Palace: Corona on the brink of conviction

Ronald Llamas. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Chief Justice Renato Corona is “on the brink of conviction,” President Benigno Aquino III’s political adviser said a day after the impeached magistrate walked out of his trial without being excused by the Senate impeachment court.

Ronald Llamas, presidential adviser on political affairs, also took exception to Corona’s claim that he held a considerable influence on Mr. Aquino and that his leftist colleagues were about to take over the government.

“What he refuses to accept is that he stands on the brink of conviction, and possibly further prosecution because of his own actions,” Llamas said in a text message to the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

“While I suppose I should be flattered that he attributed so much influence to me, which is so untrue, the obvious motivation behind that statement is to once again attribute the dire straits he finds himself in to a supposed conspiracy,” he added.

Undersecretary Abigail Valte, President Aquino’s deputy spokesperson, expressed confidence in the prosecution evidence.

“We remain firm that Chief Justice Corona failed to controvert the evidence against him in his opening speech,” Valte said in a text message to reporters.

“Nonetheless, we still wait if he submits himself to cross-examination so the truth will come out,” she added.

Truth lock down

Malacañang didn’t directly comment on Corona’s dare for Senator Franklin Drilon and the 188 House members who signed the impeachment complaint to sign a waiver of their rights under the bank secrecy law before he allows scrutiny of his own bank accounts particularly his dollar deposits.

Asked about the administration’s reaction to Corona’s challenge, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said, “We expected the Chief Justice to be cross-examined yesterday so that the truth will come out but instead the truth suffered a lock down.”

Uncorroborated testimony

Prosecution spokespersons said they were waiving their right to cross-examine Corona because they were confident they have presented enough evidence to convict him, particularly on their charge he had $10 million to $12 million in bank accounts.

Representative Juan Edgardo Angara said: “The only evidence presented by the defense on the dollar accounts are what can be called self-serving and uncorroborated testimony. It is self-serving and not supported by any document or any witness testimony.”

But the minority bloc in the House believes Corona will be acquitted in view of the strong influence of the bloc-voting religious group, Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), on the senator-judges who are either seeking reelection or whose kin are running for office in the 2013 midterm elections.

“We expect the Chief Justice to hurdle the Senate trial mainly because the INC is on his side. The senator-judges cannot ignore the power and influence of the INC in the elections,” said House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez in an interview with reporters.

No choice but resign

Roan Libarios, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, called on Corona to return to the witness stand.

“If he will willfully defy the Senate, he should better resign. He has no other choice because he would then no longer be the embodiment of the rule of law,” Libarios said in an interview. With reports from Philip C. Tubeza, Gil C. Cabacungan and  Leila B. Salaverria

Originally posted: 11:13 pm | Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012