Sandiganbayan orders seizure of Corona’s assets

Buena Bernal

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The writ was issued in connection with the forfeiture case filed against the Corona couple for over P130.59 million in alleged ill-gotten wealth
SEIZED. The anti-graft court orders the seizure of the Coronas. File photo by Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – The Sandiganbayan ordered the temporary seizure of dismissed Chief Justice Renato Corona’s properties, estimated at close to P131M (over $2 million), in order to secure a payment in case he is declared guilty of illegally amassing wealth. 
The anti-graft court issued on May 5, 2014, a writ of preliminary attachment against the assets of Corona, his wife Cristina and their dummies, assignees, trustees, and successors-in-interest. Cristina is the former president and board chairperson of state firm John Hay Development Corporation (JHDC).
The properties ordered seized are estimated to be worth over P130.59 million (over $2 million), the amount the Corona couple allegedly owes the government.
Watch this report below.

 
Corona was the first chief justice of the Philippines to be impeached and removed from office. HIs impeachment trial two years ago, in 2012, was the first of its kind in Philippine history, prompting calls for reform in a judiciary that is criticized for corruption and inefficiency.
(Revisit the 44-day Corona impeachment trial here.)
He has always maintained however that the impeachment was a grand conspiracy against him being an appointee of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Act of protection
A writ of preliminary attachment is issued by a court ahead of its decision over a forfeiture case to protect the victims, in this case the government, from being defrauded in case the court rules in the victim’s favor.
The Corona couple’s assets would have to be effectively frozen, unless they are able to make a cash deposit of the same amount.
The writ was issued in connection with the forfeiture case filed against the couple last March 27, 2014, by the Office of the Ombudsman.
The order was signed by Associate Justice Teresita Diaz-Baldos, chairperson of the Sandiganbayan Second Division. Instructed by Diaz-Baldoz to enforce the writ was Sandiganbayan Sheriff IV Alexander Valencia, who was given 30 days to submit to the court a full inventory of the properties seized.
Forfeiture case
In their assets forfeiture case filed against the Coronas, the Ombudsman accused the couple of using their government positions to enrich themselves.
In a 27-page petition before the Sandiganbayan, the Ombudsman noted the questionable increase in Corona’s net worth over a 10-year period.
Corona declared in his 2001 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) a net worth of P13.97 million ($320,632) and in his 2010 SALN a net worth of P22.94 million ($526,388), a total increase of P8.97 million ($205,828).
Investigation by the Ombudsman also found that the couple’s declared assets were only P30.37 million ($696,879), a far cry from the Ombudsman’s estimate of of their combined assets at P160.96 million ($3.69 million).
The over P130.59 million (over $2 million) that the couple allegedly hid were estimated from different real estate properties and bank accounts that contained undeclared cash deposits both in pesos and in dollars. 
Impeached, charged
Corona was dismissed as chief magistrate of the Supreme Court (SC) in 2012, the year when senators, acting as judges in an impeachment court, declared him guilty of violating the Constitution for unexplained wealth. The historic and dramatic trial, which lasted 5 months and televised nationwide, culminated in a May 29, 2012 guilty verdict.
Corona also faces 6 counts of willful attempt to evade tax and 6 counts of failure to file income tax return before the Court of Tax Appeals for P120.5 million ($2.77 million) in unpaid taxes. 
In his defense, Corona said his income as calculated by the Ombudsman was “arithmetically exaggerated.” He said the Ombudsman included redeposited income in the calculation of his income– Rappler.com

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