Prosecution claims meet in Palace to 'verify' Corona withdrawals, wife’s flight

Prosecutors in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona on Sunday claimed they went to Malacañang last Thursday to “verify" supposed news of withdrawals being made from Corona’s bank accounts and his wife leaving for abroad. House deputy speaker Lorenzo Tañada III said they went to the Office of the Executive Secretary to supposedly seek help in verifying the information. “We asked the executive secretary if there was a way to confirm those stories," Tañada said in an interview on dzBB radio. He claimed the information included withdrawals being made from Corona’s accounts, as well as claims that his wife Cristina was booking a flight for Spain. Corona himself had denied the text message, which circulated on the day the prosecutors went to Malacañang, about his wife's alleged plan to fly to Spain. Meanwhile, Tañada said they see at least two more weeks to go in the trial, which resumes Tuesday with Corona himself taking the witness stand. He said the length of the trial will depend on how long Corona’s testimony will take. “Baka Miyerkules ang cross examination namin. Maybe after the cross, redirect and recross baka Huwebes, baka halos dalawang linggo pa ang abutin ng trial," he said. But he said he expects the trial to be over before Congress adjourns sine die on June 8. — LBG, GMA News