Corona turns tables on Morales, claims she wanted higher retirement pay

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales. SENATE POOL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Chief Justice Renato Corona turned the tables on Friday on Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales and disclosed that he had rejected a request by Morales for a huge retirement pay – a claim the ombudsman denied.

“Humihingi po sya [Carpio-Morales] ng isang napakalaking [She was asking for a huge] budget for her retirement. E sabi ko hindi naman yan ang [But I told her that that wasn’t the] usual budget the Supreme Court,” he said.

Corona said he could no longer remember the Ombudsman’s request but said it was at least twice the regular P500,000 to P600,000.

He clarified however that it was not the Ombudsman who personally made the request but the clerk of court.

“Not personally po. Hindi naman si Justice Morales ang pumunta sa opisina ko at sinasabing mo ako ng ganitong budget. In fairness to her, hindi naman po [She didn’t go to me personally. Justice Morales didn’t go to my office and demanded the budget. In fairness to her, no],” Corona said.

“Actually ang nagsabi sakin yung Clerk of Court at siguro doon na dinadaan sa clerk of court yung hiling nya sa akin [Actually, the one who told me was the clerk of court. And maybe she coursed her request through the clerk of court.]

“Hindi ko sya napagbigyan. Binigay ko lang po sa kanya yung level na binibigay sa retiring justice kasi hindi ko naman po maintindihan kung bakit special budget yung sa kanya na hindi naman nae-enjoy ng ibang justice [I wasn’t able to accede to her request. I merely gave her the level that is being given to a retiring justice because I don’t understand why she should have a special budget that the other justices won’t enjoy],” Corona added.

In a press conference by Morales held simultaneously with Corona’s testimony, the ombudsman flatly denied his allegation.

Morales testified as a hostile witness for the defense in the ongoing trial of Corona who has been charged with misdeclaring his statement of assets, liabilities and networth (SALN).

Quoting the Anti-Money Laundering Council, Morales, in her testimony before the Senate, said that Corona had multiple dollar accounts, which the chief justice denied.