InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
MANILA, Philippines -- The prosecution in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona got a scolding again from senator-judges on Thursday when they said they would be presenting not the 45 properties they earlier claimed the magistrate owned, but only 24.
The prosecution’s disclosure prompted Senator Joker Arroyo to remind them to present only evidence that will prove Corona committed an impeachable offense.
On questioning by Senator Francis Escudero, admitted that they would be presenting only the 24 properties.
He also dodged blame for this development, saying, “The 45 properties is a list from the Land Registration Authority, but as far as the prosecution is concerned, so far we have presented 21 titles, including parking lots.”
To which Escudero replied: “One side already said 45 titles and here we are waiting for 45 titles. I hope this will serve as a guide that unless evidence is presented before the court, we cannot evaluate it.”
Tupas also denied the list of 45 properties released to media came from them.
“Sino naglabas sa media (Who released the list to media)?” Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada asked Tupas.
“Hindi po kami ang naglabas (We did not release it),” Tupas answered.
During the cross-examination by the defense of the registrars of deeds of Quezon and Marikina cities, it was revealed that some of the properties owned by Corona and his wife, Cristina, had either been sold off or were owned by their children.
One lot in Marikina had been sold and divided into seven parcels.
Representative Elpidio Barzaga said the erroneous declaration of the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth of a government official constituted the crime of perjury but he also admitted that this did not qualify as a “high crime,” the requirement for an impeachable offense.
Arroyo rebuked the prosecution, saying, “Not every omission is an impeachable offense. Even a crime that may have been committed is not an impeachable offense. The responsibility of the prosecution is to present evidence that will amount to an impeachable offense and defense must refute it. If evidence presented here is just any evidence, it is not fair to the Senate.”
The defense also chided Iloilo Representative Niel Tupas Jr., head of the House of Representatives’ prosecution panel, saying, “If he (had) exercised restrain and prudence, and (done) his homework properly, he would avoid making irresponsible statements such as the 45 properties allegedly owned by Chief Justice Corona, when in fact, it is only 24 properties.”
Defense spokesman Rico Quicho said Tupas’ admission strengthen their view that the prosecution panel is not prepared to prosecute Corona.
“This is a sign of weakness on the part of the prosecution and it shows lack of condor in dealing with the matter,” he said.
