Party list files forfeiture case vs impeached chief justice

MANILA, Philippines—The Akbayan partylist group  filed a forfeiture case against Chief Justice Renato Corona on Thursday, saying he could not have amassed his multi-million peso properties and other assets on his government salary.

Akbayan Representative Walden Bello filed a complaint affidavit against Corona at the Office of the Ombudsman, alleging that the chief of the Supreme Court misdeclared and hid the real value of his assets throughout the years.

“Corona earns a basic salary of P91,226.00. Even assuming that he has served as chief justice for a decade, he would not be able afford properties worth almost P50M nor maintain bank accounts worth some P31M at one particular point,”  Bello said.

“Hindi nakakagulat na hindi ito mapaliwanag ni Corona, kasi kung magkano lang naman ang sinusweldo niya, pa’no nga ba naman s’ya yayaman ng ganoon (It is not surprising that Corona cannot explain this because how could he have enriched himself so much on his salary)?” he added.

Bello noted that the government should confiscate Corona’s “unexplained wealth,” estimated to be worth P78 million.

The Akbayan official also urged the Office of the Ombudsman to seize properties under the name of Corona’s immediate family members. The chief justice used his relatives to hide his assets, Bello said.