Corona: My conscience is clear

MANILA, Philippines - Chief Justice Renato Corona on Tuesday told the Senate impeachment court and the whole country that he committed no corruption and wrongdoing.

"Malinis po ang aking konsensiya, malinis ang konsensiya ng aking pamilya. Wala kaming ginawang masama, wala kaming ginawang kawalanghiyaan katulad ng pinalalabas," Corona said.

He said he feels insulted when people question their deposits and assets because he and his family have been living a simple life in the past 40 years.

"Sigurado ako wala akong kasalanan, wala akong ginawang katiwalian at ako ay hindi nagnakaw sa gobyerno. I will not drag my family dito sa impeachment na ito kung sa kaloob-looban ko may katiting na dahilan na ako'y nagdududa sa sarili na ako'y may ginawang masama," Corona said.

The Chief Justice also took the opportunity to score "landlord (hasyendero)" President Aquino for allegedly using all government resources to pin him down.

Corona also explained his side and his family's side on the Basa-Guidote case, which the prosecution and other senators said should be among the testimony of the chief magistrate.

Enrile cautions Corona

Continuing his testimony, the chief magistrate hit the prosecution's allegation that he had 45 properties based on documents from the Land Registration Authority (LRA).

"Ang listahan na taglay niya sa hearing na ito ay exaggerated, huwad at hindi totoo," Corona said, referring to the testimony of LRA chief Eulalio Diaz III at the impeachment court.

He also hinted that Diaz was part of a conspiracy to make it appear that he had ill-gotten wealth.

"Alam ni LRA Administrator Eulalio Diaz na pamangkin ni Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales at [Supreme Court] Justice Antonio Carpio at matalik na kaibigan ni Pangulong Aquino na wala naman akong 45 properties eh. Alam na alam naman niya iyon eh," Corona said.

Before Corona proceeded on his testimony on his alleged 45 properties, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile cautioned the chief magistrate that he is opening his self to "cross examination by the prosecution" and questioning by the senator-judges.

"I would like to caution you. At the behest of your lawyers' motion, we did not authorize the introduction of evidence that will establish ill-gotten wealth. There is no allegation as of today that will support the presentation of evidence regarding ill-gotten wealth," Enrile said, explaining to Corona that the supposed 45 properties were not entered as evidence in the impeachment court.

"If you are going to revive this, this will be open for the cross examination of the prosecution and the members of this court," the senator cautioned Corona.

The embattled magistrate, however, said that he would continue with the testimony because it has affected the public's perception of him and his family.

'Cash'

Corona also answered before the impeachment court the testimony of Ombudsman Morales last week regarding his supposed 82 bank accounts with $10 million to $12 million in deposits.

"Wala po akong kilalang tao na may 82 bank accounts. Ewan ko lang po si Ombudsman Morales, baka siya meron kaya nakatanim sa isip niya ang 82 bank accounts," he said.

He added: "She misleadingly alleged that the information was provided her by AMLC (Anti-Money Laundering Council). Ito pong AMLC report na ginamit ni Ombudsman Moralessa impeachment court na ito ay hindi po authenticated, walang predicate crime, walang investigation, walang court order, walang notice sa depositor. Clearly it came from a polluted source."

Corona said that he formed a team of accountants to study the Power Point presentation of Ombudsman Morales on his supposed 82 dollar accounts.

"Malinaw po na ang kanyang testimonya was one of deception, exaggeratrion and misrepresentation," he said.

As of this posting, the impeachment court awaits Corona's own Power Point presentation of his answer to Ombudsman Morales' testimony on his supposed foreign currency deposits.