Corona denies having properties in the US

Chief Justice Renato Corona on Sunday said his family does not own any real estate property in the United States, clarifying that the addresses named in an online report have merely been rented in the past. Corona's statement came a day after journalist Raissa Robles, in a blog posted Saturday, said about two properties are listed in US public records where the Coronas supposedly "had lived." The properties are located in Tampa, Florida and an upscale community in Mountainview in California. "The addresses cited by [Robles] were the apartments rented by my two daughters (both licensed PTs in the US) at various times over the past 14 years," Corona told GMA News Online in a text message. "These were therefore temporary mailing addresses at those various times," he added. Corona said the Florida property belonged to a friend, where they stayed several times in the past. "The house in Bayshore, Tampa FL is owned by a family friend where we stayed in the few times we visited Tampa and Orlando/Disney World. That is also a mailing address. WE DO NOT OWN ANY PROPERTY IN THE US," Corona said. On Saturday, Corona's defense lawyers "flatly denied" Robles' report, with defense lawyer Tranquil Salvador III telling GMA News Online that the Coronas may have many namesakes in the US. Meanwhile, another defense counsel Ramon Esguerra assured the public that "Corona does not have any property in the US."  — LBG, GMA News