Prosecution dismisses Corona’s testimony as ‘palusot’

The House prosecution team on Monday dismissed Chief Justice Renato Corona’s testimony last week as a mere “palusot” in order to escape conviction in his impeachment trial.

 

“Very clear po na ‘yung mga sinasabi ni chief justice ay mga palusot. Hindsight lang po yan dahil nahuli po,” said Deputy Lead Public Prosecutor and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas during a folksy closing statement that alternated between pointed rebuttal and amiable Tagalog oratory.

 

Fariñas particularly contested Corona’s claim that he has been investing in foreign currency since the late 1960s. The prosecutor said Corona was only in high school then.

 

“He wants us to believe that when he was in school he was such a visionary that he started buying dollars,” said Fariñas, pointing out that Corona only graduated in high school in 1966.

 

Fariñas likewise rejected the chief justice’s claim that he did not declare about $2.4 million in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, or SALNs, because these are “absolutely confidential” in nature.

 

“Very clear sa batas na maski pera sa baul o sa bangko ay kailangan ideklara,” said the prosecutor.