Corona asks Sandigan to reconsider ruling on perjury raps

MANILA, Philippines - Impeached chief justice Renato Corona has asked the Sandiganbayan to reconsider its decision finding sufficient reason to put him on trial for perjury and violation of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

In a motion for reconsideration filed before the anti-graft court’s Third Division, Corona, through his lawyers, insisted the “erroneous” and “malicious” charges filed by the Office of the Ombudsman should be junked.

Corona, who challenged his indictment through a motion for judicial determination of probable cause that the Sandiganbayan denied last month, said “the evidence on record clearly negate the existence of the crimes charged against the accused, or of any crime for that matter.”

He claimed the Office of the Ombudsman “erroneously and maliciously filed cases even though a single act cannot give rise to both the crimes of perjury and violation of RA 6713.”

Corona, who is accused of failing to truthfully declare his wealth in his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs) from 2004 to 2012, said the charges were lodged “in utter disregard of accused’ right to due process.”

His lawyers explained the former chief magistrate is bound to declare his assets only from the time they were acquired, not from the time they were purchased.

“He cannot therefore be compelled to declare in his SALN any property subject of a Deed of Sale at the time of purchase because there is no automatic vesting of ownership by the mere act of purchase,” defense counsels argued.