Chief Justice Renato Corona waiver, walkout ‘insult with injury’: Palace

Chief Justice Renato Corona “compounded insult with injury” when he signed a conditional waiver opening up his accounts and assets to scrutiny, and then walked out of the impeachment proceedings before he could be cross-examined, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda blasted Corona for his actions in the Senate despite being allowed to give a lengthy opening statement in the impeachment trial.

He said that instead of making the most of his day in court, Corona squandered the opportunity by resorting to the same arguments used by people who want to remove President Aquino from office.

He said the issuance of the conditional waiver and Corona’s subsequent walkout led to an unprecedented lockdown in the Senate, in order to assert its authority and the dignity of the court.

“Never has there been a more blatant attempt to manipulate a duly constituted court. Never has there been such an obvious attempt to stage-manage judicial proceedings,’ he said.

“It does not help Mr. Corona that that after having been given the highest consideration by the Senate, after giving his side he tried to leave the proceedings, as if to say he is the only one who should be heard,” he added.

During his opening statement, Corona admitted that he owned 4 dollar accounts instead of the 82 accounts alleged by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.

He then signed a waiver allowing all banks to open his peso and dollar accounts. He also allowed government agencies such as the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Anti-Money Laundering Council, Securities and Exchange Commission and Land Registration Authority to reveal all assets under his name.

However, the chief magistrate refused to turn over the waiver until all 188 impeachment complainants and Sen. Franklin Drilon sign a similar waiver.

“If any of you should choose to decline, I regret that there is no point in my waiver because it will only allow the completion for the persecution I have suffered. I am no thief. I am no criminal. I have done no wrong. But honorable senators, I am also no fool. I pray that these gentlemen will accept my invitation,” he added.

“Otherwise I stand by my actions as being completely founded on the law itself. Isusumite ko po ang aking waiver sa kinauukulan kapag kumpleto na ang 189 waivers. Kuing hindi sila papayag sa hamong ito, bibgyan ko po nang direktiba ang aking defense penal na i-rest na ang aking defense tutal wala naman silang napatunayang paratang sa akin.”

He maintained that he never disclosed his dollar deposits in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) because the Foreign Currency Deposit Act states that all foreign currency accounts are absolutely confidential in nature.

Lacierda said Corona was using an ordinary law to justify the non-disclosure of his dollar deposits when Article XI Sec. 17 of the Constitution requires disclosure of assets.

“Mr. Corona, however, proposes that an ordinary law, RA 6426 holds supreme over the Constitution’s requirements. But first and foremost, it is about accountability: about the character and behavior of the head of a branch of government of whose members none but the highest ethical standards are required at all times,” he said.

The President’s spokesman said impeachment is the instrument for determining if a high official otherwise guaranteed a fixed term, can and should be dismissed as a danger to the state or unworthy of high office.

He said: “As the Senate ponders the testimony of Mr. Corona, one thing is sure: all dangerous avenues that may lead to questioning the Senate and the conduct of its proceedings, have been closed, by Mr. Corona asking for, and being given, this unprecedented opportunity to speak his mind – and disclose his cavalier attitude to our institutions, the law and the truth.”

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