Full text: Senate ruling on Corona bank accounts

MANILA, Philippines – Below is the full copy of the Impeachment Court’s decision to allow the subpoena of Chief Justice Renato Corona’s bank records from 2002 to 2010.

In this ruling, the Impeachment Court took note of existing laws on the secrecy of bank deposits but also noted prior instances when the Supreme Court itself relaxed the rule on the absolute confidential nature of bank deposits, even foreign currency deposit accounts.

The ruling specifically cites cases of Salvacion vs Central Bank of the Philippines (G.R. No. 94723, August 21, 1997) as well as China Banking Corporation v. Court of Appeals (G.R. No. 140687, December 18, 2006) and Ejercito vs Sandiganbayan (G.R. Nos. 157294-95, November 30, 2006).

This ruling also stressed that the subpoena is issued in relation to the bank accounts of Corona only in relation to the impeachment proceedings against him and for no other reason.

It emphasized that the non-disclosure of information relating to the bank accounts of individuals is still the general rule and that there is no intention to go against the public policy on this matter.  – Rappler.com