Corona says Ombudsman being used by Aquino admin

 

"Palagay ko nagpagamit si Ombudmsan sa Malacañang," said Corona, when asked by senator-Judge Jinggoy Estrada what he thought was Morales' motive for testifying against him.

 

"Winagayway niya ang isang dokumento supposedly coming from AMLC. Parang hindi naman po kasi, hindi naman authenticated ang document na iyon," Corona said.

 

He was referring to a report from the Anti-Money Laundering Council showing that Corona has 82 dollar accounts in five banks. Morales presented this report when she testified earlier this month.

 

In his testimony, Corona criticized Morales for conducting the investigation in the first place. "Hindi naman ako guilty sa isang crime. Walang court order, walang ganyan and yet naglabas ng alleged AMLC report," he said. Corona admitted he has lost his trust in Morales, especially since she would always not side with him "even if i felt tama ako [on certain issues pending at the SC]... At least that's what I felt." Corona also cast doubts that Morales kept the AMLC report confidential, insinuating that it could have been leaked to the media. He said he recieved a copy of the AMLC report from Ombudsman in a sealed envelope, which he opened after attending the Supreme Court's summer session in Baguio City. "It was supposed to be strictly confidential pero may copy ang Philippine Daily Inquirer," Corona said. Retirement fund

 

In his tirade against Morales, Corona also accused the Ombudsman of seeking large funds for her retirement.

 

"Humihingi siya ng malaking budget sa retirement. Sabi ko hindi naman ‘yan ang budget ng isang retirement ng isang SC justice," he said.

 

"Hindi ko maintindihan bakit special budget ang sa kanya na hindi naman nai-invite ng ibang justices," Corona added.

 

Asked how much an SC justice gets after retiring, Corona said between P500,000 and P600,000. Corona said Morales was asking around double the amount. However, Corona said Morales did not personally make the request, and that someone from her staff had made it.

 

Corona reiterated his earlier challenge for Morales to resign. But when asked by Estrada if he for his part was also considering resigning from his post, Corona responded in the negative. 'Certified liar' 

 

Reacting to Corona's statements, Carpio-Morales said she was "fuming mad" and that Corona was a "certified liar."

 

She added that the usual retirement package for SC justices was P1.5 million but she received a "rock-bottom" amount of only P650,000 from the Supreme Court when she retired. Instead of taking his oath before Chief Justice Corona, Aquino got Carpio-Morales to swear him into office. –with reports from Marlon Anthony Tonson, Andrei Medina/KG, GMA News