Prosecutors in the dark about Corona’s dollar accounts – Quimbo

MANILA, Philippines – House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte on Wednesday night, May 2, hosted dinner for the prosecution panel. It’s also the birthday of prosecutor Raul Daza of Northern Samar.

Ten congressmen were present and some private prosecutors. None of them have information on the dollar accounts of Chief Justice Renato Corona, according to prosecution spokesperson Romero “Miro” Quimbo.

“We were all hoping that somebody had information. Wala pa,” Quimbo told Rappler.

“It was a social-cum-update meeting, but nothing really new because assignments were already given before the break,” said Rep Edgardo Angara, also a spokesperson of the prosecution panel.

Not all members of the prosecution panel were present in the dinner.

In letter dated April 20, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales ordered the Chief Justice to explain assets that are “purportedly grossly disproportionate to your salary and other lawful income.” It talked about an alleged US$10-million in various accounts under Corona’s name.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer revealed this order in its top story on Sunday, April 29.

Quimbo said they have not even seen the Ombudsman’s order. “I was certainly surprised when it came out in the newspaper,” he said.

Concerns about delay

A few days before the trial resumes on Monday, May 7, the prosecution panel has not discussed whether or not they will ask the impeachment court to subpoena the Ombudsman to submit the bank records or to make her testify herself.

“No decision can be made. We have to get more data. We’ve not even seen the letter. There’s nothing to chew on right now,” Quimbo said.

But there are two things the prosecution panel will consider when they decide on how to handle the Ombudsman’s investigation, he said.

First, the weight of evidence. And second, the possible delay it might cause.

Quimbo believes they have enough evidence to convict the Chief Justice even without the dollar accounts.

“Assuming that it is so compelling, is this going to unnecessarily delay the proceedings? Baka hindi na kailangan,” he said.

“Gusto na namin matapos,” he added.

CJ’s testimony

Quimbo maintained that the prosecution panel is not barred from presenting the Ombudsman before the court. “If we make the decision to present her, in the possibility that we will ask, we don’t see that in conflict with the TRO.”

In February, the SC voted 8-5 to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) stopping the Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank) from further testifying and presenting documents about Corona’s dollar accounts. The High Court cited the bank secrecy law, which expressly states that no foreign currency deposits may be examined without the “written permission of the depositor.”

The prosecution panel appealed the SC decision, but the High Court is yet to act on it.

In a surprise development, the Office of the Ombudsman launched an investigation on Corona based on 3 complaints that were filed before her office. The Ombudsman got around the bank secrecy law through a waiver that Corona signed in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN). (Read: How Ombudsman got access to CJ’s dollars)

Corona dismissed the Ombudsman’s information as “phoney.” He also argued that the Office of the Ombudsman has no jurisdiction over him. But Carpio-Morales maintained that she has the power to investigate impeachable officials for purposes of filing an impeachment complaint.

At this point, Quimbo said the proseuction panel is looking forward to Corona’s testimony before the court.

“We anticipate he will show up. If he is to have any slightest hope of acquittal, he will have to show up,” Quimbo said. – Rappler.com