6 inconsistencies in Corona's testimony
by Carmela Fonbuena
Posted on 05/23/2012 10:43 AM | Updated 05/23/2012 1:11 PM



MANILA, Philippines - Chief Justice Renato Corona’s walkout Tuesday, May 22, eclipsed his testimony. In his opening statement that lasted 3 hours, the impeached Chief Justice accused the government of a conspiracy against him and described a report on his dollar accounts a "malicious lie."

But Corona's statement was riddled with inconsistencies, particularly when he talked about the Basa-Guidote Enterprices Inc, the disputed family corporation of his wife Cristina.

We noted at least 6 inconsistencies in the Chief Justice's statement before the court.

1. They lived a simple life?

Corona said his family lives a simple life. They rarely use the air-conditioner and they don’t have any househelp.

“Simpleng buhay at tahahan lamang. Hindi man kami gumagamit ng aircon sapagkat napakadali naming magkasakit sa lamig. Simpleng pagkain lamang ang kinakain namin sa bahay. Sa maniwala man kayo o hindi, kami po ay walang katulong sa bahay,” Corona said.

But Corona’s reimbursements in the Supreme Court show a different story. He dined in fancy restaurants and wore expensive Barong Tagalog, among others.

Among the documents that the prosecution panel has are the following:

Corona's reimbursement of P15,362.37 for a meal at Century Tsukiji restaurant on June 20, 2010. The receipt was under the name “Renato/Cristina Corona.”
Corona's reimbursement of P20,400 and P25,000 for Barong Tagalog purchased at Rustan’s store Design Exchange Corp.
A reimbursement of P100,000 for the “purchase Christmas gifts of the Chief Justice”

Receipts of his reimbursements were part of the evidence that various commercial institutions submitted to the Senate impeachment court based on a request from the prosecution.

Article 3 of the impeachment complaint accuses Corona of “failing to meet and observe the stringent standards… that provides that “a member of the judiciary must be a person of proven competence, integrity, probity, and independence.”

“Respondent reportedly dipped his hands into public funds to finance personal expenses. Numerous personal expenses that have nothing to do with the discharge of his official functions, such as lavish lunches and dinners, personal travels and vacations, and fetes and parties, have reportedly been charged by the Respondent to judicial funds. In essence, Respondent has been reportedly using the judicial fund as his own personal expense account, charging to the Judiciary personal expenditures,” reads the complaint.

The prosecution did not present them as evidence anymore after presiding officer Juan Ponce Enrile barred them from discussing peripheral allegations.

Corona also owns two condominiums in upscale The Fort in Taguig City. He purchased his unit in Bonifacio Ridge in 2005 for P9.1-M.

He purchased his unit in Bellagio in 2009 for a “reduced” price of P14.5-M. Condominium builder Megaworld gave the Chief Justice a discount of P10-M supposedly considering the damage in the unit that was caused by a typhoon.




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