Corona's cousin testifies for defense in impeachment trial

A witness who happens to be a second cousin of impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona was presented as a witness by the defense panel Tuesday and claimed to have bought seven parcels of land allegedly owned by Corona's wife, Cristina, in Marikina City.   The prosecution, however, later on revealed that the notary public who notarized the transaction was unauthorized.   Lead defense counsel Serafin Cuevas told the Senate impeachment court that Demetrio Vicente, 70, was being presented "to prove existence of the same in his favor seven parcels of land formerly registered under Mrs. Cristina Corona."   Corona, widely associated with former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, was accused of not properly declaring his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN). The prosecution said several properties in the name of Mr. and Mrs. Corona were not declared in the chief magistrate’s SALN.   In his testimony, Vicente said he bought the property in Barangay Marikina Heights from Mrs. Corona in July 1990. He presented seven absolute deeds of sale to prove the transaction.   "Sa Marikina heights po, nakabili ako ng lupa na pag-aari ni Mrs. Corona," Vicente said, adding that he personally knows the chief magistrate's wife.    Vicente later said that he is the second cousin of the chief magistrate.   Vicente said he bought the seven parcels of land, which was around 1,700 square meters, from Mrs. Corona for P509,985. He said he paid through a manager's check, which he handed over to Mrs. Corona in her home in Loyola, Quezon City. The deeds of sale were notarized in Makati.   Unauthorized notary public   During cross examination, prosecutor Jose Justiniano — citing a Feb. 21, 2012 certification — revealed that the person who notarized the deed of sales, a certain Maria Beatrice Mantoya, was not an authorized notary public in Makati.   Justiano asked Vicente: "Ngayon hong alam niyo na na hindi siya authorized, ano ho ang plano niyong gawin?"   The witness responded: "Hindi ko po alam iyan... Puwede ko hong i-demanda iyan."   Not transferred   Based on the seven transfers of certificate of title, the size of each parcel of land ranged from 200 square meters to more than 320 square meters.   Vicente said the capital gains from the property were paid by Mrs. Corona, taken from the P509,985 which he paid for the lots. He said he currently resides in one of the seven lots, while the rest are unoccupied.   Vicente also said he had since paid the real estate tax for the property, and showed an envelope containing the receipts for the annual payments. Honest to goodness transaction   "[These documents show that] it is not a merely make belief transaction. It is an honest to goodness transaction your honor," Cuevas said.   Cuevas also asked the witness why despite having deeds of sale for the property, the title is still registered under Mrs. Corona.   "Hindi ko pa napa-register sa pangalan ko ang mga titulo.. dahil naubos ang pera ko na mai-transfer ang titulo dahil sa pagpapatayo ng bahay," Vicente said.   During the cross examination, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, the presiding officer, asked Justiniano to slow down a bit. "Don't be excited," Enrile said, eliciting laughter from the gallery. — KBK, GMA News