Corona may testify this Thursday—defense lawyers

Lawyers of impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona had said they expect their client to testify either this Thursday or Monday next week, depending on the pace of this week's hearings.

 

Defense lawyer Ramon Esguerra said they are "looking at finishing everything this week" but they are not discounting some senator judges may grill some of the witnesses.

 

"Kay CJ siguro mga Monday next week at the latest. Earliest will be Thursday," he said in an interview on dzBB radio Sunday.

 

He said they are planning to present five witnesses this week.

 

For its part, Malacañang expects both Corona and Ombudsman Conchita Morales to tell the “truth” when they testify at Corona’s trial, which resumes on Monday.

 

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Palace expects Morales to finally tell all they know about supposed irregularities involving Corona’s assets and liabilities.

 

“’Yan inaasahan natin matutuloy ang kanilang sinasabi. Nang natanong tayo ano ang ating expectation, ano ang magiging nilalaman ng magiging testimony, ang pawang katotohanan lang ang ating inaasahan,” Valte said on government-run dzRB radio.

 

When asked if the Palace looks forward to Corona showing up at his trial, Valte said if he does, it will be the fulfillment of Corona’s camp’s promises. “Katuparan ng matagal nilang pinangako,” she said.

 

Valte added it is up to the presiding officer, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, to decide what questions to ask Corona if he testifies.

 

On the other hand, she said the Palace also expects Morales to tell all she knows at the witness stand, including possibly her office’s findings on Corona’s bank accounts amounting to $10 million.

 

“We don’t know what to expect (but) we have an idea because of newspaper accounts. But as to the meat and details of (her) testimony, we don’t know,” Valte said.

 

“We know she will testify on the investigation she is conducting. Given the reputation of the Ombudsman, even before she was appointed to this post you can tell she has done her work thoroughly and she will be telling us, I hope, what the results of her investigation are,” she added.

 

Corona not given chance to prove himself?

 

Meanwhile, Valte contested reports quoting Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as saying President Benigno Aquino III never gave Corona a chance to prove himself.

 

Marcos had been quoted in earlier reports as saying even before Aquino was elected, he already would have Corona removed since his appointment was illegal.

 

“That’s not true. Sinabi ng Pangulo before [that] we were giving the benefit of the doubt. But ‘yung mga event in the past month after the President had been sworn in on June 30, 2010 ... the president himself said he gave CJ Corona a chance, several in fact. But mukhang nakita natin anong nangyari,” she said. –KG, GMA News