One week of trial

After grilling witness Atty. Estrellita Vidal, SC Clerk of Court for 2 hours, private prosecutor Mario Bautista failed to convince her to submit the SALNs of Chief Justice Renato Corona for 2003-2010 to the Senate.

It had to take LP Senator Franklin Drilon to get Vidal to admit she brought the SALNs which she ultimately agreed to hand over to the Senate.

Question, shouldn’t the Senator Judges be neutral and let the prosecution and defense panels do their job? Watch the questions of the Senators. It will give you an indication of their leanings on the case.

Remember, it is the prosecution that has the burden of proof to prove their case.

On Thursday, the registrars of deeds of Taguig, Quezon City and Marikina were presented as witnesses by the prosecution to bring records of Deeds of Sale and Transfer Certificates of Title (TCT) and Condominium Certificates of Title (CCT) in the name of Chief Justice Renato Corona, his wife Cristina, his children and son-in-law.

The prosecution panel now charges Chief Justice Corona with undervaluing his properties in his SALN.

The defense panel led by Justice Serafin Cuevas objected to the evidence presented on the ground that Article II was defective for not having made a direct accusation that Corona had acquired the properties illegally.

Cuevas questioned Articles 2.3 and 2.4 for using the words “suspected” and “it is reported” to claim that CJ Corona did not report all his properties in his SALN and for having amassed ill-gotten wealth.

Articles 2.3 and 2.4 read as follows:

2.3. It is also reported that some of the properties of Respondent are not included in his declaration of his assets, liabilities and net worth, in violation of the anti graft and corrupt practices act.

2.4. Respondent is likewise suspected and accused of having accumulated ill-gotten wealth, acquiring assets of high values and keeping bank accounts with huge deposits. It has been reported that Respondent has, among others, a 300 sq. meter apartment in a posh Mega World Property development at the Fort in Taguig. Has he reported this, as he is constitutionally-required under Art. XI, Sec. 17 of the Constitution in his Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN)? Is this acquisition sustained and duly supported by his income as a public official? Since his assumption as Associate and subsequently Chief Justice, has he complied with his duty of public disclosure?

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile allowed the testimonies to be recorded but, ordered the prosecution and defense panels to submit their respective Memoranda in support of their position.

The first week of trial saw both panels scoring but, also suffering setbacks. It can be said that so far as the standing of the case it is equal for both sides but, since the burden of proof is on the prosecution panel, they have not achieved that yet.

It has been reported that President Aquino himself is dissatisfied with the performance of the prosecution panel and has asked Speaker Feliciano Belmonte to take direct control of the panel and strengthen it. Veteran lawyers in the House like Rufus Rodriguez, Pablo Garcia and Simeon Datumanong could be enlisted as advisers to the 11-man prosecution panel.

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DRILON CONFRONTED. . . Former Senator Francisco “Kit” Tatad confronted Senator Frank Drilon and accused him of bias and lawyering for the prosecution.

Tatad, during a recess in the proceedings told Drilon you should be fair as a Judge, you are beginning to sound like you are a member of the prosecution.

Drilon in a loud voice retorted “What’s your problem? You disqualify me. Disqualify me.”

Tatad’s sentiments were shared by Defense Counsel, Jose Judd Roy.

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A FACT OF LIFE . . . The removal of Magtanggol Gatdula as NBI Director due to a P6 million kidnapping/extortion case involving a Japanese national, Noriyo Ohara, validates our earlier columns that corruption is still a fact of life under the Aquino Administration. It’s really a sad day for the NBI.

Earlier, you had the unbelievable case of 2,000 or more missing containers in the Bureau of Customs. COA just reported P12 billion of illegal refunds by BOC.

Extortion of foreign nationals especially illegal Chinese and Koreans is reported in the Bureau of Immigration.

Then you have the many cases of policemen involved in kidnapping, carjacking and drug protection.

We also reported the P114 million diversion of premium payments for the PhilHealth office. Five officials are involved.

The sacking of NBI Director Gatdula is a step in the right direction.

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TIDBITS . . . Kris Aquino said on Twitter that Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is a good match for P-Noy. It’s not going to happen. She’s 44, divorced with one son and a Buddhist. My candidate: magna cum laude Shamcey Supsup.

Congratulations to People Asia People of the Year awardees: Manny Pacquiao, Senator Edgardo Angara, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, Ted Failon, Mel Tiangco, Henry Sy Jr., Ben Cabrera, Louie Ocampo, Jun de Leon, Evelyn Singson, Shamcey Supsup, Gwendoline Ruais, Maruxa Pita and George Yang. VP Binay graced the event.

Iglesia Ni Kristo Minister Lewell Minorca died of cardiac arrest last November in the United States.

Senators Chiz Escudero, Alan Peter Cayetano and Koko Pimentel are showing good knowledge of the law in their questions at the impeachment trial.

Manuel Villar should be reminded that it was Mar Roxas and the LP that sponsored the charges against him on the C-5 project.

The wedding of Cong. Roman Romulo and Councilor Shalani Soledad will be held at St. Benedict’s Church, Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Congratulations and best wishes!

Greetings to avid readers: Former Prime Minister Cesar Virata, Ted Failon, Wilhelm Soriano, Gilbert Remulla, Aniceto Sobrepeña, Francis Lumen, Ram Antonio, Justice Raul Victorino and Rep. Sherwin Tugna.