Why did Corona go to the US in Nov 2011?

MANILA, Philippines – The prosecution wants to subpoena a sales executive of the Philippine Airlines in connection with the alleged trip made by Chief Justice Renato Corona to the US on Nov. 4, 2011.

In its request for subpoena submitted to the impeachment court, the prosecution said they want Enrique Javier, vice president for sales of PAL, to testify on Tuesday, February 20.

He was asked to bring with him the following documents, if the subpoena is approved:

1. A roundtrip ticket booked by Renato Corona for the departure date of Nov. 4, 2011;

2. Passenger record of Corona for his Nov. 4, 2011 flight to the US.

Javier’s testimony would be used to bolster the prosecution’s case in Article 3 of the Articles of Impeachment, which accuses Corona of culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust based on the following grounds:

1. The High Court’s alleged flip-flopping decision over the labor case filed against PAL by the pilots union, FASAP;
2. The appointment by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of Mrs Cristina Corona to the state-owned Camp John Hay corporation even if he was already with the Supreme Court;
3. The allegations that Corona met with a litigant in the Vizconde massacre case, Lauro Vizonde, before the SC issued a final ruling on the case last year.

It was on Oct. 4, 2011, or a month before Corona supposedly took that US trip, when the High Tribunal ordered the recall of its earlier resolution favoring FASAP. The prosecution alleged that it was Corona who influenced the en banc to recall the decision on the basis of 4 letters sent by PAL lawyer Estelito Mendoza.

FASAP filed a motion for reconsideration; the case is still pending.

Corona was impeached on Dec. 12, 2011.

Also covered by the prosecution’s request for subpoena are ABS-CBN’s Nestor Conato, who was asked to testify regarding the press conference held by the Supreme Court on its TRO allowing Mrs Arroyo to seek medical treatment abroad; and Marianito Dimaandal, records custodian of the Office of the President when Corona served as presidential chief of staff. – Rappler.com