Prosecution admits discrepancies in Corona SALNs 'not high crime'

The prosecution on Thursday admitted that inaccuracies in a public official's Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) can not be considered as a "high crime," which is one of the grounds for an official to be impeached.   During Thursday's impeachment trial against Chief Justice Renato Corona, House prosecutor Elpidio Barzaga Jr. claimed that the impeached magistrate committed perjury because he had failed to declare the acquisition value of several of his properties in his SALNs.   But when Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, the presiding officer, asked Barzaga if perjury is a "high crime," the prosecutor answered in the negative.   "Read the Constitution... It says [an official can be impeached if there is] culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, and other high crimes..." Enrile said.   Sen. Joker Arroyo, meanwhile, reminded both parties that a public official can only be impeached through an "impeachable offense" and not just through any crime.   "It must be of a higher bar because we are dealing with a chief justice here," Arroyo said.   For his part, lead defense counsel Serafin Cuevas, citing a Civil Service Commission ruling, admitted that all values of an official's property, including assessed, fair market and acquisition value, should be indicated in his or her SALN.   However, Cuevas said the same ruling allows an official to make corrections in his or her SALN in case discrepancies or inaccuracies are later on discovered.   Cuevas also said that an official cannot be held liable for inaccuracies in his or her SALNs if it was not done intentionally.   "[In Corona's case], it was not malicious and intentional and if the committee determines it to be so, there is no criminal and administrative liability," Cuevas said.   Meanwhile, prosecution spokesperson Juan Edgardo Angara Jr. emphasized that being a "high crime" is not the only grounds for impeachment, saying there are five others.   He said the House prosecution filed the impeachment case against Corona particularly based on the grounds that he committed graft and corruption and betrayal of public trust, among others.   "Hindi naman kailangan na krimen. Ang mahalaga ay may paglihis siya sa sinumpaan niya... Pinakamahalaga diyan ang pagtaksil sa tiwala ng publiko," Angara said at media briefing during a break in the trial. — Mark D. Merueñas/KBK, GMA News