For 2nd time, DOJ grants Corona’s plea for extension

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Justice on Friday, October 5, granted for the second time the request of dismissed Chief Justice Renato Corona, his daughter Carla Castillo and son-in-law Constantino Castillo to extend the period of submission for their counter-affidavits on their tax evasion cases.

The DOJ said, however, that this will be the last extension.

The panel of prosecutors, composed of Senior State Prosecutor Rosanne Balauag and prosecution lawyers Mark Roland Estepa and Jayvee Bandong, decided to give Corona and the Castillos 10 more days to file their counter-affidavits, even as the respondents’ lawyer Anacleto Diaz sought for a 15-day period of extension for the Castillo couple and 30 more days for Corona.

Diaz told the prosecutors that he will not be able to submit Corona’s counter-affidavit on October 15 and asked that the panel reconsider its decision.

“Rules can be relaxed,” he said. 

Balauag said though that they have to follow their own rules. “Rules have been overly relaxed in this case,” she said.

More time

Corona and the Castillos earlier asked that the hearing be reset from September 25 to October 5, citing the need to study the complaint filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) against them.

Corona, his daughter Carla and son-in-law Constantino were charged with tax evasion by the BIR on August 30. Corona allegedly had a deficiency income tax liability of P120 million, while Carla’s deficiency amounted to P9 million. Constantino Castillo, meanwhile, had a declared income of P1.93 million from 2005-2009, but he bought a property for P10.5 million in 2003 even with no reported income then, according to the BIR.

Diaz said he would need more time to prepare his clients’ counter-affidavits given the nature of the cases. 

“There are 3 separate charges. Carla was charged only with one transaction, but the husband is charged with two – [those that happened] in 2003 and 2009, but the [former] chief justice is charged with various transactions spanning 8 years – from 2002 to 2010,” he told reporters.

“What is more important – the technicalities or substantive justice?” 

Diaz also said he only became the respondents’ lawyer on October 1, hence the lack of time to prepare their counter-affidavits. Corona and the Castillo couple used to be represented by Reinhard Sanchez and Perpetuo Lotilla. 

“We beg you,” Diaz told the panel, but the prosecutors stood by their decision. “Rules must be followed,” Balauag said.

Balauag reiterated that if Corona and the Castillos fail to file their counter-affidavits on October 15, the case will be submitted for resolution. – Rappler.com