Palace official: Corona dare on bank accounts a ‘peanut butter defense’

The challenge hurled by embattled Chief Justice Renato Corona against his perceived enemies in Congress that he will release the waiver to make public all his assets, including properties and dollar accounts, only if they would do the same is merely “peanut butter defense.” 

 

“By peanut butter defense…  hindi mo po sasagutin ‘yung mga binabato sa’yo but rather you spread the blame, ergo peanut butter defense,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte told reporters Thursday.

 

“Parang ‘yon po kasi ‘yung nangyari, na imbes na sagutin ho niya ‘yung mga paratang sa kanya ay he spreads the peanut butter thickly para madamay ho ‘yung ibang nandoon,” she said.

 

Malacañang also said it is up to Senator Franklin Drilon and the 188 congressmen who signed the impeachment complaint to deal with the Corona challenge.

 

“Si Senator Drilon nagsalita na po siya,” said Valte. He has made his position clear that all of his assets are declared in his SALN (Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth).”

 

“Personal decision na po ‘yan ng ibang lawmakers who signed–‘yung 188–kung gusto po nilang pumirma ng waiver,” Valte said.

 

Near the end of his opening statement when he took the witness stand Tuesday, Corona signed what he claimed as a waiver allowing the opening of all his bank accounts and the release of his SALN to the public.

 

However, the Chief Justice said he would only release the waiver once Drilon and the signatories in the impeachment complaint will sign the same waiver.

 

Drilon and the House prosecutors led by Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas said they will not sign the waiver as they are not the ones facing an impeachment complaint.

 

Partylist Rep. Antonio Tinio, however, said he is to sign the waiver. —VS, GMA News