JPE wants Corona to testify: He's the only one who can shed light on bank accounts

29-Feb-12, 10:59 AM | Karl John Reyes, InterAksyon.com

MANILA, Philippines - It would be ideal for embattled Chief Justice Renato Corona to testify in the impeachment trial against him so he could shed light on the allegations thrown at him, particularly on his bank accounts, which he did not declare in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Networth (SALN).

This was Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile's unsolicited advice to Corona as the defense gears up for their presentation a day after the House prosection team dropped five of the eight articles of impeachment against the magistrate.

"Posibleng bukas maumpisahan na nila. Baka mamaya pagkatapos ng kanilang cross-examination, umpisahan na nila. Maganda diyan kung haharap si Chief Justice Corona. Sapagkat sa aking paningin, doon natin maririnig kung ano ang katotohanan dito," Enrile, the court's presiding officer, said in an interview with dzBB radio Wednesday morning.

[It's possible that they [defense] will start tomorrow. Maybe they will start after the cross-examination. It would be better if Chief Justice Corona faces trial. Because as I see it, we will be able to know the truth if he testifies.]

Enrile said it would only be Corona who could explain about the bank accounts that are under his name.

According to him, it is only the magistrate who can tell if he indeed owns the accounts and why he did not declare them in his SALN.

"Yung mga abogado, kailangan ng testigo. Walang ibang makapagpapaliwanag sa mga bank accounts kung hindi si Chief Justice lang sapagkat siya ang nakapangalan doon. Kung hindi sa kanya o bakit hindi niya naisama sa SALN," Enrile said.

If ever Corona decides to testify, he could be cross-examined by the prosecutors and questioned by the senator-judges, according to Enrile.

"Pwede ring tanungin ng mga senador. Kailangang i-cross-examine ng prosecutor. Doon natin makikita ang gilas ng bawat isa."

Enrile said Corona's appearance would not only help in the impeachment trial process, but would be good for the nation as well. "Makakabuti sa kaso ng Chief Justice, pati sa proseso, pati sa bansa."