The prosecution also requested Calde to bring with her the position papers prepared by the JHMC management May 29 and June 04, 2007 which allegedly “chronicles the serious irregularities committed by Mrs. Corona.”

Bondoc on the other hand was requested by the prosecution to bring with her at least 18 documents in connection with the circumstances surrounding the appointment of Coronas as head of JHMC in 2007.

“She (Bondoc) will testify on matters relative to the appointment of Mrs. Ma. Cristina R. Corona as member of the Board of Directors, election as president and chairperson of the JHMC,” said a four-page request for issuance of subpoena by the prosecution team.

“She will also authenticate the documents listed above and testify on the circumstances related to these documents,” it added.

The circumstances surrounding the appointment Corona’s wife was part of Article 3 of the impeachment complaint filed against the Chief Justice.

Article 3 provides Corona’s alleged failure “to meet and observe the stringent standards under the Constitution that provided that a member of the judiciary must be a person of proven competence, integrity, probity and independence in allowing the Supreme Court to act on mere letters filed by a counsel which caused the issuance of flip-flopping decisions in final and executory cases; in creating an excessive entanglement with Mrs. Arroyo through her appointment of his wife to office; and in discussing with litigants cases pending in the Supreme Court.”

The Supreme Court Clerk of Court first appeared in the Senate as a witness in Article 2 pertaining to Corona’s alleged failure to disclose his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth.