Probe of Corona dollar accounts shows $28-M in, $30-M out

Testifying before the Senate impeachment court Monday, Commissioner Heidi Mendoza of the Commission on Audit revealed that embattled Chief Justice Renato Corona posted more than $28 million in total deposits in his dollar accounts and P242 million in his peso accounts.   “We are trying to show the circuit of funds,” Mendoza said. “Many accounts were created. May I also emphasize that this includes deposits, credit memo, remittances. The total inflow is at $28,740,497.93.”   She noted the deposit inflows were posted in 423 transactions from April 2003 to December 2011.   Corona's deposits in his peso accounts totaled P242 million, said Mendoza.   The COA commissioner also revealed that withdrawals, credit memos, and electronic payments or the total outflow posted on the chief justice's dollar accounts amounted to $30,758,878.51.   Since the defense panel did not call Mendoza to the witness stand, lead defense counsel Serafin Cuevas stressed that the defense panel was put in a “confused position.”   “Testifying on the stand now is Ms. Heidi Mendoza. We are put in a confused situation. [She is] testifying for whom? How would she be credited?” Cuevas said.    “To be fair with the defense, you have not presented her a witness for the defense or prosecution,” noted Senate President and impeachment court presiding officer Juan Ponce Enrile.   Mendoza was subsequently discharged as a witness, but not before adding crucial details to the bombshell testimony of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, who preceded her. Mendoza, a professional auditor, had previously appeared before the Senate as a whistleblower, testifying on military corruption. —VS/HS, GMA News