House prosecutors wary of ‘smear campaign’ from Corona camp

Members of the House prosecution team on Monday expressed concern over the supposed “smear campaign” being launched against them by the camp of impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona.

 

“Nababahala tayo riyan as far as our public officers are concerned. We hope this is not an ongoing pattern,” Marikina Rep. Romero Quimbo, one of the prosecution’s spokespersons, said at a press briefing. Quimbo made this statement after a report on lead public prosecutor Niel Tupas Jr.’s supposed P50-million mansion at Xavierville Subdivision in Quezon City was published on Monday by the broadsheet The Daily Tribune.

 

The newspaper report said Tupas kept the mansion “hidden from view by getting the construction workers to cover the almost finished exterior of his two-storey house.” As of posting time, GMA News Online was still trying to get the sides of the defense panel as well as that of Tupas.

 

Quimbo said he and other members of the panel are aware of a “smear campaign” allegedly being initiated by Corona’s camp.

 

“This is just a tactic from the camp of Chief Justice Corona to divert our attention away from the trial,” Quimbo said, referring to the ongoing impeachment trial of the chief justice.

 

Corona is currently being tried at the Senate for betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution and graft and corruption. The prosecution has earlier accused Corona of acquiring multi-million peso properties that supposedly cannot be covered by his income.

 

While refusing to speak for Tupas, Quimbo said he and other members of the prosecution panel are willing to face any probe on their properties.

 

“It is part of our duty na busisiin ang ating buhay. Bukas tayo riyan,” he said. — Andreo Calonzo/RSJ, GMA News