Corona to testify on $10M deposit, lawyer tells impeach court

Jose Roy III

MANILA, Philippines – Chief Justice Renato Corona will testify in his own impeachment trial if the $10 million bank deposit allegation against him will be brought before the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, his lawyer said on Tuesday.

But Corona’s lawyer, Jose Roy III, asked the Senate to first subpoena Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales and the complainants in a case filed against the Chief Justice before the Office of the Ombudsman pertaining to the $10 million deposit he allegedly owned.

Among the complainants the defense wants put on the stand are Congressman Walden Bello and former Akbayan Partylist Representative Risa Hontiveros.

“I would like to put on record now, that once these witnesses have put on record what they have to state under oath, we will present evidence to contradict, deny and rebut them through the testimony of the Chief Justice,” Roy said.

“Now, we request that the subpoena be issued forthwith and that all the witnesses be heard first in order to avoid the staggered appearance on the part of the chief magistrate,” he said.

“We are ready to meet this issue head on,” Roy added.

And when Senate President and presiding officer Juan Ponce-Enrile asked if the Chief Justice was also willing to answer other issues pertaining to his alleged other peso and dollar accounts that were raised in the trial, the defense lawyer said, “When the Chief Justice testifies, these questions can be propounded.”

“We’re happy that you’re now cooperating with us,” Enrile asked.

Roy immediately clarified that Corona’s appearance in the trial was not conditional.

“[It’s] not conditional, I wish to make that clear,” he said.

“But he himself assessed the evidence against him and unless this particular matter is not raised formally under oath, he feels there would be really no need to testify to address the other issues. But if this particular matter is raised, then he would feel compelled to confront it directly also under oath.”

Asked again by Enrile if Corona would testify if the Senate would subpoena the Ombudsman and the complainants in the $10 million deposit, Roy said, “We will present the Chief Justice. Yes, yes, definitely.”