May 25 Senate Impeachment Court Record

FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012,
Republic of the Philippines
Senate
Pasay City
Record of the Senate

Sitting As An Impeachment Court
Friday, May 25, 2012
AT 2:07 P.M., THE PRESIDING OFFICER, SENATE PRESIDENT JUAN PONCE ENRILE, CALLED THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL OF SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE RENATO C. CORONA TO ORDER. The Presiding Officer. The continuation of the Impeachment Trial of the Hon. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Renato C. Corona is hereby called to order. We shall be led in prayer by Sen. Vicente C. Sotto III, the Majority Floor Leader. Senator Sotto. Heavenly Father, once again we are privileged to gather in Your Name, and so we welcome You in our midst. Yes, Father, You are the fountain of every blessing, and we adore You, we love You, and with contrite hearts, we offer You these poor hearts of ours. Make us humble, patient, pure, and grant us the grace to be wholly obedient to Your will. Grant, Almighty Father, that we may live in You and for You; grant us Your wisdom and Your knowledge; be upon our minds, our lips, and our hearts. Send forth Your Holy Spirit and anoint us with Your Holy presence and power, so that all our thoughts, all our words, and all our actions may only be a reflection of Yours; Purify our intentions and motives as we discharge our solemn task of bringing out the truth, and rendering justice to all. Fill us with Your Holy presence, and grant us the gift of discernment so that we may be sensitive to the promptings of Your Holy Spirit. And finally, Lord, not our will but Yours be done, for You once said that Your work is truly the work of Your people. Amen.
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The Presiding Officer. Amen. The Secretary will please call the roll. The Secretary, reading: Senator Edgardo J. Angara .............................................................. Senator Joker P. Arroyo .................................................................. Senator Alan Peter Compaero S. Cayetano ................................ Senator Pia S. Cayetano .................................................................. Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago ................................................... Senator Franklin M. Drilon ............................................................... Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada ...................................................... Senator Francis G. Escudero ............................................................ Senator Teofisto L. Guingona III ...................................................... Senator Gregorio B. Honasan II ....................................................... Senator Panfilo M. Lacson ............................................................... Senator Manuel Lito M. Lapid ...................................................... Senator Loren Legarda ................................................................... Senator Ferdinand Bongbong R. Marcos Jr. ................................. Senator Sergio R. Osmea III .......................................................... Senator Francis N. Pangilinan ........................................................... Senator Aquilino L. Pimentel III ....................................................... Senator Ralph G. Recto ................................................................... Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. .................................................... Senator Vicente C. Sotto III ............................................................ Senator Antonio Sonny F. Trillanes IV .......................................... Senator Manny Villar ........................................................................ The President ....................................................................................
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present* Present
The Presiding Officer. With 22 Senator-Judges present, the Presiding Officer declares the presence of a quorum. The Floor Leader is recognized. Senator Sotto. Mr. President, may I ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to make the proclamation. The Presiding Officer. The Sergeant-at-Arms is directed to make the proclamation. The Sergeant-at-Arms. All persons are commanded to keep silent under pain of penalty while the Senate is sitting in trial on the Articles of Impeachment against Chief Justice Renato C. Corona. The Presiding Officer. The Floor Leader. Senator Sotto. Mr. President, I move that we dispense with the reading of the May 23, 2012 Journal of the Senate sitting as an Impeachment Court and consider it approved. The Presiding Officer. Is there any objection? [Silence] There being none, the May 23, 2012 Journal of the Senate sitting as an Impeachment Court is hereby approved. The Secretary may now please call the case before the Senate sitting as an Impeachment Court.
______________ *Arrived after the roll call
The Secretary. Case No. 0022011, In the Matter of the Impeachment of Chief Justice Renato C. Corona. The Presiding Officer. The Floor Leader is recognized. Senator Sotto. Mr. President, may we ask the parties to enter their appearances. Representative Tupas. Mr. Senate President, and the Honorable Members of the Senate, good afternoon. On the part of the House of Representatives Prosecution panel, same appearance, we are ready, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Noted. For the Defense. Mr. Cuevas. For the Defense, Your Honor, the same appearance. We are ready, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Noted. The Floor Leader is recognized. Senator Sotto. Mr. President, before we proceed, we are in receipt of a motion from the Prosecution, dated May 23, 2012, praying for the actual marking of exhibits which they had previously asked and allowed by the Court to be marked as follows: 1. Exhibit Eleven G(GGGGGGGGGGG) which is the second page of the SPA between Charina Corona, Renato Corona and Cristina Corona. 2. Exhibit Eleven G-1 (GGGGGGGGGGG-1) which is the date of the SPA. 3. Also, the Prosecution had asked and was allowed to mark Exhibit 178 of the Defense which is the Writ of Execution in Criminal Case No. Q-96068147-8 as their Exhibit Eleven Q(QQQQQQQQQQQ). However, it was Exhibit 177-A of the Defense which was marked as Exhibit Eleven Q (QQQQQQQQQQQ). The Prosecution prays for the correction in the markings of Exhibit Eleven Q (QQQQQQQQQQQ). 4. And lastly, the Prosecution is requesting that Tax Declaration No. D-05602564 which was marked as Exhibit 163 of the Defense be likewise marked as evidence for the Prosecution. The Prosecution submits that they had intended to mark and adopt the same as its own evidence, but inadvertently failed to do so in open court. So, I move that the Presiding Officer rule on the matter. The Presiding Officer. It appearing from the records that the marking of Exhibits Eleven G (GGGGGGGGGGG) and Eleven Q (QQQQQQQQQQQ) had been previously allowed by this Court, the Senate Legal Counsel and Deputy Clerk of Court has reported to the Court that the exhibits have been marked accordingly. With respect to the request that Exhibit 163 of the Defense be likewise marked as evidence for the Prosecution, the same is hereby granted. Representative Tupas. Thank you, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. The Floor Leader is recognized. Senator Sotto. Mr. President, the Court is now ready for the continuation of the testimony of Chief Justice Renato C. Corona.
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The Presiding Officer. Is the Defense ready to proceed?
Mr. Cuevas. Your Honor, please, we are ready with him but may we ask, Your Honor, for a one-minute recess just to fetch him from where he is now. The Presiding Officer. All right. One-minute recess to allow the Chief Justice to come to the Session Hall. The trial was suspended at 2:13 p.m. At 2:18 p.m., the impeachment trial was resumed. The Presiding Officer. The trial is resumed. Representative Tupas. Mr. President, for the Prosecution, may we ask permission that our lead private lawyer, Atty. Mario Bautista, be recognized to receive the continuation of the testimony of the Chief Justice. The Presiding Officer. Granted. Representative Tupas. Thank you, Mr. President. The Presiding Officer. What is the pleasure of the Defense? Before we proceed, may I just make a statement. Mr. Chief Justice, good afternoon. Nabasa po namin sa pahayagan na kayo ay may problema sa kalusugan at nandito kayo kahit na ang inyong doktor sa ospital ay ayaw sana kayong payagan. Gusto ko lamang pong mailagay sa ating record itong tanong na ito: Kayo po ba ay handa sa iyong katawan at kaisipan na sumali dito sa paglilitis na ito? I am asking this, Mr. Chief Justice, given the fact that this Court takes judicial notice of the fact that your doctor made a statement in the papers that you are not physically well. Mr. Corona. Yes, po. Magandang hapon po sa inyong lahat. Magandang hapon po sa ating sambayanan. Ako po ay pumarito, actually labag po sa kagustuhan ng aking mga doktor at against my better judgment to come here. Kaya lamang po nasa puso ko po iyong obligasyon ko po at iyong pangako ko sa bayan na magpaliwanag na hindi nga po natapos noong Martes sapagkat iyong binasa ko pong mga notes at saka narration ko po noong Tuesdayas a matter of fact, may dalawang pahina pa ho akong hindi nabasa doondealing with the FASAP at saka iyong TRO, pero ang nangyari po, sa hindi magandang pangyayari, ay unti-unti ko pong naramdaman iyong pagbagsak po ng aking blood sugar sapagkat ako po ay diyabetiko since 1986. Since 1986 po, ito siguro ay pangalawa at pangatlong beses na nangyari na bumagsak iyong aking blood sugar. At para naman po doon sa may diabetes at saka doon sa mga pamilyang merong miyembro ng pamilya na may diabetes, siguro madali namang maintindihan nila kung ano iyong nangyari doon kasi po isang manifestation po ng hypoglycemia iyong biglang pagbagsak ng sugar. The Presiding Officer. Kaya nga po gusto lamang malaman nitong Hukuman na ito kung kaya ninyong sumali dito sa paglilitis na ito. Mr. Corona. Actually po, nanghihina pa po ako, pero kakayanin ko po hanggat aking makakaya. The Presiding Officer. Sige.
Mr. Corona. Opo. The Presiding Officer. Salamat po. Mr. Corona. Salamat rin po. The Presiding Officer. The Defense, what is your pleasure? Mr. Cuevas. Yes, Your Honor. We would like to ask permission that the Honorable Chief Justice be allowed to make a short manifestation with respect to the unruly incident that took place before and extend his apologies before this Honorable Court and to the Honorable Members thereof. May he be allowed to discuss this within two (2) or three (3) minutes, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. The Chief Justice has three minutes. Mr. Cuevas. Thank you, Your Honor. Mr. Corona. Salamat po sa inyo. Ako po ay nagpapakumbaba at humihingi po ng inyong paumanhin sa nangyari noong Martes. Hindi ko po inaasahan na ganoon ang mangyayari. Kaya lamang po, alam naman po ninyo ang pinagdaanan namin, particularly pinagdaanan ko noong nakaraang halos anim na buwan. Hindi po madali ang pinagdaanan namin. Mahirap po i-describe iyong sama ng loob at sakit ng loob naming pinagdaanan the past almost six months. Kaya nga lamang po ay siguro nagkasunud-sunod na po. Ang katotohanan po ay for almost a week, hindi po ako nakakatulog nang mabuti. At iyong the night before my testimony here, on Tuesday, totally wala po akong tulog. Hindi po madali o masarap itong kinalalagyan ko ngayon. Nakatutok sa akin ang mata ng milyun-milyong mga kababayan natin at ako ay hinuhusgahan dito sa trial na ito. Kaya po siguro hindi rin ako makakain noong lunch time before I came here last Tuesday dahil I have to admit with all candor and honesty nagbabaligtad po iyong aking sikmura sa nerbiyos. Kayo na po ang bahalang magpatawad sa akin. Kaya siguro po iyon ang dahilan ng pagbagsak ng aking blood sugar. Kaya nga po ako ay nagpapakumbaba, na humihingi ng patawad sa inyo, sa buong Senado, sa ating sambayanan, maging sa Prosekusyon na rin at sa aking Defense team na hindi rin naman nila alam ang nangyari dahil sila mismo ay nagulat. Pumunta rin po ako rito para magbigay-galang sa Senado, sa kabuuan ng Senado bilang isang institusyon ng ating pamahalaan. Ang nangyari po noong Martes ay hindi parang welga oano ba ang sabi doonwalkout. Walkout yata iyong sinabing term noong mga certain sectors of the media. Hindi po ganoon. Kasi po, meron pa po akong dalawang pahinang hindi nababasa, hindi ko na po nabasa. Totally unexpected po iyong nangyari, dala lamang po sa matinding sitwasyon, karamdaman na ganoon po ang nangyari. Ngayon, nakakalungkot lamang po na siguro sa iilan nating mga kababayan, para bagang, kailangan pa bang ako ay mamatay para patunayan na ako ay nagsasabi ng totoo. Pero, ganoon pa man din, siguro baka ganoon nga po ang dating sa ibang tao. Pero ipinapaliwanag ko po ngayon na ako ay nag-a-apologize po pero wala akong intensyon na ganoon. The Presiding Officer. Salamat po, Kagalang-galang na Chief Justice. Mr. Corona. Nalaman naman po ninyo na....Kayo na po siguro ang nakasaksi, ilang beses naman po akong nabastos sa publiko ng ating Pangulo, kahit na isang masamang salita, wala naman po kayong nadinig sa akin kasi hindi naman po ganoon ang ugali ko.
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The Presiding Officer. Salamat po. Mr. Corona. Hindi po ako bastos na tao. The Presiding Officer. Salamat po.
Mr. Corona. Anyway po, siguro iyong pagka-disorient ko po siguro, pagbagsak ng blood sugar, siguro iyon po ang nag-cause noon. As a matter of fact, hindi ko nga po malaman kung ako ay kakaliwa o kakanan. I was in a total state of confusion. At saka dahil sa kahiluhan ko po, ako ay naduduwal noon, ayaw ko naman pong maduwal dito sa harap ng mga cameras natin. So, iyon lamang po. The Presiding Officer. Thank you, Mr. Chief Justice. All right, Defense? Mr. Cuevas. If Your Honor please, after examining and being informed of the resolution of the Court that all that the Honorable Chief Justice stated in his opening statement will be considered as part of his direct examination, we found it unnecessary anymore to proceed any further by going into additional direct examination question and we are through with his direct examination. The Presiding Officer. All right, cross? Mr. Cuevas. We did that, Your Honor, because in the last proceedings prior today, there was on record a statement on the part of the Chief Prosecutor that if the only purpose of bringing in the Honorable Chief Justice is for him to be cross-examined, then they are waiving their right to crossexamine. So, we are not adding anything anymore to what have been presented by way of direct examination. We are closing his testimony, hoping that the commitment on record on the part of the Prosecution will be honored and given effect, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. I leave it to the Prosecution, if they have no cross. What is the pleasure of the Prosecution? Mr. Bautista. Your Honor please, at the last hearing, you will recall that the Prosecution had continuing objections to the testimony of the Chief Justice based on irrelevance, incompetence, immateriality, hearsay, and opinion. The Prosecution believes that the testimony of the Chief Justice is essentially inadmissible in evidence. And even if the testimony is admitted, it has very little evidentiary value, if any. In fact, we believe that the admissions made by the Chief Justice, particularly with respect to his dollar and peso accounts, are helpful to our case. The Presiding Officer. Instead of making this manifestation, why do you not indicate your.... Mr. Bautista. I was going to touch, Your Honor please. The Presiding Officer. Yes. Please, go ahead. .... Mr. Bautista. In light of these reasons and the fragile condition of the Chief Justice, the Prosecution will no longer cross-examine him. The Presiding Officer. All right.
Mr. Bautista. On behalf of the Prosecution Panel, Mr. Chief Justice, we wish you speedy recovery. Mr. Cuevas. Thank you very much. Mr. Corona. Maraming salamat po sa inyo. Senator Sotto. Mr. President. The Presiding Officer. The Floor Leader. Senator Sotto. Mr. President, there are a number of Members of the Court who would like to ask some questions for clarification namely, Senators Santiago, Alan Cayetano, Ejercito Estrada, Legarda, Osmea and Drilon. The Presiding Officer. Yes. May I remind the Members of the Court that we must observe strictly our two-minute rule so that we can finish the proceedings without prejudice to an extension of not more than two (2) minutes. So ordered. Mr. Corona. Bago po tayo magsimula sa interpellation, nais ko po sanang isumite na po sa Kagalang-galang na Juan Ponce Enrile iyong aking waiver po. Hindi ko na po hihintayin iyong waiver nung 189. I am submitting this without any conditions whatsoever. May I ask Attorney Lichauco to submit it to the Senate President. The Presiding Officer. Alam po ninyo, Kagalang-galang na Mahistrado, ang problema namin diyan ay kahit na may waiver kayo ay kaninong witness iyong mga pupunta rito. Mr. Corona. Opo. Kung mamarapatin po ninyo, siguro puwede naman pong ipatawag iyong mga manager ng bangko. The Presiding Officer. What is the pleasure of the Floor Leader? Senator Sotto. May we have a one-minute suspension, Mr. President, to formalize the acceptance. The Presiding Officer. suspended for one minute. Is there any objection? [Silence] There being none, the trial is
The trial was suspended at 2:32 p.m. At 3:29 p.m., the trial was resumed. The Presiding Officer. The trial is resumed. Senator Sotto. Mr. President. The Presiding Officer. The Floor Leader. Senator Sotto. Mr. President, before the break or the suspension of the trial, we were in receipt of the waiver executed by the Chief Justice. May we know the pleasure of the Presiding Officer on the matter?
The Presiding Officer. Actually, this Court is not a producer of evidence. It is a hearer of facts. It receives the evidence from the Prosecution and the Defense. And on the basis of the evidence presented by both sides, this Court will evaluate the evidence and make a decision. And so, therefore, given the fact that the Defense has already indicated that they will not anymore propound direct questions to the Honorable Chief Justice and that they will terminate the presentation of their evidence, and the Prosecution indicated on record that they will not do anymore cross-examination, it is the understanding of this Court that, in effect, both sides of this adversarial proceeding, this impeachment proceeding, are actually submitting the case for decision. And so, we take note of this waiver but we cannot subpoena any other person mentioned here, given the fact that we are not supposed to produce evidence for the Defense nor for the Prosecution. And so, that is the position of this Court. And so, I hereby state for the record that we take note of this waiver of the Chief Justice but we cannot act on it. Senator Sotto. Mr. President. The Presiding Officer. The Floor Leader. Senator Sotto. With the permission of the Chamber and the Presiding Officer, may we now recognize Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago. The Presiding Officer. The lady from Iloilo. Senator Defensor Santiago. Mr. Witness, just two questions to test your credibility over your dramatic departure last Tuesday. Is it true or not that you have had, at least, two open-heart surgery proceedings? Mr. Corona. Yes, Madam. I had one in 1995, and another one in 2008, both done by Dr. George Garcia. Senator Defensor Santiago. Second question: In your experience as Chief Justice, and insofar as you know of the opinion or of the sentiments of your colleagues in the Supreme Court, what is the effect of this Impeachment Trial on the following principles of our tripartite democracy? No. 1, the system of checks and balances; No. 2, the independence of the Judiciary; and No. 3, the sub judice principle under which, when a case is on trial, that case should not be discussed in public which has been later amended to the fact that the case should not be discussed in public except that the media may only report what actually happened in the courtroom of a past period. May I have your answer to these three questions please? Mr. Corona. Yes, po. Would you mind if I answer in the vernacular for the sake of the people hearing us outside? The Presiding Officer. Granted. Mr. Corona. Gaya po noong nasabi ko noong Martes, iyong pagpapatalsik po ng miyembro po ng Korte Suprema, let alone the Chief Justice, may chilling effect po iyan sa Korte Suprema kasi mga tao lang rin po naman kami.
At one point po, lalo na po nakita naman ng aking mga kasama sa Korte Suprema kung ano ang ginawa sa akin at iyong aking pamilya. Hindi lang po ginamit iyong makinarya, buong makinarya at lakas at poder ng gobyerno laban sa amin: BIR, LRA, AMLC, Ombudsman, kung anu-ano. Sabay-sabay po kaming iniimbestiga ng BIR, pati po iyong mga anak namin, pati iyong mga balae namin na wala naman pong pakialam dito sa impeachment na ito, wala naman pong kasalanan ay pinapuntahan ng BIR at iyan lang po isang bahagi lang po iyan. Iyong pangalawang bahagi po ay probably mas matindi po. Iyong araw-araw na 24/7, magbuhat umaga hanggang gabi, wala na kaming nadinig kundi panlalait, pang-iinsulto, pangaalipusta sa aming honor, sa aming pagkatao, sa aming reputasyon. Kung nalalaman lang po sana ng mga taong gumawa nito iyong sakit ng loob na dinulot sa amin. [Pause] The Presiding Officer. Mr. Chief Justice, are you all right? Mr. Corona. Opo. Iyong pangalan ko pong pinangangalagaan ko all my life, tapos tawagtawagin kayong masamang tao, magnanakaw, mandurugas. Hindi lang po ako ang nag-suffer po dito. Pati po iyong mga anak ko. Pati po iyong mga apo ko. Gusto ko lang pong maikuwento sa inyo iyongisang araw iyong aking panganay na apo, iyong anak po ng aking anak na si Carla. He is nine years old and studying in Xavier School. Napakatalino po ng batang iyon, eh. Isang araw po, nag-uusap-usap kami sa pamilya tungkol dito sa impeachment na ito, nakita ko si Franco, iyong aking apo po nanduon po sa isang sulok. Usually po playful iyong batang iyon, pero at that particular instance, he was very quiet, alone in a corner. So I approached him, I said, Franco, what is wrong? He said, Nothing, nothing, Grandpa, nothing. No, I know you are not your usual self. What is wrong? Tell Grandpa. No, nothing. Kapipilit, kapipilit ko po, sabi ko po, Do you know what they are talking about in the newspapers about Grandpa? Do you know what they are saying about Grandpa? And he said, Yes. What do you think? Then he kept quiet for a very, very long time. And I said, Tell Grandpa. I want to know what you think about what they are saying about Grandpa. Noon ko lang po nakita iyong aking apo. He clenched his fist and he said, I am very, very angry. Nagulat po ako kasi for a nine-year-old to say that. Iyon po ang nararamdaman na pinagdaanan ng aming pamilya. Pinagbintangan kami, 45 properties daw. Alam naman po ni Administrator Eulalio Diaz na hindi totoo iyong sinasabi niya, yet ili-leak niya doon sa media. Tapos mayroon namang mga miyembro ng kabilang panig na pinapangalandakan na lang iyong amin pong 45 properties na hindi naman po totoo. Senator Defensor Santiago. Mr. Witness, I am very, very sorry to interrupt, but your answer has not been responsive. My question is: What is the effect on the Members of the Supreme Court led, of course, by the Chief Justice, with respect to the following principles: No. 1, the principle of checks and balances. How do you view this principle as impacted by the present Impeachment Trial?
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No. 2, the principle of the independence of the Judiciary. And No. 3, the doctrine of sub judice. We only have two (2) minutes, that is why I have to interrupt. Thank you.
Mr. Corona. I am sorry, Your Honor. I just got carried away emotionally. But all right, I think this whole impeachment proceeding has had a very chilling effect on the Supreme Court, if I may say so. Wala pong kahit na sinong miyembro ng Korte Suprema ang gustong magdaan dito sa pinagdaanan kong ito. Ang checks and balances po. Ang checks and balances po ay ang pagkapantay-pantay ng Executive, Legislative at saka Judiciary. At nasabi ko po noong Martes iyong pagwawasak po niyang checks and balances na iyan ay probably, ay siguro po ay ang pinakamasamang epekto nitong impeachment complaint na ito. Kasi po, iyong prinsipyo po ng checks and balances, Madam, ay ang naggagarantiya po ng ating demokrasya. Pagka sinira ninyo iyang checks and balances na iyan, iyan po ay siguradong diktadura na ang susunod. Iyon nga po ang binanggit ko noong Martes. Ngayon, iyong sa sub judice rule po ay alam na po nating mga abogado na hindi naman po dapat payagan iyang patuloy-tuloy na komentaryo ng mga tao diyan sa labas nagbibigay ng kanilang kuro-kuro. Ang problema po ay parang they are already crossing the boundary of propriety and impropriety. So, ang epekto po niyan ay nalalason nang kaunti, nang unti-unti ang pag-iisip ng ating taong-bayan. Kung sino po ang may kuwarta na may magpapairal ng media campaign, siya ang naghahawak ng power to influence the mind and the opinion of the public. Eh, mabuti po tayong mga miyembro po, itong mga miyembro po nitong Senado, eh kayo naman po ay mga taong may experience at saka sanay dito sa mga bagay na ganito at hindi kayo nasi-sway. Pero iyong mga taong-bayan po, papaano naman po iyon. You have an Impeachment Court, iyong hindi po maipresentang ebidensya dito, doon ho inilalahad sa labas. So, nasisira po iyong ating tinatawag na sub judice rule na hindi po tama ang nangyari po. Is that enough, Madam? Thank you po. The Presiding Officer. All right. The Floor Leader. Senator Sotto. Thank you, Mr. President. May we recognize the Minority Leader, Sen. Alan Cayetano. The Presiding Officer. The gentleman from Taguig, Senator Cayetano. Senator Cayetano (A). Magandang hapon, Mr. President. Mr. Chief Justice, magandang hapon po. Mr. Corona. Magandang hapon po, Senator. Senator Cayetano (A). Mr. Chief Justice, nasabi na rin po ng iyong Defense Counsel po iyon, iyong sinasabi nilang well-orchestrated campaign sa inyong credibility, sa inyong pagkatao. And medyo kami ni Senator Ping, parang ayaw naming makinig kasi nangyari sa amin iyan noong panahon ni Presidente Arroyo.
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So, we know how it feels that sinisiraan, kinakalkal pamilya mo, safety mo, et cetera, no. So, we feel for you in that respect, without saying that anyone is guilty or innocent of a well-oiled campaign against you. But sana po maunawaan niyo rin naman po kami na regardless whether or not there is persecution, whether or not there is a well-planned campaign against you, ang issue lang ho sa amin, whether innocent or guilty based on the accusations. Kaya kung papayagan niyo po, just some short questions lang po to just help me decide. Kasi po ayoko hong mag-convict ng isang taong inosente, pero ayoko rin pong mag-acquit ng isang taongdi ba na, you do not want to convict anyone who is innocent, but you do not want also to acquit someone who is guilty. And alam niyo naman kaming mga abugado napakataas ng tingin sa Supreme Court lalo po sa Chief Justice. So, as difficult as this may be, Sir, allow me to just ask you these questions. Sir, pinakinggan naming mabuti iyong tatlo mong oras naalthough in-interrupt po namin iyong pagsalaysay ng iyong depensa at lahat ng nangyari, and in a long line of Supreme Court decisions, hindi ko na babanggitin, ay sinasabi din doon, pag testimony lang at walang kasamang either documentary evidence or other kinds of evidence, minsan kulang ito o kapos or sinabi po ng inyong Chief Defense Counsel ay based on your credibility. So itatanong ko lang po. Will you be submitting other evidence po to bolster iyong defense at iyong ano po ninyo, iyong istorya po na sinabi ninyo sa amin? For example, Sir, sabi ninyo po 1960s pa nag-ipon kayo ng dollars. Can you show us a 1970s or 80s passbook or resibo sa bangko? Mr. Corona. Ang mga deposits po natin ay nasa time deposit. Alam naman po ninyo iyong time deposit, pagka mature noon, sinu-surrender po iyon sa bangko. Ang mga makakapagte-testify po niyan ay iyong account officer ko po sa BPI na nanggaling poalam po naman ninyo iyong Far East Bank, hindi po ba binili iyan ng BPI? Senator Cayetano (A). Yes, yes. Mr. Corona. Oho. Kasi siya rin po iyong account officer ko noong nasa Far East Bank siya kaya familiar po siya doon sa mga deposits ko noong araw pa po. Senator Cayetano (A). Kasi po iyong mga ganung istorya po, iyong ganung testimony will help us verify. Mr. Corona. Opo. Senator Cayetano (A). Pero tama po si Senate President, hearers of fact po kami. Hindi kami ang dapat magpatawag. Pero since hindi pinapatawag ng Defense, parang we are left with your story Mr. President, may I have an extension? The Presiding Officer. You have two (2) minutes. Senator Cayetano (A). Yes. So, for example po, Sir, no, sinabi ninyo po iyong ibang commingled peso funds ninyo, kasama doon iyong sa anak ninyo na pambili ng bahay. At usual po sa isang pamilya iyon. It is a natural thing especially if you are a closely knitted family. But will you present to us anything, for example, kung dinaan sa bangko iyong remittance or umuwi siya, may Central Bank approval kung more thansomething po that will help bolsterI am not questioning your credibility, Sir.
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Mr. Corona. Opo, opo.
Senator Cayetano (A). Ang sinasabi ko lang po. We have to act like judges here and an ordinary judge will ask the same questions po. Mr. Corona. Mayroon po akong binigay kay Justice Cuevas na sulat ng anak ko talking about the house that she wants to build on her McKinley Hill lot. And there is a portion there which refers to the funds belonging to her which is with me. Senator Cayetano (A). Anyway, Sir, they will be submitting a formal offer of evidence so we gave them naman until today. Ang sinasabi ko lang po Ayaw kong hindi paniwalaan, ayaw ko naman paniwalaan po iyong istorya ninyo po noong Wednesday, except that to follow the jurisprudence ng Supreme Court, a testimony okay. And I do not want naman po to grill or test your credibility here because I do not think that is the right thing to do. Sir, the next question. Mr. Corona. Just one more. Mr. Cuevas. May I be allowed to. In this connection, Your Honor, may we be allowed to place on record that we have here presented by the Chief Justice a letter to him and to Mrs. Corona relative to this transaction which we have earlier marked, asked to be marked as Exhibit 269 for the Defense, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Is that already marked? Mr. Cuevas. We have it earlier marked, Your Honor, to save time. But we are placing on record now that it was earlier marked as Exhibit 269, which we are adopting now formally in connection with this impeachment proceedings, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. All right. Do you want it to be marked accordingly or it is already marked? Mr. Cuevas. It is marked already, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Then state it into the record. Mr. Cuevas. Thank you. And also a portion thereof which we cause to be underlined and, among others, which states, My funds there should be more than enough for the house and at least the basic pieces of furniture per the estimate you sent me, although we have been considering buying some other pieces of furniture here and shipping them to Manila. We requested that it be underlined, Your Honor, and marked for identification purposes as Exhibit 269-A. To save time, we have requested for its earlier marking and we are adopting the same marking formally in this proceedings, Your Honor. Mr. Cuevas. Now, furthermore....Yes, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. What is the exhibit number of that portion that you marked? Mr. Cuevas. To be submarked as Exhibit 269-A, Your Honor.
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The Presiding Officer. Mark it accordingly. Mr. Cuevas. We have taken the liberty of having it pre-marked just to save time and to move faster, Your Honor, or expeditiously. Furthermore, Your Honor, we request that another portion underlined at the back page, thereof, which states: Actually, ito nga po ang one of the reasons why we would like to have that house in Mckinley Hill, ASAP. And going further, Nevertheless, we still think it would be much better to raise the kids in the Philippines, not only because we want them to imbibe Filipino culture, but also because its been really difficult raising a family here without househelps and yayas. We have taken the liberty, Your Honor, of earlier marking it as Exhibit 269-B, which we adopt as our own exhibits now, Your Honor. Mr. Bautista. At this stage, Your Honor please, for the Prosecution, may we object on the grounds of hearsay, and.... Mr. Cuevas. We are not yet offering it. We are only in the process of marking, Mr. Counsel. Mr. Bautista. Under the Rules of Court, when the grounds for objection arise, the objection must be raised immediately. So, I am putting that on record. Mr. Cuevas. We are not yet offering it, so the objection may be out of..... The Presiding Officer. Let us avoid this discussion. Mr. Cuevas. Thank you, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. The Court is intelligent enough to evaluate all. Mr. Cuevas. Yes, Your Honor. Now, we wanted to go further with other exhibits, but we had always been guided by the fact that apparently the Court is very much interested in disposing of this case earlier. That is why, we thought that with the closing of the statement of the Chief Justice, Your Honor, we would have signified our clear intention to abide by the desire of this Impeachment Court by way of disposing of this case as early as possible. But if the Court will be liberal enough to grant us further time, then we will likewise introduce or present other evidence, for instance, the accountant mentioned by the lawyer. But we are afraid.... The Presiding Officer. You have already closed your direct examination. Mr. Cuevas. Yes, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. The Prosecution has already waived their right of cross-examination. I think we have to conduct this proceeding in an orderly manner. Mr. Cuevas. That is correct, Your Honor. But I would say that we were just challenged because of the query of the Honorable Senator. The Presiding Officer. We cannot win or lose this case on the basis of arguments and debates. Mr. Cuevas. Thank you, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Present evidence, you have all done that. In fact, we allowed the Chief Justice to testify for three hours without interruption, without any direct examination from the Defense.
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Mr. Cuevas. We realize that, Your Honor. And for that, we are heavily indebted. We are highly appreciative, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. And there is no cross-examination. So, it is up to this Court now to evaluate all of these evidence. Mr. Cuevas. Okay then, Your Honor. Thank you very much. The Presiding Officer. All right. Senator Cayetano (A). I do not have enough time, Mr. Chief Justice, to ask the individual questions, but this weekend, while I evaluate and pray, and the nation will be praying over us to make the right decision, I just wanted to make sure that each and every part of your story, I will make sure that I have kung meron o walang ebidensiyang nandoon para suportahan. Mr. Chief Justice, gayon din lamang po.... Mr. Corona. Excuse me po. Puwede po bang mag-interrupt? Senator Cayetano (A). Go ahead. Mr. Corona. Kasi po, katulad po noong pondo ng BGEI, iyon naman ay na-establish na ni Mayor Atienza na ibinayad talaga. Tapos mayroon po namang kasama doon sa pesos, iyong interest na kinita noon for 11 years. Eh, ito po ay hindi, wala naman pa kaming papel na ebidensiya na nagsi-certify na ito iyong interest ng 11 years. Pero from common experience, alam naman natin na iyong perang ganuon ay kumikita naman po ng interest iyon. Kaya naka-input naman po lahat doon iyon. Senator Cayetano (A). Opo. Gayon din lamang po na napirmahan ninyo iyong waiver, and I congratulate you for that and after the impeachment, I will ask the President to also ask his Cabinet to also sign a waiver. Mr. Corona. Actually, nadinig ko po ang inyong pahayag about the.... Senator Cayetano (A). Sen. Ping Lacson and I have been consistent in the Arroyo administration. So, what is good for one should be good for everyone. But since we are focused on this case, Sir, gayon din lamang na pinirmahan ninyo, I will just ask po, are you willing to reveal po kung magkano ang laman ng dollar accounts? Mr. Corona. Opo. Senator Cayetano (A). Magkano po ang laman? Mr. Corona. Sa humigit-kumulang po ay $2.4 million pero gusto ko pong ipaliwanag iyon na hindi iyon ipinasok sa bangko na $2.4 million. Iyon po ay binili over so many years at iyong exchange rate po noon ay nag-umpisa noong una akong bumili ay 2:1 pa ho. Noong mga 60s ay iniipon ko na po iyon. Tapos, iyong 2:1 naging mga P3.70 or P3.80 po iyon, tapos naging P4, tapos naging floating rate na nga, I think, P5.90 yata iyon and so on and so forth. Lahat ng panahong iyon ay nasa private sector naman po ako noon. Wala ho ako sa gobyerno, at hindi naman, kasi kung titingnan po ninyo iyong around $2.4 million, by present standards siguro po nasa halagang mga P90 million. Pero hindi ho talagang P90 million ang halaga noon. Kasi noong binili iyan over the years have different exchange rates which are much lesser than the present P45 to $1. Kaya gusto ko lamang pong ipaliwanag iyon.
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At saka in connection with that, naitanong po noong Tuesday ni Senate President ano ba ang ano niyan. Sabi ko iyong paglago ay iyong interest po ng money over the years. We are talking here of more than 35 years. Kumikita po ng interest iyan na ipinaliwanag ko naman po na simpleng-simple iyong buhay naming. Hindi po kami mahilig doon sa mga sosyalan, iyong mga ganyan, kaya there was hardly ever any time na nagalaw namin iyong interest. Kaya parati pong nagko-compound, nagko-compound po lamang iyan. Ngayon, komo ako po ay nanggaling sa bangko, alam ko ang ibat-ibang bangko, ibatibang rates ang ibinibigay. Kaya makikita po ninyo iyong galaw niyan. Kung tatawagin ninyo iyong mga manager, gumagalaw po iyong mga accounts. Ang interpretasyon po ni Ombudsman noon ay fresh funds na pumapasok. Hindi po ganoon iyong nangyari doon. Kasi gumagalaw lamang iyan from one account to another. Kung saan po makakakuha ng mas mataas na interest pag-maturity, doon inililipat po iyon. Hindi po fresh funds iyon. Isa pa po, alam naman po ninyo kayo naman po ay nagbabangko din. Pag magwi-withdraw kayo, magmamakaawa sa inyo ang manager, Huwag naman, sabi niya, bababa ang deposit level nitong branch ko. Huwag mo naman kunin lahat. Kaya minsan kalahati lamang ang lumalabas, minsan kalahati ang naiiwan. Ganoon lamang po ang nangyayari doon. Ngayon, ang isa pa pong masasabi ko diyan, tatanungin ninyo, Bakit hindi ko naman nagagalaw iyong interest o hardly nagalaw iyong interest? Sapagkat aside from the fact na napakasimpleng-simple iyong buhay namin, meron naman akong current stream of income na ginagamit panggastos namin pang-araw-araw. Iyong for 45 years po, hindi po kami nakatikim na magbayad ng upa ng bahay or amortization on our house sapagkat po iyong tinitirhan naming bahay na almost more than 40 years na po ay minana ko lamang po sa aking mother. Iyon pong mga ganoon iyong mga circumstances na iyon kaya naman po lumago nang lumago iyon. Senator Cayetano (A). Thank you, Sir, for answering that directly. Last question na lamang po. So, medyo lumilinaw po sa akin iyong depensa ninyo from the properties, peso account and while we evaluate it. So, sa dollar account.... Mr. Corona. Isa pa nga pala, nabanggit po ninyo ang properties. Kaya po kami maraming cash, napasadahan ko po noong Tuesday. Kasi buong buhay po namin we have been married for almost 43 years nowbuong buhay po namin, wala po kaming nabiling malaking property or mamahaling property. Lahat po ng pera namin talagang nakatali po sa cash. Wala po kami iyong bahay naming tinitirahan ngayon, iyon pa rin iyong bahay namin when we started. Senator Cayetano (A). Except po for the properties admitted. Mr. Corona. Iyong mga condominium po pero mga unti-unti lamang po iyon. Kumbaga po iyon hindi po naman....I am sorry to use the term hindi po mabonggang mga properties iyon. Mga condominium units lamang po iyon. Iyong isa nga po 48 square meters lamang, iyong isa 62 square meters. Mga ganoon lamang po. Tapos nagkaroon po kami ng dalawang lote pero wala naman pong bahay at nabili naming murang-mura pero na-dispose na rin po namin para nga bayaran kung anuman iyong kulang doon sa Bellagio at doon sa Bonifacio Ridge. Senator Cayetano (A). Actually, Sir, I am awkward asking you about this because, you know, asking a man to account, et cetera, and to tell his lifestyle pero ito lamang po talaga ang issue. But just to close the last question. So ang depensa po ninyo doon sa dollar account is that because of the law that guarantees secrecy, you did not declare it because your interpretation is....I will just finish this question.
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The Presiding Officer. Please wind up.
Mr. Corona. Your interpretation, Sir, of the law and I heard some have also interpreted it the same way na kapag dollar hindi kailangang i-declare. Nasabi po ninyo iyon noong sinalaysay po ninyo noong Tuesday. Ang tanong ko lamang po: But would that not give the, kapag tiningnan po ninyo iyong letter and spirit ng SALN Law, hindi po tuloy makikita iyong tunay na assets at tunay na liability at iyong net worth. Kung ganoon po ang magiging interpretation ng lahat, hindi po ba mangyayari kapag inilagay na lamang lahat ng pulitiko iyong pera nila sa dollars hindi nila makikita ngayon kung talagang nagbabago iyong net worth o hindi. So, hindi na po sa inyo but as public policy. The Presiding Officer. With due respect to the gentleman, would you kindly go direct to your question? Senator Cayetano (A). Yes, Mr. President. So, that is my question, Sir. If that is the interpretation of the Honorable Chief Justice, would that interpretation not harm the main purpose of the SALN Law? Mr. Corona. Unang-una po, I do not want to sound legalistic. Ang legalistic, ano po diyan sasabihin iyong isa general law, iyong isa special law, merong specific guarantee of confidentiality iyong isa at iyong isa naman ay wala. Pero alam po ninyo, kung ngayon lamang po ako nag-ipon ng dollars na iyan, maaaring sabihin po ninyong totoo iyan. Pero matagal ko na pong iniipon iyang mga dolyares na iyan kasi doon po namin ini-invest iyong aming pera. Maraming tao po kapag nakaipon ng pera ang tendency po mag-invest sa bahay, lupa, bahay. Kung medyo mataas-taas ang kita mo, medyo mataas-taas ang stature mo sa lipunan, medyo sa exclusive subdivision. Mga tipo pong ganuon. The Presiding Officer. Mr. Chief Justice, I just want to remind the Members of this Court that our function is to elicit facts, not to call for opinion or interpretation of laws. So, we are triers of facts. So, proceed, Mr. Chief Justice. Mr. Corona. Ganoon po iyon. From the beginning po iyong ibang tao nag-i-invest po ng lupa at bahay, nag-i-invest sa painting, nag-i-invest sa jewelry, nag-i-invest sa shares of stock. Kami po ay nag-invest sa foreign exchange po. Na-explain ko po iyon noong Tuesday kung bakit dollars dahil napaka-stable ng currency na iyon. Mabilis pong tumaas ang halaga at hindi kami nagkamali. Hindi kami nagkamali doon sa hedging in dollars. Senator Cayetano (A). Well, thank you for that, Mr. President, and thank you, Chief Justice. I just wanted to know your interpretation of that law, not because I will agree or disagree. But I wanted to know in evaluating the facts if you were in good faith or not or what was your state of mind when you filed the SALN because this sparked a debate nationwide from the barangay captains all the way to the President or the Cabinet members, kung ano ang dapat isama o hindi sa SALN. But thank you for those answers and for your candor. Mr. Corona. Wala pa po iyong FCDU Law nag-iipon na po ako ng dollar, nag-i-invest na po kami sa dollar. Senator Cayetano (A). Thank you, Sir. Mr. Corona. Opo. Senator Sotto. Mr. President.
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The Presiding Officer. The Floor Leader is recognized. Senator Sotto. The President Pro Tempore, Senator Estrada, wishes to be recognized. The Presiding Officer. The gentleman from San Juan. Senator Ejercito Estrada. Thank you, Mr. President. Magandang hapon po, Chief Justice. Mr. Corona. Good afternoon po. Senator Ejercito Estrada. Unang-una, ako po ay nakikisimpatiya po sa inyo. Alam ko po iyong nararamdaman ninyo, nararamdaman po ng pamilya ninyo, sapagkat iyon po ay naramdaman po namin labindalawang taon na ang nakakaraan. Halos lahat po ng batikos ay tinanggap po namin, lalung-lalo po si dating Pangulong Erap. Pati iyong mga anak ko ay ininsulto sa kanilang mga eskwelahan. Ngunit, Ginoong Chief Justice, kailangan din po nating malaman ang buong katotohanan. Kailangan pong malaman ng aking kapwa mga Senador, kailangan ding pong malaman ng taong-bayan ang buong katotohanan sa lahat po ng mga paratang laban po sa inyo. Ang una ko pong katanungan, Ginoong Chief Justice: At any given point, did you have $12 million in any or all of your foreign currency accounts? Mr. Corona. The answer po is, never. Senator Ejercito Estrada. Never did you have.... Mr. Corona. I never, at any time, had $10, 11, 12 million. Senator Ejercito Estrada. Magkano po iyong pinakamalaki? Mr. Corona. Ngayon po siguro iyong $2.4 na iyon. Senator Ejercito Estrada. Doon po sa $2.4 million, doon po sa apat na account na sinabi ninyo, lahat na po iyong apat na account-combinedthat amounts to $2.4 million? Mr. Corona. More or less po. Senator Ejercito Estrada. Am I correct? Mr. Corona. Opo. Senator Ejercito Estrada. All right. Doon po sa peso account ninyo, you said you only have three (3) peso accounts left. All right. Since hindi na po namin ipatatawag iyong bank managers, I will take your word for it, Mr. Chief Justice. I know you have an idea of how much you have in your three (3) peso accounts. Can you give us a figure, Mr. Chief Justice? Mr. Corona. Opo. Ang kwenta ko po ay humigit-kumulang mga P80 million. Ito po ay commingled funds, at isinulat ko na nga po rito para hindi ko na malimutan. Itong P80 million pong ito can be broken down into the proceeds of the Basa-Guidote property, the expropriation proceeds from the City of Manila, consisting of about P34.7 million. Tapos iyong kinita po nitong Basa-Guidote money na ito over 11 years na humigit-kumulang po, ang estimate ko po ay siguro mga nasa P10 million. Tapos nabanggit nga po iyong binasa naming exhibit dito,
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ng anak kong si Charina, na Exhibit 269, meron po siyang around P15 million broken down further into the savings that she had before she left for the States about 10 years ago. At iyong mga pera niyang ibinibigay sa amin pagpunta namin doon, which is about once or twice a year, at iyong paguwi niya rito, which is usually two or three times a year, ibinibigay niya sa amin po. Senator Ejercito Estrada. Iyon pong sinasabi ninyong mga peso accounts ninyo, iyon ho ba ay nailagay ninyo po sa inyong SALN? Mr. Corona. May I just continue the listing? Senator Ejercito Estrada. Okay. Sige po. Mr. Corona. Iyon nga pong kay Charina, for her house and savings, ang estimate ko po ngayon noon mga around P15 million. Tapos iyong kinita po nitong commingled fund na ito sa BPI, ang estimate ko po ay siguro mga P6 million to P8 million na po by now over the years dahil malaki nga po. At meron din pong nanggaling doon sa anak kong si Carla na P4 million. By the way, iyong anak kong si Carla, matagal din po sa Amerika iyan. She is a licensed physical therapist also in three states in the United States and she earned quite a sum of money when she came home to get married to her husband, Dr. Castillo. So, naglagay po siya ng P4 million from her savings at saka si Francis po, meron po siyang P2 million from his own. Kung tatanungin po bakit nandoon po kay Carla at saka kay Francis sapagkat po, mas malaki po iyong deposit, mas malaki po iyong interest na nakukuha namin. Ngayon, may isa pang component po iyan, iyong tinatawag naming Coronado fund named after my mother. Kinuwento ko po sa inyo noong Tuesday, a few years before my mother actually died in 1995, mga 1990 po, binigay niya sa akin iyong cash na nasa pangalan pa niya na inihabilin niya sa akin, sabi niya, Kukunin mo na lang diyan lahat ng pagpapagamot sa akin at iyong mga gamot, doctor, at iyon na nga po, iyong funeral expenses dahil siguradong darating doon. And by the way, just a point of interest, noong nagka-kanser po iyong mother ko, inoperahan po siya, ang doktor po niya iyong asawa ng ating Senate Secretary, si Dr. Reyes sa UST. Siya po ang nag-opera sa mother ko. Ako po ang nagbayad ng lahat bills na iyon pati sa UST at all the medication until she died. At nabanggit ko din po noong Tuesday na ang aking kuya, si Arturo, si Toti, dati pong DOTC Secretary noong panahon ni President Cory, malubha na po ang kaniyang kalagayan ngayon, meron po siyang sakit sa puso at saka scoliosis, na hindi na po siya nakakapagtrabaho, iyong binibigay ko po sa kanyang P15,000 to P20,000 a month panggastos po sa doktor at saka sa gamot niya, dito ko po kinukuha at iyong pinagpa-opera namin sa kanya, iyong nagpa-stent po siya, limang stent po, about two or three years ago, at nagkagasta kami ng about P1 million or a little over P1 million, dito ko rin po kinuha sa pondong ito. Ito po ay total mga P80.7 million. Senator Ejercito Estrada. Maraming salamat, G. Chief Justice. Doon po sa P80 million na iyan, sa aking pagkakaintindi, iyon ba po ay commingled accounts na po iyon kasama na po iyong pera ng misis ninyo, pera ng anak ninyo at pera ninyo po. Mr. Corona. Actually, not strictly pera ni misis. Pera po ng Basa-Guidote. Senator Ejercito Estrada. Lahat na po iyon.
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Mr. Corona. Opo. May commingle po kasi po nakakakuha po kami ng matataas na interes kapag malaki po iyong deposit. Senator Ejercito Estrada. Ginoong Chief Justice, kasi nag-testify po si Ombudsman Morales dito po sa Impeachment Court na talagang halos kami ay nabigla at halos napaniwala kami na meron kayong 82 dollar accounts in a total of $12 million at sinabi ninyo and you denied flatly that you only have, as of now, $2.4 million. Never at any point in time na nagkaroon po kayo ng $10, $11, $12 million, am I right? Mr. Corona. Never po. Senator Ejercito Estrada. All right. As a member of the JBC, you are the chairman as Chief Justice, am I right? Mr. Corona. Chairman po. Senator Ejercito Estrada. Yes. Mr. Corona. By law. Senator Ejercito Estrada. According to the Ombudsman, you did not vote for her to be included in the shortlist for the Office of the Ombudsman? Mr. Corona. Opo. Senator Ejercito Estrada. Why is that so, Mr. Chief Justice? Mr. Corona. Kasi po, I would like to be honest, although we were civil to each other.... Senator Ejercito Estrada. You were? Mr. Corona. Although we were civil to each other, alam naman po ninyo, siguro may undercurrent na po ng distrust or sabihin natin, for lack of a better word, may element na po siguro ng...basta hindi kami magkaalyado. At ano po ba ang ibig sabihin noon? Kasi po, alam naman po ninyo noong nabakante po iyong posisyon ng Chief Justice noong 2010, noong nag-retire po si former Chief Justice Puno, isa po sa mga contenders diyan ay iyong pinsan ni Ombudsman Morales, si Justice Antonio Carpio. Siguro doon po nagsimula iyon. Alam ko kakampi siya sa pinsan niya. Siyempre hindi naman siya kakampi sa akin. Senator Ejercito Estrada. nagpipilian ng.... Doon ho nag-umpisa iyong inyong animosity? Noong
Mr. Corona. Hindi pa po animosity noon pero medyo siguro, for lack of a better term, as I said, distrust. Whatever that means. Senator Ejercito Estrada. Siya po ang walang tiwala sa inyo o kayo po ang walang tiwala sa kanya? Mr. Corona. Siguro pareho po.
Senator Ejercito Estrada. Pareho? Mr. Corona. Tapos may nangyari pong incident pa after that. Noong ako na nga po ang nahirang na Chief Justice, I felt there were many timesI have to be careful about what I say
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medyo nagkakagirian kami, although in a very subtle way, ni Justice Carpio. Siguro natural lang po sa isang collegial body iyong ganoon. Pero napupuna ko na even if I felt na tama ako, hindi ako kinakampihan ni Justice Morales. Kakampi siya sa pinsan niya for the sake of ano. At least, that is how I felt. Maybe she has her own version of things. But ganoon po iyong nangyari doon, until dumating na nga po iyong kanyang retirement. Humihingi po siya ng isang napakalaking budget for her retirement. Ang sabi ko hindi naman iyan iyong usual budget ng retirement ng Justice of the Supreme Court. Almost...I cannot remember anymore the exact figure pero at least po malaki po talaga. Malaki po ang hinihingi niyang budget. Sabi ko, Hindi puwede. Siguro minasama niya iyong ganoon. Senator Ejercito Estrada. Ibig ninyo po bang sabihin humihingi siya ng malaking budget sa kanyang.... Mr. Corona. Not personally po. We have to hasten to say na hindi naman si Chief Morales iyong pumunta sa opisina ko at sinasabing bigyan mo ako ng ganitong budget. In fairness to her, hindi naman po. Actually, ang nagsabi sa akin iyong clerk of court. At siguro doon na niya dinadaan sa clerk of court iyong hiling niya sa akin. So ganoon po. Hindi ko siya napagbigyan. Ang binigay ko lang po sa kanya iyong usual level ng binibigay sa retiring Justice. Kasi hindi ko naman po maintindihan kung bakit special budget iyong sa kanya na hindi naman na-enjoy ng ibang Justice. So ganoon po. Senator Ejercito Estrada. Magkano po ang hinihingi, Chief Justice? Mr. Corona. Hindi ko po maalala iyong exact amount pero malaki po. Siguro mga.... Senator Ejercito Estrada. Magkano ba iyong regular na retirement pay? Mr. Corona. Ang regular budget po ng retirement for Justice po ay nasa mga P500 to P600 mga ganoon po. Senator Ejercito Estrada. Five hundred thousand. Mr. Corona. Oho. Pero hindi naman iyon binibigay sa kanila in cash. Puwede kung gusto ninyong mag-sabbatical leave, puwede ninyong gamitin sa retirement program, puwede ninyong gamitin sa retirement party. Iyong ganoon po na ano. Senator Ejercito Estrada. So ano ho iyon? Doble or triple ang hinihingi noong clerk of court? Mr. Corona. naman po. Hindi naman yata. Pagkatanda ko hindi naman umabot ng triple, hindi
Senator Ejercito Estrada. Doble lang? Mr. Corona. At least po. At least, oho. Senator Ejercito Estrada. Mayroon pa ba kayong ibang alam na rason kung bakit ho siya nagte-testify laban po sa inyo bukod doon sa mga sinabi ninyo po? Mr. Corona. Sige po. I am sorry, I really apologize to this Court to have to say it, pero may tanong po si Senator Jinggoy Estrada.
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Palagay ko po nagpagamit si Ombudsman sa Malacaang. Senator Ejercito Estrada. Paano ninyo po nasabi iyon, G. Chief Justice? Mr. Corona. Eh, kasi naman po iwinagayway niya rito iyong isang dokumento na supposedly or allegedly coming from the AMLC. Parang hindi naman po tama iyon kasi ni hindi naman po authenticated iyong dokumentong iyon. Wala naman po akong alam na guilty ako noong isang predicate crime. Alam ko naman hindi naman ako iniimbestigahan, wala namang court order, walang kung ganito, walang kung ganiyan. And yet, naglabas na po siya nung alleged AMLC Report na iyon at nag-PowerPoint presentation pa rito. May isa pa pong bagay na ikinatataka ko doon sa pangyayaring iyon. Kasi po, pinadalhan niya ako ng sulat, pinasasagot niya ako within 72 hours. Ngayon, nakalagay po roon sa itaas ng papel niya, in bold black letters, Strictly Confidential. Nung natanggap po ng opisina ko iyong sulat ni Ombudsman Morales, naka-seal po iyong envelopethick brown envelope. At nasa Baguio po kami kasi nagsa-summer session kami. Noong kami ay bumaba na sa Maynila at saka ko pa lamang po nakuha iyong mga dokumentong galing kay Ombudsman Morales na selyado pa po. Ang ibig sabihin, hindi pa po nabubuksan ng any member of my staff in Manila. Ang ipinagtataka ko lamang po, Strictly Confidential, pero may kopya po iyong Philippine Daily Inquirer. Corona..., I forgot how they worded the banner headbanner headline po. It was a Sunday issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Obviously, kapag nagpa-publish kayo nang ganoon in a newspaper like the Philippine Daily Inquirer, eh, for maximum damage to reputation. Ang nakalagay, Corona has $12 million or $10 million. Eh, kinu-quote iyong sulat ni Ombudsman Morales. Sino po ang nagbigay sa Philippine Daily Inquirer noong sulat? Ang sabi, Strictly Confidential. Eh, hindi naman po manggagaling sa akin. Obviously, hindi naman ako ang magbibigay nuon sa Philippine Daily Inquirer. At iyong kopya ko ay naka-seal pa po iyong envelope noong nakuha ko, noong pagbaba namin sa Maynila. Senator Ejercito Estrada. Ginoong Chief Justice, noong isiniwalat po ni Ombudsman Morales na mayroon kayong diumanoy 82 dollar accounts at agad-agad sinabi ninyo kinabukasan sa media na papatunayan ninyo na wala kayong 82 dollar accounts at wala kayong $12 million. At sinabi ninyo pa rin sa TV o sa mga pahayagan na hinahamon ninyo na magbitiw sa tungkulin si Ombudsman oras na mapatunayan ninyo na wala kayong 82 dollar accounts at wala kayong $12 million. Iyan po ay hamon ninyo pa rin hanggang ngayon? Mr. Corona. Opo. Senator Ejercito Estrada. Hinahamon ninyo pa rin si Ombudsman Morales na Mr. Corona. Na mag-resign? Senator Ejercito Estrada. mag-resign? Mr. Corona. Opo. Senator Ejercito Estrada. Kayo po, hindi po kayo magre-resign? Mr. Corona. Hindi po. Senator Ejercito Estrada. Salamat po. The Presiding Officer. One-minute suspension.
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The trial was suspended at 4:23 p.m. At 4:28 p.m., the trial was resumed. The Presiding Officer. The trial is resumed. The Floor Leader. Senator Sotto. Mr. President, the Witness is in the restroom.
The Presiding Officer. All right. The trial is suspended. Let us wait for the Chief Justice. The trial was suspended at 4:28 p.m. At 4:35 p.m., the trial was resumed. The Presiding Officer. The trial is resumed. The Majority Leader. Senator Sotto. Yes, Mr. President, we are ready to resume with the continuation of the clarification. May we recognize Senator Drilon, Mr. President? The Presiding Officer. The gentleman from Iloilo, Senator Drilon. Senator Drilon. Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to raise a few clarificatory questions. Mr. Chief Justice, we go back to the issue in this Impeachment Trial. The issue is whether or not you reflected correctly in your Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, your assets for the years in question. And, just to save time, I have prepared a PowerPoint presentation which will show to you our analysis of the amount of your accounts and amounts reported in the various accounts. Can we start with the year 2005? In the year 2005, your SALN reflected a cash deposit of P3,300,000. Now, we checked the evidence and the evidence on record shows a BPI peso account with a balance of P149,767.36 and some substantial dollar accounts as reflected there. If you go back to 2005, the total dollars reflected per the evidence on record is $700,265.12 and, in fact, some of these dollar accounts were reflected in what you have presented to this Court as the lantern. Specifically, I refer, for example, to PSBank Cainta Account No. 14100712. Per your presentation, you opened this on January 14, 2005, with the deposit of $57,000 as reflected in the AMLC report and it was closed on 06 October 2008 per your own presentation, and a credit memo or deposit of $15,242 on July 19, 2005. This is on page 5 of Exhibit 11. The Presiding Officer. Continue. The gentleman may have additional two (2) minutes. Senator Drilon. All right, so can we just go quickly? In 2005, this is the SALN and the accounts; 2006, your report of 2.5 million, the total in 2006 is $700,265.12, and a total peso deposit of P153,000; 2007 SALN, 2.5 million, total peso deposits, P10,087,966.44, total dollar deposits, $414,611.39; 2008 SALN, 2.5 million, total peso deposits, P1,525,857; total dollar deposits, $768,733.96; 2009 SALN, 2.5 million, total peso deposits P9.1 million; dollar, $768,733.96; and 2010 total SALN reflection of cash is 3.5 million; total peso deposits, P31,752,623 and dollar deposit of $768,733.96.
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Now, you just mentioned that you have $2.4 million and P80.7 million. Apparently, none of these is being reflected in your SALNs, Mr. Chief Justice. Is that correct? Mr. Corona. Yes, Sir. But, I already explained that last Tuesday. And the reason was because I believe that the dollar deposits need not be reported in the SALN because of Republic Act No. 6426. Senator Drilon. Okay. Mr. Corona. Ang pesos naman po, gaya po noong pinaliwanag ko, hindi ko po rine-report iyon kasi commingled funds iyon ng hindi...sa pangangasiwa ko lang po iyon, hindi naman po sa amin iyon. Senator Drilon. Okay. Iyon po ay sa pangangasiwa mo ngunit hindi ba dapat iyong pera na sa pangangasiwa mo ay dapat i-report mo rin at iyong corresponding liability ay i-report mo? Halimbawa, P34.7M ang inyong hawak for BGEI, iyan po ay liability ngunit iyan din po ay asset, hindi po ba? Mr. Corona. Pardon me, Senator, pero hindi po ako accountant, hindi po ako nakaka-intindi noong mga asset, debit, credit na iyan. Ang naintindihan ko lang po iyong ordinaryong pagkakaintindi ng abogado diyan na hindi naman akin, hindi ko naman inutang kaya hindi ko naman po kailangang i-report. Senator Drilon. Okay. Sige. So, factually, there is no dispute there. You did not report it in the same manner that you did not report your dollars because, in your view, the law provides you full secrecy of the dollar accounts. Now, when did you start depositing in dollars? Just last question. The Presiding Officer. Proceed. Senator Drilon. When did you start depositing your monies in dollars in the banks? Mr. Corona. Siguro po mga, kung hindi po ako nagkakamali, baka mga 1972 or 1973 mga ganoon po. Kasi, bagamat nag-iipon...nagpapapalit na po kami ng dollar noon, noong umpisa po hindi naman kayo puwedeng mag-open ng dollar account sa bangko, eh. Kasi po, at that time, I think the government was, you were required to, at least, businessmen, those who were earning dollars from their businesses had to surrender their dollars. Iyong mga ordinaryong tao naman po, katulad natin na magbi-biyahe halimbawa, tapos may sosobra hindi na natin binabalik sa bangko iyon, tinatago na natin iyon. Kung mayroong kaibigan na nangangailangan ng pesos, mayroon siyang dollar, Gusto mong bilhin iyong dollar ko? O, sige, bibilhin ko iyong dollar mo. Itinatago lang po natin iyon. Hindi po puwedeng mag-deposito noon, eh. Noong mga 72, 73, hindi ko pa matandaan iyong year na iyon, parang naglabas po ang.... Wala pa po iyong FCDU Law. Ang tawag pa yata nila roon iyong parang 343 account yata ang tawag doon, eh. Iyong Central Bank Circular No. 343, allowing people who had dollars to open dollar accounts pero parang nag-umpisa yata po iyon, kung hindi ako nagkakamali, around 72 or 73. Doon lang po ako nakapagdeposito noon. Senator Drilon. Yes. For the record, the FCDU accounts started in 1974. Thank you very much, Mr. President.
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Mr. Corona. Mga ganoon po. Senator Sotto. May we recognize.... The Presiding Officer. Who is next?
Mr. Cuevas. I will just.... If the Court will allow me, Your Honor. May I just be given only one minute to make a short statement. I noticed in their.... I am sorry, Your Honor. I am not yet permitted. The Presiding Officer. What is the pleasure of the gentleman from the Defense? Mr. Cuevas. Thank you. Because there is a.... The Presiding Officer. What is your pleasure? Mr. Cuevas. There is this statement there, Your Honor, that per testimony of Mr. Garcia, there was something $738,000. I understand, based on the record of the proceedingsif I am correct because I was going over them several nightsthis was not pursued by Mr. Garcia because there is a restraining order, Your Honor. And we do not know, it was not even marked, Your Honor, neither the amount and he was very clear before this Court that, in view of this restraining order, he cannot proceed with his testimony on these dollar accounts. The Presiding Officer. Anyway, we record your manifestation. Mr. Cuevas. Thank you, Your Honor. Senator Drilon. Can I just respond to the manifestation, Sir? The Presiding Officer. The gentleman from Iloilo. Senator Drilon. Yes, that is correct. Mr. Garcia only testified on the account number. Mr. Cuevas. Correct. Senator Drilon. The amount of $768,000 is reflected in the AMLC Report which has the same account number ending 0373. That is the account number identified by Mr. Garcia as existing and owned by the Chief Justice and the amount of $768,733.96 is reflected in the AMLC report with the same account number. Just to qualify, Your Honor. Mr. Cuevas. I would not go any further, Your Honor, because I am worried that I might incur the displeasure of the entire Impeachment Court. But the AMLC report is under question. There is no authentication on it. The Presiding Officer. No, no, no. You can speak but I would like to remind the Defense that the Ombudsman was your witness. Mr. Cuevas. Yes, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. And whatever she presented here will be treated as a part of your evidence. Mr. Cuevas. No, but if we go by the rules of procedure and evidence, Your Honor,... The Presiding Officer. What is the material rule of evidence on this?
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Mr. Cuevas. If the Court allows the introduction of the testimony of a witness who is hostile, his or her testimony shall not be considered as against the party calling her to the stand. Neither will it be considered as testimony as against the other party, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. What section of the rules of evidence would that be? Mr. Cuevas. If I recall correctly, Your Honor, it is a jurisprudence on the pointHong Kong Bank v. ....Volume 54....I have that before but I am not.... The Presiding Officer. Anyway, we will evaluate this matter and we will study the rules. Mr. Cuevas. Thank you, Your Honor. Senator Sotto. Mr. President, may we recognize Sen. Francis N. Pangilinan. The Presiding Officer. Sen. Francis N. Pangilinan is recognized. Senator Pangilinan. Magandang hapon po, Ginoong Chief Justice. Mr. Corona. Magandang hapon po sa inyo. Senator Pangilinan. Sabi po ninyo kanina mayroon po kayong $2.4 million na dollar account at nasa pangalan po ninyo at P80 million sa pangalan po ninyo, hindi pa ho kasama iyong mga nakapangalan po sa inyong mga ari-arian ano. Sa SALN po ninyo noong 2010, P22 million lamang po ang nakalagay. Hindi ho ba pagka tayo po ay nagdeklara ng ating Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, ay kinakailangan ilagay po ang lahat ng assets? Mayroon po kayong dahilan, sabi po ninyo mayroong absolute confidentiality. Pero hindi ho ba napakalayo po noong P22 million na dineklara po ninyo doon sa $2.4 million na nasa pangalan po ninyo, at iyong P80 million din po ninyo na nasa pangalan po ninyo? Para hong napakalawak po nuong pagkakaiba. Would you care to comment, po? Mr. Corona. Opo. As far as the pesos are concerned, hindi ko po talagang linagay iyon dahil hindi naman amin iyon. Sinabi ko na nga po iyon ay commingled funds. Iyong dollars naman po, e nandoon sa batas po iyon e,... Senator Pangilinan. Opo, okay, at nabanggit na po ninyo. Kung susundan po natin ang inyo pong argumento bilang Chief Justice po ano, at kayo po ang nagsasabi po noong mga batasano po ang dapat sundan, ano po ang interpretasyon, hindi ho ba tayo mauuwi na lahat po ng ating mga opisyal ng pamahalaan puwede pong gawin po iyongsundan po iyong inyong ginagawa na ang idedeklara lamang po nila ay P10 million pero mayroon po silang dollar account dahil nga hindi kailangan ideklara? Maaari pong mangyari po iyon, hindi po ba? Mr. Corona. Maaari. May posibilidad pero pinaliwanag ko na po iyon kanina when Senator Cayetano was in the rostrum, pinaliwanag ko po kanina iyan e. Sinabi ko po sa inyo na iyong kung halimbawa ngayon lamang ako nag-ipon iyang mga dollar na iyan, ngayong nasa gobyerno ako, siguro mapapag-isipan ninyo na baka ganun na nga, tinatago ko, ano? Pero hindi naman po ganoon ang sitwasyon na iyon e, kasi Far East Bank pa po, mga Far East Bank days pa po, nag-iipon ako, nandoon na po sa bangko iyan, e. Nasa pribado pa po ako. At saka, isa pa po. Kung tinatago ko pa iyon bakit ko po ilalagay sa pangalan ko? Bakit ko ilalagay sa pangalan ko kung tinatago ko iyong dollar na iyon?
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Senator Pangilinan. Iyon din po ang tanong ko po. Kung talaga pong inipon po ninyo nang napakaraming taon at sa malinis na paraan po, mayroon ho bang masama na i-deklara po ninyo kahit na mayroong absolute confidentiality? Mr. Corona. Hindi na nga po kailangang ideklara kasi nasa batas po mismo iyon. Senator Pangilinan. Oo nga po. Iyon lamang po ang tanong ko: Kung sa malinis na paraan po nakuha po ito, ano hong masama na ideklara po? Iyon lamang po ang aking katanungan. Mr. Corona. Ang pagkakaintindi ko po, ang confidentiality po na under Republic Act 6426 ay absolute, wala pong exception iyon. Senator Pangilinan. Iyon po ang depensa po ninyo na hindi ho dapat ideklara. Mr. Corona. Opo, opo. Senator Pangilinan. At dahil po depensa po ninyo iyon, ang tanong ko lang po, mayroon ho kasi tayong probisyon sa ating Saligang Batas, iyong Section 17, Article XI na nagsasabi na dapat po under oath, we declare our assets, liabilities and net worth. Kung mayroon pong Saligang Batas na probisyon na nagsasabing dapat po nating ilabas iyong ating SALN May we just have one more minute, Mr. President? The Presiding Officer. Yes, proceed. Senator Pangilinan. ano ho ang mangingibabaw, iyong isang batas o iyong Saligang Batas? Mr. Corona. Doon din naman po iyon tutuloy eh kasi ang nakalagay po sa Saligang Batas as may be provided by law. Iyon po iyong law eh. Senator Pangilinan. Maaaring i-argue po iyon. Ang sa posisyon lang po natin, and for the record, Republic Act 6426 is a 1973 law and the 1987 Constitution is a later law and it is the Constitution. Mr. Corona. Nabanggit po ninyo iyong word na malinis, kung nanggaling sa malinis na paraan. Kaya nga po kanina, nagbigay na po ako ng waiver at sinabi ko nga po that I do not mind you calling the bank managers. Kasi po iyong account officer ko po sa BPI, siya po ang makakapag-testify dito at makakapagsabi sa inyo na siya na rin mismo noong Far East Bank pa sila, inaalagaan na niya iyong mga account kong iyan. Senator Pangilinan. Salamat po. Mr. Corona. Kaya nga po ibinoluntir ko na nga po iyong sabing iyon, tawagin na sila eh. Senator Pangilinan. Nag-rule na po ang ating Presiding Officer tungkol po roon. Doon po sa usapin po noong cash advance na 11 million dahil ito po ay inilagay ninyo sa inyong SALN. Hindi po sa inyo iyong pera, iyong Basa-Guidote. Pera po ng Basa-Guidote. Pero sa inyong pangalan po nakalagay. Bakit po sa pangalan ninyo kung hindi po sa inyo? Mr. Corona. Ipinaliwanag ko po iyan sa isang interview, tinanong po sa akin iyan eh. Sinabi ko po, kasi nakalagay nga po iyan at that time, iyong mga time deposit certificates, nagma-mature po iyan eh. At that time, my wife was president and chairman of John Hay Management Corporation
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sa Baguio. Kadalasan po, hindi naman nagma-mature yong.... Pagro-roll over niyan, weekday po kasi wala naman pong banking day Sabado at Linggo. For convenience actually iyan na nasa pangalan ko. Pero ang importante diyan ay even if it was in my name, we never denied that it belonged to Basa-Guidote. As in fact, ngayon paulit-ulit pa kami dito sa Impeachment Trial na ito na ina-acknowledge namin na iyong perang iyan BasaGuidote. At second thing po, Senator, the other important thing here is, the money is intact, wala pong nabawas diyan, intact. And even now right now, herein now, sinasabi ko, ina-acknowledge po namin na hindi amin iyon. Senator Pangilinan. So umutang po kayo sa perang hindi po sa inyo. Mr. Corona. Hindi po utang, bumali po. Senator Pangilinan. Ah, nag-cash advance, opo. Mr. Corona. Nag-cash advance po. Senator Pangilinan. At binabayaran po ninyo. Mr. Corona. Opo. Senator Pangilinan. So account po ninyo, kayo po ang umutang, hindi ho sa inyong pera pero nasa pangalan po ninyo. Mr. Corona. Actually po, iyong wife ko po. Kaya po pinambili po namin iyan ng La Vista, iyong titulo po wala po sa pangalan namin, wala po ang pangalan ko doon sa titulo, nasa pangalan po ng wife ko. Senator Pangilinan. So pag binabayaran po ninyo taun-taon, binabayaran po ninyo iyong tseke sa pangalan din po ninyo? Mr. Corona. Minsan po tseke, minsan po cash. Senator Pangilinan. So dine-deposit po ninyo sa inyong account iyong utang po ninyo. Mr. Corona. Basta nakalagay po cash, binibigay ko sa wife ko, bahala na siya. Senator Pangilinan. Hindi po namin alam ang actual net worth po ninyo dahil nga po base doon sa SALN po ninyo, P22 milyon pero base po sa salaysay po ninyo, mas malaki. Magkano po ang net worth po ninyo sa inyong palagay. Mr. Corona. Wala po akong calculator, pero ibinigay ko na po iyong mga figures sa inyo. As far as I am concerned, iyan po ang actual, accurate figures. It is a matter of adding them up po. Kung gusto ninyo pong isasama iyong dollar despite the 6426 at saka kung isasama din ninyo iyong pesos kahit na hindi amin. Senator Pangilinan. Opo. Bakit po ninyo winidraw (withdraw) lahat ng Basa-Guidote accounts noong December 12, noong impeachment day? Mr. Corona. Sasabihin ko po sa inyo ang totoo. Kasi po marami pa rin naman akong naiwang mga kaibigan at saka mga kumpa-kumpare doon sa Malacaang eh. Ilan po sa kanila
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ang tumawag sa akin, ipi-freeze iyong mga deposits namin. Palagay ko, kung kayo po ay nasa lagay ko, palagay ko pareho din po ang gagawin ninyo eh. Pangangalagaan din ninyo iyong pinaghirapan ninyo sa buong buhay ninyo at iyong mga perang hindi naman sa inyo. Senator Pangilinan. Nabanggit po sa isang interview na nawalan na po kayo ng tiwala sa PSBank kaya po ninyo winidraw. Mr. Corona. Hindi po, doon sa manager po. Lilinawin ko po iyon na na-disappoint kami doon sa manager po. Senator Pangilinan. Kasi ang nakalagay po PSBank. Nawalan na kayo ng tiwala sa bangko kaya winidraw (withdraw) po ninyo. Mr. Corona. Siguro sa pagri-report na lamang po iyon. Pero ang sabi ko po, iyong manager po nawalan kami ng tiwala. Senator Pangilinan. Dahil noong winidraw (withdraw) po ninyo, sa PSBank din po ninyo idineposit eh. Mr. Corona. Hindi po idineposit, nagkakamali po kayo, Mr. Senator. Iyong sinasabi ninyo na nire-deposit namin sa PSBank, iyon po ang settlement account. Kasi kapag nag-terminate kayo ng time deposit certificate, hindi naman iyon palitan ng cash at saka time deposit eh. Alam na alam naman po natin sa nagta-transact sa bangko, iyong halaga po noon, iyong net proceeds po noon ay ipapasok muna sa tinatawag na settlement account at doon ninyo iwi-withdraw. Isang transaksyon lang po iyon eh. Senator Pangilinan. We will have to check the records because if I recall, sabi po ng PSBank president, tinanong ko po iyon eh, winidraw lahat at saan ho napunta? At sabi po niya, doon din po sa bangko ng PSBank. Mr. Corona. Ako na po ang nagsasabi sa inyo, mali po ang interpretasyon niya. Kasi alam ko po iyong nangyari eh. Pinasok po sa settlement account iyon. Senator Pangilinan. One more question, Mr. President. The Presiding Officer. Proceed. Senator Pangilinan. Thank you. It is okay, Mr. President, nasagot na po iyong iba kong tanong. Salamat po. The Presiding Officer. The Floor Leader is recognized. Senator Sotto. Mr. President, may we recognize Sen. Francis Escudero. The Presiding Officer. The gentleman from Sorsogon has the floor. Senator Escudero. Thank you, Mr. President. Actually, I just have a few questions. First, to the Defense Counsel. Justice Cuevas, since you already rested your case, does that mean to say na hindi ninyo na ipiprisinta iyong mga dokumento ng bangko base sa waiver ni Chief Justice Corona para i-dispute iyong report ng AMLC? Mr. Cuevas. Hindi pa po kamimukhang hindi po ayos iyong inyong pronouncement na nag-close na kami ng evidence. Hindi pa po, we have not yet closed our evidence. We made a commitment on record that we will have no other witness other than the Chief Justice.
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Senator Escudero. Yes. Mr. Cuevas. But as to the closing of our evidence, we have not yet closed. We have not even made a formal offer of all our documentary exhibits. Senator Escudero. Babaguhin ko po nang kaunti. Ang ibig sabihin ko po ay dahil po wala na kayong ibang testigo, ibig sabihin po nito ay hindi na ninyo gagamitin ang anumang dokumento na maaaring makuha mula sa waiver ni Chief Justice Corona para patunayang hindi totoo iyong AMLC report o kung totoo iyong AMLC report. Mr. Cuevas. Hindi na po kami hahantong sa ganoong pagkakataon dahil hindi naman po naming ebidensiya iyon eh. All we did was to comply with the, shall we say, pronouncement or the order of this Honorable Court in order to show our obedience, our respect for the authority of this Court, Your Honor. But as to whether we will utilize whatever document is procured through that, there is no commitment on record to that effect. Senator Escudero. Thank you, Justice Cuevas. May I address some questions to the Prosecution. I may address it to Atty. Mario Bautista or perhaps to the lead prosecutor. This is more of policy and tactic on the part of the Prosecution really. May I address it to Congressman Tupas. Congressman Tupas, apat na buwan na nating pinagsisigawan, pati kayo, na mag-pirma na ng waiver si Chief Justice Corona. Ngayong pumirma na siya ng waiver, maaari ko po bang tanungin papaano planong gamitin itong waiver na ito kung gagamitin man ninyo dahil ang tagal na ho ninyong hihahamon diyan at namin hinahamon ang Punong Mahistrado na pumirma ng waiver? Ngayong nandiyan na po iyan, ano po ang balak ninyong gawin? Representative Tupas. Pag-usapan namin. On the part of the Prosecution po ay tapos na angnag-rest na kami ng kaso namin at nagre-rely kami doon sa AMLC report at sa testimony of the Ombudsman, at wala na kaming rebuttal evidence. So as far as the Prosecution is concerned, sarado na ang aming kaso and we are preparing now for the closing arguments on Monday. Senator Escudero. Naguguluhan lamang po ako dahil nagbotohan pa kami kung gagalangin ba yung TRO ng Supreme Court o hindi, nagdebate at nag-away-away kami kung bubuksan ba yung mga account o hindi. Ngayong bukas na, parang wala nang interesado bigla. Hindi ko ho maintindihan iyon. Representative Tupas. Kasi kanina, meron na rin dito kaninang ruling ang ating Presiding Officer na hindi na rin ipiprisinta ng Defense. Wala na ring additional evidence with respect doon sa waiver. At nag-agree ang Prosecution nanag-rest na rin kami ng aming kaso, wala kaming rebuttal evidence. Yun po ang napag-usapan kanina dahil nag-usap rin kami ng Defense Counsel about this, Senator Escudero. Senator Escudero. Sa panig po namin, maliwanag na hindi kami puwedeng magprisinta ng ebidensya at ipanalo ang kaso sa panig man ng Depensa o ng Prosecution. Subalit sa punto de vista at sa mata man namin o ng publiko, parang malaking kawalan kung saka-sakali, yung pagkakataong ibinibigay nito para mapalakas, mapatunayan o mapahina ang posisyon ng magkabilang panig. Hinihimok ko sana ang magkabilang panig, para po sa amin at sa publiko, na pakinabangan at gamitin ho natin itong pagkakataong ito. Pero hindi po namin kayo kayang diktahan at hindi ko ho kayo dinidiktahan kaugnay nito.
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Just one more point, Mr. President. The Presiding Officer. Granted.
Senator Escudero. To the distinguished Chief Justice. CJ, magandang hapon po. Ang dating po sa akin ng inyong testimonya ay Mr. Cuevas. Excuse me. Excuse, because he was already complaining to us, Your Honor, that he is not feeling well anymore. So I wanted to bring that home to the knowledge of the Court and ask the Courts permission to kindly excuse the Witness already. Mr. Corona. Tapusin na lang po natin si Senator Escudero kung puwede. Mr. Cuevas. O, sige po. Thank you. The Presiding Officer. All right. Senator Escudero. Kung mamarapatin po ninyo, CJ, isa na lamang po, paumanhin po. The Presiding Officer. Well, the Chief Justice is excused. Mr. Corona. Tatapusin na lang po natin si Senator Escudero. Senator Escudero. Inamin po ninyo na meron kayong dollar deposits at peso deposits na wala sa SALN niyo. Subalit ang pagkakaintindi ko po commingled yung ibang peso deposits at hindi niyo kailangang ideklara yung dollar deposits base sa inyong paniniwala na dahil sa 6426 ay hindi niyo po ito kailangang ideklara. Tama po ba yung pagkakaintindi ko? Mr. Corona. Oho, because of the absolute confidentiality rule po. Kasi sa aking pag-aaral po nung batas wala naman pong, talagang hindi po naman nire-require na, unless narather, let me rephrase what I am trying to say. Yung requirement po ng confidentiality ay garantiya, guaranteed by 6426 at nabanggit ko po noong Tuesday, isinayt (cite) ko po yung pag-aaral nung si Director Estrella Martinez na SALN expert po ng BIR na for 32 years. Sa kanyang pag-aaral, sinabi po niya, in her 32 years na pagsusuri ng mga ibat-ibang SALN, as a member of the BIR SALN group, wala pa po siyang nakitang kahit na isang SALN ng public official na nagtaglay po ng dollar deposits. Kaya siguro po kung malinaw lang po iyong batas, siguro wala namang choice ang lahat ng tao kung hindi ilagay po iyong dollar deposits. Senator Escudero. So ibig sabihin po, Chief Justice, inilalagay ninyo na po sa kamay ng Hukumang ito ang pagdesisyon ng mangyayari po sa inyo at depende kung sumasang-ayon po kami sa interpretasyong iyan na ibinigay ninyo o hindi? Mr. Corona. Ang sinasabi ko po, Senator, there seems to be a conflict between the SALN Law and the FCDU Law. Hindi naman po ngayon lang ako nag-ipon ng dollars na iyan. Noong araw po naman, noong nasa pribado pa ako. Ngayon, kung biglang sasabihin sa akin ng ninuman: Oh, mali ka, eh. Dapat inilagay mo. Sabi koang sasabihin ko naman po: Ano iyong pagbabasehan ko po naman noon? I relied on the law. Iyon po ang sabi ng batas. Iyon din po ang sabi ng Constitution, as may be provided by law. Eh, iyong law pong iyon,
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iyon nga, iyong FCDU Law na iyon. So tiningnan ko rin po kung mayroong mga desisyon itong nag-umpisa nitong Impeachment Trial na ito. Tiningnan ko po kung mayroong desisyon ang Korte Suprema interpreting which prevails whether it is the SALN Law or the FCDU Law. Eh, wala naman pong desisyon din ang Korte Suprema tungkol diyan. So I relied on it in good faith. Senator Escudero. Maraming salamat po, CJ. At isa na lamang po. Binabati ko po kayo sa pagpirma noong waiver ng secrecy of bank deposits, gayon din po ang FCDU. Mayroon ho kaming panukalang-batas tungkol diyan na naglalayong lahat ng opisyal na required mag-file ng SALN ay magpirma po ng waiver ng secrecy of bank deposits. Sana po ito ay mapagtibay sa lalong madaling panahon. Mr. Corona. It is the least I can do po for our people, for transparency. Para sa taong bayan ko po ginawa iyon. Senator Escudero. Salamat po, CJ. Salamat po, Justice Cuevas. Mr. Corona. Salamat din po. The Presiding Officer. Thank you. Majority Floor Leader. Mr. Chief Justice, are you requesting to Mr. Corona. Yes, Your Honor. I am very, very tired already. The Presiding Officer. All right. The Witness is discharged. Mr. Cuevas. Your Honor, please. Before the Chief Justice actually leaves the witness stand, Your Honor, may we just place on record a medical bulletin which we took liberty in marking. The Presiding Officer. Actually, Counsel, the Chief Justice is discharged. You can make your manifestation so that he will not suffer on the witness stand. Senator Sotto. He can step down. Mr. Cuevas. Okay. Senator Sotto. Yes. He may step down while Justice Cuevas is manifesting, Mr. President, or giving his manifestation. The Presiding Officer. The Defense Counsel can make the manifestation on the podium of the Defense. Mr. Cuevas. Thank you, thank you, Your Honor. What we are trying to request this Honorable Court is for us to permit to put into evidence this medical bulletin, Your Honor, as part of the testimony of the Witness. The Presiding Officer. You submit it and I will accept it. Mr. Cuevas. Thank you, Your Honor. As Exhibit 268, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Granted. Mr. Cuevas. Thank you.
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Senator Sotto. Mr. President, may I have a one-minute suspension, Mr. President. The Presiding Officer. One minute, one long minute suspension. The trial was suspended at 5:09 p.m. At 5:09 p.m., the trial was resumed. The Presiding Officer. The Impeachment Trial is resumed. Now, what is the pleasure of the Defense? Mr. Cuevas. If Your Honor, please, since we have closed the testimony of the Respondent, the Honorable Chief Justice, we are asking permission that we be allowed to make a formal offer of all our documentary evidence. The Presiding Officer. You are granted right now. Mr. Cuevas. We will just file it today, Your Honor, and we will furnish The Presiding Officer. Will you kindly submitYou filed it today, you filed it with whom? Mr. Cuevas. With the Secretariat, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. The Secretary, will you kindly find out where the formal offer of evidence from the Defense is? Senator Sotto. Mr. President, may we have another suspension while they are securing all the necessary documents from their holding room, Mr. President. I move that we suspend for a few minutes. The Presiding Officer. Trial is suspended for how many minutes? Five (5) minutes? Senator Sotto. Five (5) minutes, Mr. President. The Presiding Officer. Five (5) minutes. The trial was suspended at 5:11 p.m. At 5:22 p.m., the trial was resumed. The Presiding Officer. The Impeachment Trial is resumed. Defense Counsel, are you ready to formally offer your evidence? Mr. Cuevas. Your Honor, please, we are making of record that the 39 copies of our list of exhibitswritten offer are now with the SecretariatI am sorry. We are making a formal offer of all these documentary exhibits through a written offer, Your Honor. As soon as they are stamped Received, we will bring the copies there and furnish the other party with their respective copies, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Counsel for the Prosecution? Representative Tupas. Yes, Your Honor.
The Presiding Officer. Have you gone over the testimonial and documentary evidence of the Defense, and do you have any objection to any of those evidence presented by the Defense?
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Representative Tupas. We have no objection, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. To the admission of all those testimonial and documentary evidence of the Defense? Representative Tupas. Yes.
The Presiding Officer. All right. Then submit to us your written offer. Representative Tupas. And, Your Honor, we are also filing our Supplemental Offer of Documentary Evidence for the Prosecution now. The Presiding Officer. All right.
Representative Tupas. We are also submitting it now. We are just waiting for our staff from the Prosecution. The Presiding Officer. And after both sides have completed their formal offer of evidencein-chief in the case of the Defense, and Supplemental Evidence in the case of the Prosecution, the case is deemed and treated as submitted for decision by this Court. Mr. Cuevas. Submitted, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. That is understood, ha? Is that understood by both parties? Representative Tupas. Yes, Your Honor.
The Presiding Officer. And the Defense? Senator Sotto. Defense? Defense, is it understood, the question of the Presiding Officer? The Presiding Officer. Yes. Do you understand that once the Formal Offer is accepted Mr. Cuevas. I am sorry. I am sorry. The Presiding Officer. I will repeat my question. Mr. Cuevas. Yes, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. We are now requesting you to submit formally in writing your testimonial and documentary evidence for the Defense for admission by this Court. Mr. Cuevas. We have complied with that, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. You have complied. And also the Prosecution will likewise submit for admission by this Court their supplemental documentary evidence and testimonial evidence, if any. Representative Tupas. Yes, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Okay. Representative Tupas. We have here a 19-page The Presiding Officer. No, no. I am just asking you.
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Representative Tupas. Yes.
The Presiding Officer. After a ruling is formally issued by this Court, then this impeachment case is deemed submitted for decision. Mr. Cuevas. If Your Honor please, may I? I thought the Honorable Court had scheduled the oral argument for Monday. The Presiding Officer. Yes, subject to the arguments Mr. Cuevas. This coming Monday. The Presiding Officer. Yes. Mr. Cuevas. Yes, Your Honor. That is our understanding. The Presiding Officer. Yes. Correct. I am coming to that. Mr. Cuevas. Thank you, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. And then, after the oral argument, this Court will decide whether to make the decision on the same day or postpone it for another day. Okay? Mr. Cuevas. Another day. Clear, Your Honor, to us, for the Defense. Representative Tupas. Clear to us, Your Honor. But we just like to manifest, Your Honor, that we already submitted the Supplemental Formal Offer of Documentary Evidence and received by the Senate Secretariat at 4:05 in the afternoon, today. The Presiding Officer. So, you are making that offer? Representative Tupas. Yes, Sir. The Presiding Officer. How about theone after the other. Let us start first with the Defense. I understand, Mr. Defense Counsel, that your written formal offer of all your evidence, your documentary evidence, has been received by this Court. So, may I now ask the Floor Leader to read the formal action of this Court with respect to your documentary evidence. Senator Sotto. Thank you. Mr. President, the Defense has presented evidence on the allegations of the Answer of Respondent Chief Justice Renato C. Corona in relation to Articles 2, 3 and 7 of the Articles of Impeachment under the Verified Complaint for Impeachment. They have also filed a Formal Offer of Documentary Evidence by identifying several documents previously marked as Exhibits 1 to 269 and their submarkings and offering them for specific purposes. For its part, the Prosecution has presented additional evidence on the allegations of Article 2 of the Articles of Impeachment under the Verified Complaint for Impeachment. They have also filed a Formal Offer of Additional Documentary Evidence identifying several documents previously marked as Exhibits OOOOOOOOOO to CCCCCCCCCC and their sub-markings and offering them for specific purposes. Wherefore, in view of the foregoing, acting on the Formal Offer of Documentary Evidence of the Defense, and the Formal Offer of Additional Documentary Evidence of the Prosecution, the Court
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resolves to admit the Defenses Exhibits 1 to 269 and their sub-markings and the Prosecutions Exhibits Ten O (OOOOOOOOOO) to Eleven C (CCCCCCCCCCC) and Eleven E (EEEEEEEEEEE) to Twelve Z (ZZZZZZZZZZZZ) and their submarkings, subject to the appreciation of the individual Senator-Judges as to their weight and sufficiency for the purposes for which they have been offered. Further, foregoing documentary exhibits are admitted as part of the testimonies of the witnesses who testified thereon. The Defense is deemed to have rested its case, Mr. President. The Presiding Officer. Yes. Mr. Cuevas. Your Honor please. In connection with the supplemental offer, may we request even up to Monday morning to file our objections, Your Honor. Because there are so many things here that we have been objecting. The Presiding Officer. All right, granted until Monday morning. You can submit your objections. Representative Tupas. May we ask a one-minute recess, Your Honor, just one minute? The Presiding Officer. Yes, granted. The trial was suspended at 5:31 p.m. At 5:32 p.m., the trial was resumed. Senator Sotto. We are ready to resume, Mr. President. The Presiding Officer. The Impeachment Trial is resumed. Senator Sotto. Mr. President, before the suspension, the Presiding Officer granted the request of the Defense. But may we appeal the ruling and ask the Defense to withdraw the objection so that we will no longer prolong the problem and the agony? The Presiding Officer. What is the pleasure of the Prosecution? Senator Sotto. The Defense, Mr. President. The Presiding Officer. The Defense. Mr. Cuevas. If, Your Honor please, with that admonitionI am sorry. Senator Sotto. Yes, go ahead. Mr. Cuevas. With that admonition, we will just go on record as not objecting to the offer, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. All right. Senator Sotto. Both sides, Mr. President. The Presiding Officer. The motion of the Floor Leader is granted. So, you have withdrawn your objection to the supplemental offer of evidence Mr. Cuevas. To the admission, yes.
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The Presiding Officer. by the Prosecution. So ordered. Mr. Cuevas. Thank you, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. All right.
So, therefore, to clarify, this case is now submitted for final resolution by this Impeachment Court, subject to the oral argument of the two sides to be held next Monday at two oclock in the afternoon. Is that understood? Mr. Cuevas. Agreed, Your Honor. Representative Tupas. Yes, that is clear, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. You have an equal time of one hour each side. Mr. Cuevas. Anyway, per your instruction, Your Honor, it is up for us to divide or make arrangement. The Presiding Officer. Correct, yes, yes. Mr. Cuevas. Thank you, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. All right. The Floor Leader. Senator Sotto. Yes, Mr. President. May we ask the Sergeant-At-Arms to make an announcement. The Presiding Officer. The Sergeant-At-Arms is directed to make the announcement. The Sergeant-At-Arms. Please all rise. All persons are commanded to remain in their places until the Senate President and the Senators have left the Session Hall. The Presiding Officer. Mr. Floor Leader. Senator Sotto. Mr. President, there being no other business for today, I move that we adjourn until two oclock in the afternoon of Monday, May 28, 2012. The Presiding Officer. Granted. The trial was adjourned at 5:34 p.m.

May 25 Senate Impeachment Court Record

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FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012,

Republic of the Philippines

Record of the Senate

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