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Corona hits back, tells PNoy to disclose SALN and psychological records
By KIMBERLY JANE TAN, GMA News
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Lashing back at President Benigno Aquino III for supposedly meddling in the ongoing impeachment trial, Chief Justice Renato Corona dared Aquino to disclose his own Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) as well as his psychological records. In a strongly-worded statement released to the media, Corona said: "Ako po ay nananawagan sa ating pangulo na huwag pakialaman, pangunahan at impluwensiyahan ang Senate Impeachment Court. "Mayroon pong proseso ang impeachment proceedings, at iyan po ay nakasaad sa ating Saligang Batas at sa mga alituntunin at kalakaran sa Senado. Hindi po ba't kayo ang pumili ng hakbang na ito at nagdulog nito sa Senado?" he asked.
"Marahil, higit na makabubuti kung ilabas ninyo, Ginoong Pangulo, ang inyong SALN, at ipaliwanag ito sa taong-bayan. Siguro, isama ninyo na rin ang inyong bank accounts at psychological records na matagal nang isyu. Mayroon po tayong obligasyon na ipakita sa taong-bayan na maayos ang ating pagiisip," he added.
During the 2010 presidential elections, a fabricated document regarding Aquino's supposed mental health circulated on the Internet. Father Jaime Bulatao of the Ateneo de Manila University's Psychology Department, who supposedly conducted the psychiatric evaluation, denied writing and signing the fake report. Palace reacts In response, Malacañang accused Corona of evading the real issue — the alleged discrepancies in the chief magistrate's SALN and his assets that were discovered during the trial. On Thursday, Aquino criticized Corona for the alleged mismatch between his SALN and the assets discovered under his name. The President also decried the alleged efforts of the chief magistrate's camp to muddle issues in the impeachment process.
“Patuloy pa rin pong inililihis ni Ginoong Corona ang usapan. Uulitin po namin: Wala pong personalan dito; sistemang pangkatarungan ang aming ipinaglalaban,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigal Valte said in a statement, also written in Filipino.
Valte said it was unfortunate that Corona chose to repeat the arguments of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo instead of confronting the issues raised in the impeachment process. Arroyo had appointed Corona to his current position just a few weeks before stepping down from office in 2010, to the displeasure of Aquino who has been at odds with the magistrate ever since.
“Nakakalungkot pong marinig mula sa ating Punong Mahistrado ang mga linyang naririnig mula kay Ginang Arroyo,” she said.
“Kung ginamit na lamang sana niya ang pahayag na ito upang linisin ang kanyang pangalan, hindi na sana bumaba ang antas ng pampublikong diskurso ukol sa isyung ito. May naidulot po bang mabuti ang pahayag ni Ginoong Corona? Wala,” she added.
Valte said that Corona, instead of insulting the integrity of government agencies and urging the people to join rallies, should answer where the money found in his bank accounts came from.
“Sinasabi niyang tutugunan niya ang bawat paratang, ngunit siya mismo ay naghain ng petisyon sa sarili niyang bakuran upang itigil ang paglilitis,” she added.
On the same day that Corona issued his appeal to the President not to "meddle" in the trial, Valte said Aquino can say whatever he wants about the ongoing impeachment proceedings.
SALN or discovered assets?
On Friday, Corona maintained that he filed his SALN containing his assets and liabilities. One of the accusations against Corona in the impeachment complaint is lack of public disclosure of his SALN. "Hindi ko po ito [SALN] itinatago. Ang hindi po paglathala nito ay ayon sa nabuong patakaran ng Korte Suprema dalawang dekada na ang nakalipas, hindi pa po ako mahistrado. Ang SALN ko po ay aking ipaliliwanag pagdating ng aking oras o pagkakataon, ayon sa proseso ng impeachment proceedings," he said.
He likewise said that it was the prosecutors and not his lawyers who are muddling the issues.
"Wala po tayong dapat sisihin diyan kung hindi ang inyong mga taga-usig na siyang naglabas ng huwad na listahan ng aking mga ari-arian, naglathala ng aking sahod upang ipakita na wala akong kakayahang bumili, nguni't hindi naman isinama ang pangkalahatang sitwasyon, at nitong huli, nagharap ng mga palsipikadong dokumento ng bangko. Sino po ba ang talagang nanlilinlang ng taong bayan?" he said. Corona also pointed out that Elsa Flores, the court interpreter from the Davao Regional Trial Court who was cited as an example by Aquino in his speech on Thursday, was sacked not just because she failed to declare her income for a market stall she owned but because she received "double compensation."
Further, the impeached chief justice said that Aquino's duty is to resolve the problems of the country and not meddle with the impeachment trial.
"Ang tungkulin po ninyo ay hanapan ng lunas ang lumalalang kahirapan at pagkagutom ng marami nating mamamayan, walang humpay na pagtaas ng presyo ng gasolina at ng ibang pangunahing bilihin, patuloy na demolisyon ng tirahan ng mga maralita, at mabagal na tugon sa mga nasalanta ng kalamidad dala ng kapabayaan sa kalikasan. Itong mga ito po ang dapat ninyong pagtuunan ng pansin," he said.
Corona added that the President should not exhaust the resources of the state to oust him.
"Nasa mga 20 po lamang ang aking mga tagapagtanggol na nagseserbisyo ng libre, laban sa 188 congressmen at humigit kumulang na 60 private prosecutors, lahat sumasahod sa kaban ng bayan. Ito po ba ay tama?" he said. "Ginagamit na po ninyo ang buong puwersa ng gobyerno upang ako at ang aking buong pamilya ay apihin at pagmalupitan. Ito po ba ang patas na laban? At matuwid na daan?" he added. The House of Representatives has repeatedly said the private prosecutors are assisting the lawmakers for free. — with a report from Amita Legaspi/RSJ/VVP/YA/HS, GMA News
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