Trial takes a break

The impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona is taking a 6-week break with big questions hanging over his central defense, his wife’s family corporation Basa Guidote Enterprises Inc (BGEI). On Day 34 of the trial, the defense panel’s surprise witness, former Mayor Lito Atienza, testified on the city’s 2001 purchase of a BGEI-owned lot in Sampaloc for P34.7-M. City hall issued the check to the Chief Justice’s wife, Maria Cristina. The saga of the Basa Guidote Enterprises Inc. is important to both the prosecution and the defense. The defense mentioned it to try to explain Corona’s accounts with Philippine Saving Bank (PSBank) and his purchase of at least one property. The prosecution has, however, insisted that Corona is using the money of BGEI as an excuse, suggesting that his assets are ill-gotten. Read more in Rappler.