#CoronaTrial: Day 28

Rappler.com

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Highlights of Day 28 of the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona

MANILA, Philippines – Here are the highlights of Day 28 of the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

2:12 pm: Session starts. Roll call: 19 senator-judges present.

2:16 pm: Senate President Enrile rules not to subpoena members of the House of Representatives.

2:20 pm: Senator-judge Miriam Defensor-Santiago asks questions to Navotas Rep. Tobias Tiangco. She asks about his motivation for testifying in the trial, and also poses questions about his testimony.

2:36 pm: Tiangco discharged from witness stand. Next witness is Araceli Bayuga,

2:37 pm: One minute suspension to wait for witness.

2:38 pm: Trial resumes, witness takes oath. She is being presented in connection with Article II of the Articles of Impeachment (about the SALN issue).

She testifies to the authenticity of the certification of salary and cash allowances released to the Chief Justice. She says salaries, benefits received by Chief Justice totaled around P21 million. Salary alone around P5.8 million.

She also presents the court’s Alpha Lists, where CJ Corona’s tax records are included, for 2002-2006. She says these were submitted to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)’s revenue district office covering the Supreme Court, from 2004-2006.

3:08 pm: Defense ends direct examination of Bayuga. Prosecution requests to conduct cross examination on Wednesday, March 14, to review documents presented. Court approves.

3:09 pm: Prosecution manifests, protests about the marking of the documents by the defense. Bayuga is temporarily discharged, to come back Wednesday, March 14, for cross examination.

3:12 pm: Defense requests for short suspension.

3:21 pm: Session resumes; Senator-judge Francis Pangilinan manifests, says Supreme Court being selective in honoring subpoenas issued by impeachment court. “We now have an issue where SC decides when to follow a subpoena,” he said.

3:25 pm: Third witness: Demetrio Vicente. He is being presented to prove existence of 7 parcels of land allegedly owned by CJ Corona and his wife.

He testifies that he bought the land from Mrs Cristina Corona back in 1990. He also says the lot was subdivided into 7 by Mrs Corona before he bought it.

Vicente also testifies about the sale and the titling of the land. He says he wasn;t able to change name on titles because he spent his money on the construction of a house on the lot.

3:53 pm: Defense ends direct examination. Cross examination starts, by private prosecutor Jose Justiniano.

He asks details about the sale of the property. In the cross examination, Vicente said the deed of sale was notarized in Makati; CJ Corona was a witness during the notarization; and said the he is a relative of the Chief Justice.

Tax declarations of the lots are still under Mrs Corona, as are the titles. Vicente says he did not think of changing it to his name.

4:16 pm: Redirect examination. Cuevas asks Vicente about the real property taxes. Enrile also asks him questions. 

Questions about the deed of sale, tax records, notarization of documents.

4:39 pm: Session suspended.

5:13 pm: Session resumes. Further questions regarding the land titles, taxes, documents.

Vicente is also asked about the details of how the property was sold to him. He also said CJ Corona met with him last January 19, 2012, when the CJ asked for the original deed of sale.

He also presents other documents, including a special power of attorney of Mrs Corona in the sale of a property owned by her sister Miriam Roco.

5:44 pm: Recross examination by the prosecution. Justiniano asks about the other property sales involving Vicente. More questions on the sale, tax records.

Enrile then grills Vicente over the tax declarations of his property.

Questions from Senator-judges Ralph Recto, Jinggoy Estrada, Franklin Drilon. Alan Peter Cayetano, and Loren Legarda.

6:45 pm: Witness is discharged.

6:46 pm: Court rules on the indirect contempt charge on defense lawyer Jose Roy.

6:51 pm: Session adjourned. Trial resumes Wednesday, Mar 14, 2012, at 2pm. – Rappler.com

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