Hontiveros-Baraquel denies being ordered to file complaint vs. Corona

She denied that she was ordered to file a complaint against Chief Justice Renato Corona before the Office of the Ombudsman.

 

"Hindi po... Kami pong sumulat ang nag-desisyon [na mag-file ng letter complaint]," Baraquel said during Wednesday's trial.

 

She made the statement after Senator Panfilo Lacson asked her, "Did anyone at any time instruct you, advise you, convince you, or suggest to you to file the complaint before the Ombudsman?

 

Before this, Baraquel had also denied alleging that Corona had around $10 million in several bank accounts.

 

"Ang sinabi po namin sa aming sulat ay 'various peso and dollar accounts'... ‘Di po namin sinabi ang $10 million," she said.

 

Defense counsel Eduardo delos Angeles also made her read a part of her letter to Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile last May 14 wherein she sought clarification regarding the subpoena sent to her since she supposedly does not have knowledge regarding Corona's alleged $10 million in bank deposits.

 

On Wednesday, Baraquel explained the only accounts they cited in their letter-complaint to the Ombudsman were taken from evidence already previously presented during the impeachment trial.

"Dinownload po namin sa iba't-ibang websites... Lahat po ay galing dito sa impeachment proceedings," she said.  

She said they cited Corona's alleged 18 accounts in the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) and the Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank).

 

"Ang tanging hiling [namin] ay imbestigahan nila ‘yang issue ng dollar accounts. Kung ano po ‘yung gagawin nila pagkatapos ay ‘di na namin hawak ‘yun," she said, adding that the Ombudsman never talked to her about the issue.

 

"Ang purpose po namin sa pagsulat kay Ombudsman Morales ay hilingin bilang mamamayan na imbestigahan ng Office of the Ombudsman ‘yung issue ng dollar accounts alang-alang sa full accountability," she added.

 

"Masaya po ako na 'di kami nabigo na ang Office of the Ombudsman ay tumutugon sa mga request ng mga mamamayan," she said.

 

Defense lawyer Jose Roy III had earlier said they will let the chief magistrate testify in his trial on the condition that 10 hostile witnesses be subpoenad to the trial. 

 

The Senate sent subpoenas to Morales, Baraquel, Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello, Emmanuel Tiu Santos, and civil society leader Harvey Keh.

 

The Ombudsman had earlier ordered Corona to respond to the allegations contained in several complaints filed separately by Baraquel, Bello, Keh, and Santos that he has $10 million in supposed bank accounts. –KG, GMA News