GMA News Online News » Nation

Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Henares appeared in the Senate, sitting as impeachment court, on Wednesday, bringing with her documents to be marked as evidence in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

 

Asked if the documents were all marked under the supervision of the defense and prosecution teams, Henares said, “partially, yes.” 

 

However, the BIR Commissioner did not disclose if the documents were indeed income tax returns of Corona and his family including his wife, Cristina, and children Charina, Carla and Francis.

 

“You will know when the testimony comes along,” Henares noted. 

Henares has been subpoenaed by the Senate as per request of the prosecution panel. 

 

In the subpoena, the Senate required Henares to bring with her the original and certified true copies of the annual income tax returns of Corona (for the years 1992 to 2010), his wife Cristina (1992 to 2010), his daughter Carla (2000-2010), his son-in-law Constantino Castillo (2000 to 2010), his son Francis (2005 to 2010), and his other daughter Charina (2005 to 2010).

 

The prosecution team on Tuesday said that Henares will take the stand next week as seven more witnesses are expected to be presented.

 

Meanwhile, the defense team on Tuesday filed a motion to quash the subpoena given to the BIR Commissioner citing that the witness and tax-related documents were “irrelevant and immaterial” to Corona’s case. 

 

The Senate is expected to give its final ruling on Wednesday afternoon if it will allow Henares be a witness for the prosecution panel. 

 

The testimony of Henares will fall within Article II of the impeachment complaint where Corona allegedly failed to disclose his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN). – Rouchelle R. Dinglasan/KG, GMA News