Senate may admit Corona bank records as evidence

The Senate, sitting as the impeachment court, may admit as evidence the records of Chief Justice Renato Corona's peso bank accounts in two banks.   In an interview with reporters on Monday, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said that the "general sentiment" of the senators is to admit the bank records as evidence for the prosecution.   "Of course this will be subject of discussion. Pero as much as possible lahat na ebidensyang naprisinta at namarkahan, as much as possible, we will admit as evidence," he said.   Another senator who refused to be identified confirmed that the general sentiment of the other senators is to admit the bank records as evidence.     On Friday, the prosecution submitted to the Senate its formal offer of evidence, including Corona's records with the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) and Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank).   The Senate, however, has yet to determine whether it will grant the defense's motion to suppress evidence from the PSBank, which they said was illegally obtained because the subpoena for the documents was granted using information leaked to the prosecutors.   The senators are expected to tackle the issue in caucus on Tuesday.   But Lacson said the Senate can rule that the documents are not "fruits of the poisonous tree" because a private individual who had nothing to do with the state provided the evidence.   Last week, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile also agreed that the bank documents were not illegally obtained. "Wala akong nakikitang poisonous tree. Wala. Ano ba ‘yung poisonous tree?" he said without elaborating.   In a text message to GMA News Online, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV said he agrees with Lacson and Enrile. "I don't know about the others, but as far as I'm concerned, the bank documents should be admitted," he said.   Chief prosecutor Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. earlier said that Corona's undeclared wealth is estimated to be worth at least P84 million.   He said Corona’s two bank accounts with PSBank contained P19.7 million, while an account with BPI had some P12.02 million, or a combined worth of P31.72 million in 2010.  But both his peso and dollar deposits were reportedly not reflected in his Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).    Lacson said that they will leave it to the defense panel to "answer point by point" all the issues and pieces of evidence that were presented against Corona. - KBK, GMA News