Noy: Should the public trust Corona?

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III today said that Chief Justice Renato Corona should not be trusted by the public for allegedly trying to hide and lie about his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN).

Speaking at the La Consolacion College in Metro Manila for the commemoration of the 26th anniversary of the 1986 People Power Revolution, Aquino said that Corona clearly lied in his SALN.

"Iyan naman po ang sadya ko sa araw na ito: Liwanagin ang dapat liwanagin, at ituwid ang isyung pilit dinidiskaril ng ilan, upang ang karaniwang tao ay malinawan at makilahok sa usapan. Simple lang naman po ang tanong na nais sagutin ng paglilitis na ito: Dapat pa ba tayong magtiwala kay Ginoong Corona? Masasagot po natin iyan kung titingnan ang mga katotohanang lumalabas na sa paglilitis," Aquino said referring to the peso accounts of Corona presented before the Senate impeachment court.

He said that based on the testimonies of executives of the Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank) and the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) in connection with Corona's three peso accounts, the chief justice has P31.5 million undeclared wealth in 2010.

Aquino said that the amount is way bigger than Corona's P3.5 million declared wealth in his SALN for the same year.

"‘Di ho ba tayong lahat ay mapapasabing: naman. Maliwanag pa po sa sikat ng araw: Ginoong Corona, ang sinumpaan mong salaysay ay hindi tugma sa natuklas na pag-aari mo. Maski saang paaralan po, hindi lang sa Pilipinas kundi sa buong mundo, 3.5 million pesos does not equal 31.5 million. Alin po ba ang totoo, Ginoong Corona?" Aquino said.

The President also hinted in his speech that Corona's SALN was deliberately hidden from public scrutiny.

"Ayon sa mismong testimonya ng kanyang Clerk of Court na si Ms. Vidal: sabi po, galing sa isang Binibining Acia, ipapasa ito kay Binibining Vidal, na ibibigay naman sa isang Binibining Albano. Ilalagay po ito sa isang locked—uulitin ko po—isang locked filing cabinet, at huling lalanding sa isang nakakandadong vault," he said.

Aquino said that all public officials, including the President, members of the Cabinet and the judiciary should honestly declare their SALN.

The President cited in his speech a case of Delsa Flores, a court interpreter of a regional trial court in Davao, who was held liable for failure to declare that she owns a stall in a public market.

For violating the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, Flores was recommended by the Office of the Court Administrator dismissed from the service without retirement benefits.

"Sa isang court interpreter, iyan po ang batayan. Magkano po kaya ang upa sa isang puwesto sa palengke? Sa Punong Mahistrado po ba, dapat naiiba? Kung si Ginang Flores po ay sinisante, ano pa kaya ang dapat hatol kay Ginoong Corona? Kailangan pa po bang tanungin kung impeachable offense ang ginawa niya?" Aquino asked.

Aquino again challenged Corona to allow the Senate impeachment court to see all his bank records, including his alleged dollar accounts, in the PSBank.

Corona has asked the institution he heads, the Supreme Court, to stop the Senate from implementing its subpoena on his dollar accounts' documents in the PSBank and BPI.

The SC has granted a similar petition filed by the PSBank. - Angelo L. Gutierrez