Day 38 Corona trial highlights: Ombudsman asserts independence

Published May 15, 2012 8:37pm

Miriam wants to summon bank managers

At the resumption of the trial on Tuesday, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago asked the impeachment court to summon the managers of nine banks where impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona allegedly maintains dollar deposits.
Santiago said it is the duty of bank managers to sound the alarm if a client has several dollar accounts, adding that even people engaged in dollar trading normally maintain only two to three bank accounts.
On Monday, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales had presented records showing that Corona allegedly has 82 dollar accounts at the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) branches in Acropolis, Tandang Sora, San Francisco del Monte, and the BPI Management Investment Corporation; Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank) in Cainta and Katipunan; Allied Banking Corporation (ABC) Kamias; Deutsche Bank; and Citibank.
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who presides over the trial, said the impeachment tribunal will tackle Santiago’s motion in a caucus on Monday, May 21.

Testimony of COA’s Heidi Mendoza removed from records

Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III moved to strike out remarks made on Monday by the Commission on Audit’s Heidi Mendoza, who took the place of Morales on the witness stand when the Ombudsman got tired while presenting a slide show on Corona’s dollar accounts.
Mendoza, who had assisted Morales in interpreting Corona’s bank records, had informed the impeachment court that the chief magistrate posted more than $28 million in deposits in his dollar accounts and P242 million in his peso accounts.
Pimentel agreed with the defense panel that Mendoza’s remarks should be removed from the records of the trial because the COA official was “irregularly presented” as a witness.
The Senate unanimously approved Pimentel’s motion.

Ombudsman says $3-M in Corona accounts moved last December

Continuing her testimony, Ombudsman Morales told the impeachment court that more than $3 million was moved from Corona's alleged dollar accounts in BPI, PSBank, and Allied Bank the week he was impeached in December 2011.
She reiterated her earlier observation that there were “significant withdrawals on significant events.” specifically the 2004 and 2007 elections and the time the chief magistrate was impeached.
On May 12 and May 14, 2004, around the time of the presidential elections, there were two separate deposits of $500,000 made to Corona's alleged account at BPI Acropolis.
On May 3, 2007, just before the local and congressional elections, there were five separate deposits in Corona’s dollar account with BPI San Francisco del Monte totaling $293,645.23.

Ombudsman may file charges vs. Corona if he is acquitted

In response to a query from Senator-judge Miriam Defensor-Santiago regarding the Ombudsman’s investigation of the dollar accounts, Morales said her office will not hesitate to file charges against Corona “if warranted” in the event he is acquitted in the impeachment trial.
Morales explained that she does not see any reason why another set of charges cannot be filed if the charges that are currently being investigated by the Ombudsman are not included in the impeachment charges.
Santiago warned the defense panel to take note of the Ombudsman’s statement, saying they can expect another complaint in accordance with the law in case their client is acquitted in the trial.

Morales says she will not be used for personal vendetta

After several senator-judges expressed fears that Morales might use her broad powers to go after the enemies of President Benigno Aquino III, who appointed her as Ombudsman in July 2011, she assured the impeachment court that she will not be used for personal vendetta.
“I will not jeopardize my 40 years in government service—spotless, I will be modest to say that—just to be a tool for anyone to get back at certain persons,” she said.
Senate Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada had expressed concerns that the Office of the Ombudsman may be used against those who are critical of the Aquino administration.
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano urged the Ombudsman to maintain “balance” in using her power to investigate the assets of government officials.
Senator Gregorio Honasan quizzed Morales if her office had “singled out” Corona. He also asked the Ombudsman how many times her office had requested assistance from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) in checking bank transactions.
Morales said Corona’s case was the first time she asked for the AMLC’s help since she assumed her post as an Ombudsman less than a year ago. However, Morales asserted that she is ready to probe even incumbent officials of the Aquino administration if warranted.
“For as long as there are leads that these charges are meritorious, then we will do it,” said Morales, who is also a retired Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.

- Reported by Andreo Calonzo, Kimberly Jane Tan, and Mark Merueñas/YA, GMA News