Senate disallows presentation of evidence not related to Corona, family

The Senate, sitting as the impeachment court, on Monday disallowed developers called by the prosecution panel from testifying and presenting evidence that are not related to Chief Justice Renato Corona and members of his family.

 

"[They] may not be compelled to surrender documents and or give testimony on details of transactions not involving Chief Justice Renato Corona and or his family members in order not to violate the constitutional right to privacy of private persons," said the decision of the impeachment court, as read by the clerk of court during Monday's trial.

 

Included in the developers covered by this order are:

 

Giovanni Ng, Megaworld Corporation finance director (who was asked to bring along with him documents related to The Bellagio properties of Corona and his wife and The Mckinley Hill property of his daughter Charina); 

Lourdes and Aniceto Bisnar, Jr. of the Fort Bonifacio Development (along with documents related to Unit 1902, Spanish Bay Tower, Bonifacio Ridge located at The Fort, Taguig City of Corona's wife Cristina and all units in Spanish Bay Tower, Bonifacio Ridge, The Fort, Taguig City sold in 2005);

Grace Evangeline Manankil-Sta.Ana and Nerissa Josef, authorized representatives of Community Innovations, Inc. (along with documents related to all units in The Columns, Ayala Avenue cor. Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City sold in 2004); and  

Rogelio Serafica of the Burgundy Realty Corporation (along with documents related to all units in Burgundy Plaza, Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City sold in 2003).

 

Meanwhile, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV manifested on the floor that the Senate should allow the presentation of evidence against Corona even before he was appointed as chief justice.

 

"We should cover them all because I believe that part of what we going to find out is the moral fitness of the chief justice to remain in office," he said. — Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ, GMA News