Senator-judges: Atienza testimony relevant to impeachment Article II

The testimony of former Manila Mayor Lito Atienza is directly relevant to Article II of the impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Renato Corona, according to Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and three other senators.   Enrile and Senator Ralph Recto said, during an exchange with lead defense counsel Serafin Cuevas, the real property transaction between Mrs. Cristina R. Corona and the City of Manila have bearing on the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) of the chief justice.   The transaction involved a 1,020-sqm property under the name of Basa-Guidote Enterprises Inc., the company of Cristina Corona’s family.   The property at the junction of Manila’s Legarda and Bustillos Streets was bought by the City of Manila in 2001 for P34,703,800. It was then turned into a public market.   'At the heart of the problem' On Dec. 12, 2011, the day the chief justice was impeached, he closed time deposit accounts totaling P36.7 million only to deposit the money in a checking account the same day, according to the president of Philippine Savings Bank, Pascual Garcia III, and PSBank Katipunan branch manager Annabelle Tiongson. Both bank representatives took the witness stand last month upon request of the prosecution panel.   Recto said he is of the perception that the proceeds from the sale of the lot, on which the New Sampaloc Public Market now stands, may be the same P34.7 million deposited in peso accounts in the name of the chief justice in the Katipunan Avenue branch of PSBank—and later withdrawn on the day Corona was impeached by the House of Representatives.   Cuevas, however, objected to Recto's statements because the defense has yet to present its evidence on the PSBank accounts. Corona’s lead counsel said Recto “considered only the evidence of the prosecution.”   Enrile agreed with Recto that Atienza’s testimony pertains to the chief justice's SALNs, because testimony on the real properties and other assets of Corona “are at the heart of the problem.”   Senators Joker Arroyo and Panfilo Lacson were also keenly interested in how the money—the P34.7 million—was treated after Mrs. Corona received the check from the City of Manila.   They asked both the prosecution and the defense about their respective positions on who actually owns the proceeds from the sale of the lot sold to the City of Manila.   Enrile clarified, however, that evidence has yet to be presented on how the P34.7 million went through the financial system and how it was treated as it was transferred.   The prosecution team questioned the deal between the City of Manila and Mrs. Corona, claiming the local government was too lax in consummating the P34.7-million transaction.   During Thursday's impeachment trial, Atienza narrated how all negotiations were done with Cristina Corona, who was supposedly authorized by the Basa-Guidote board in a 1987 certificate to represent the company.   "Did it not occur to you… you should have asked Mrs. Corona for a more recent authority?" said private prosecutor Renato Samonte, who cross-examined Atienza.   Senator-judge Franklin Drilon pointed out that then-Manila Mayor Atienza, who took the stand as defense witness, was not thorough enough in conducting the due diligence.   "There were some lack of diligence… due diligence… in the [handling of funds] of the people of Manila," he said.   "Labing apat na taon na nakaraan… Hindi mo na rin binusisi ‘yung secretary's certification? Hindi ka na rin humingi ng kopya ng board resolution?" Drilon asked.   Atienza said such move did not occur to him at that time.   "A certification is a certification,” the former  mayor said. “Hindi ko na po binigyan din ng pansin ‘yung petsa… Wala naman po limitasyon ‘yung authority na this is only for one year," he added, noting the city lawyers found all the documents in order.   'An added security feature' Regarding the money, private prosecutor Samonte asked Atienza if Mrs. Corona was authorized to receive payment in behalf of Basa-Guido Enterprises   Also, Drilon wanted to know why the check was given to her.   Atienza said the check "in trust for" Basa-Guidote Enterprises was given to Mrs. Corona, with her name and the company’s on the check as an "added security feature."   "Baka kung sino po ang kumolekta [nung pera] mahirap naman ilagay namin basta corporation," he said.   Earlier in the trial, defense lawyer Eduardo De Los Angeles said they will present a subsequent witness to prove that Corona borrowed P11 million out of the P34 million, with which the chief justice supposedly used to buy a property in La Vista, an upscale residential place in Quezon City.   In his 2004 SALN, Corona declared an P11-million loan from Basa-Guidote Enterprises. The chief justice declared the liability until 2009.    However, the prosecution questioned where the company got its funds since its license was revoked by the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2003.   The defense team said the company made money from the sale of its properties. — With Earl Rosero/VS, GMA News