Corona got P11-M cash from ‘dead’ firm

By Cathy C. Yamsuan, Christian V. Esguerra, TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Prosecutors on Wednesday zeroed in on what one senator-judge described as an “unexplained inclusion” in the statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs) of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

On Day 10 of Corona’s impeachment trial, the prosecution contended that the Chief Justice could not have received an P11-million cash advance from a company owned by his wife’s family in 2003 because its certificate of registration was revoked that same year.

“Our theory is that there could not have been any transaction made by Basa-Guidote (Enterprises Inc.) with Chief Justice Renato Corona because … the corporate franchise had already been dissolved or revoked and therefore, the only action that can be taken by Basa-Guidote (was) just to liquidate and wind up the affairs of the corporation and distribute the shares,” Representative Reynaldo Umali told the impeachment court.

Prosecutors presented Director Benito Cataran of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)  to show that the company was no longer in a position to release money to Corona.

The approach puzzled some of the senators, who questioned the relevance of Basa-Guidote being “dead” to the charge that Corona did not publicly disclose his SALN and because of that, should be convicted of culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust [...]

Read the full story >>  Corona got P11-M cash from ‘dead’ firm

Day 11: Highlights of Corona impeachment trial at the Senate

Call to Order

• At 2:04 p.m. Thursday, the trial resumed.
• Senators Miram Defensor-Santiago and Sergio OsmeĂąa were absent.

Cross-examination of registers of deeds

• During cross-examination by defense counsel Ramon Esguerra, Quezon City Register of Deeds Carlo Alcantara produced the transfer certificate of title (TCT) for a P15-million lot under the names of Carla Constantino, the daughter of impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona, and her husband.
• Alcantara also produced registration certificates for the following properties of the Corona family:

• A unit at the Burgundy condominium with a market zonal value of P1.5 million and a selling price of P2.5 million
• A lot at the Ayala Heights with a market zonal value P13.8 million and a selling price of P8 million
• A lot at La Vista with a market zonal value of P21.6 million and a selling price of P18 million
• Two properties at Xavierville Subdivision

SALN entries: zonal value, fair market value, or selling price? [...]

Read the full story >>  Day 11: Highlights of Corona impeachment trial at the Senate

Day 10: Highlights of Corona impeachment trial at the Senate

Call to order

• The trial resumed at 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Corona’s P11-million loan

• House prosecutor Rep. Reynaldo Umali conducted the direct examination of Director Benito Cataran of the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) Company Registration & Regulatory Department, who testified on the P11-million loan that Chief Justice Renato Corona got in 2003 from his wife’s corporation; it was declared as his liability in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) from 2004 to 2009.
• Cataran produced the articles of incorporation of Basa Guidote Enterprises, Inc. (BGEI), which was registered with the SEC in May 30, 1961. He said neither Corona nor his wife Cristina Roco-Corona were listed as shareholders in the company, whose incorporators and officers had the surnames Basa or Roco.
• Director Cataran added that the SEC revoked BGEI’s articles of incorporation and considered the company dissolved in 2003 – the year Corona got a loan from BGEI – after it failed to file general information sheets (GIS) from 1991 to 1997, and financial statements from 2000 to 2003 as required under the Corporation Code.
• However, presiding officer and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said the dissolution of a corporation is not its end because it still has to undergo liquidation. He explained that the SEC can only suspend a non-compliant corporation’s license, but the corporation can only be dissolved by its own stockholders or by the government through a case filed against entities that usurp authority. He directed Cataran to submit a legal memorandum showing the authority of the SEC to dissolve non-compliant corporations.
• Umali said the prosecution panel was out to prove that Corona could not have borrowed from BSEI “because the corporation’s franchise has already been dissolved or revoked [and] the only action that can be taken by [BGEI] is to liquidate, wind up and distribute the shares.” He added the prosecution wants to prove that the P11-million loan obtained by Corona is “fictitious.”
• Senator-judge Francis Pangilinan noted that the prosecution was trying to prove a questionable or “unexplained inclusion” which goes to the truthfulness of Corona’s SALN.

Much ado about nothing [...]

Read the full story >>  Day 10: Highlights of Corona impeachment trial at the Senate

Corona’s bank records may be subpoenaed

Source: Vox Bikol

MANILA, Philippines (Feb 01, 2012) – The Corona family might be awash in undeclared cash as indicated by the pattern of buying properties on “almost cash basis” and the uncovering of secret dollar accounts traced to their names and the prosecution team is now eyeing the presentation of the bank records of Chief Justice Renato Corona and his wife Cristina.

The prosecution team aims to bolster its argument that the chief justice, now on impeachment trial, has substantial assets not declared in his Statement of Assets Liabilities and Networth (SALN).

The prosecution has initially identified a secret dollar account opened under the account of CJ Corona with the Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank) in October 31, 2008 with an initial deposit US$700,000 and another account in the name of Corona’s daughter, Carla, and her husband but with CJ Corona as the sole signatory.

The prosecutors are optimistic of Corona’s bank records shall be allowed by the Senate tribunal because the Bank Secrecy Law does not apply in impeachment cases and said assets are not declared in Corona’s SALN.

“We are currently discussing the bank accounts of the Coronas. Although there is no decision yet, there is an inclination to [...]

Read the full story >>     Corona’s bank records may be subpoenaed

Relative warned JBC in 2001: Corona could bring “disrepute” to SC

When Renato Corona was nominated for a vacant seat in the Supreme Court back in 2001, an uncle of his wife Cristina personally wrote the Judicial Bar Council (JBC) to oppose his nomination in order “to save the SC from discredit and disrepute.”

Jose Maria Basa III warned that Corona “will not be capable of rendering fair and just decisions as he has not exhibited such character” in connection with his actions regarding Basa-Guidote Enterprises, the corporation jointly owned by the Cristina Corona’s parents and the latter’s relatives  like Basa.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo came to the defense of Corona, who was then her Malacanang Chief-of-Staff.

Arroyo’s spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao was quoted by the Manila Bulletin as telling reporters in a September 2001 news [...]

Read the full story >>  Relative warned JBC in 2001: Corona could bring “disrepute” to SC

‘Movement 188′ hits alleged ‘squid tactics’ of Corona lawyers

Source: ZamboTimes.com

MANILA — Congressmen signatories to the impeachment complaint against Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, who called themselves “Movement 188,” on Tuesday hit the alleged “squid tactics” in firing “made-up stink bombs” at the prosecution team of the House of Representatives and their spokesmen “in a desperate bid to muddle up the trial and divert national attention away from testimonies and evidence submitted to the Senate impeachment court.”

The Movement 188, in a press briefing, claimed that “after resorting to dilatory tactics to torpedo incriminating evidence against Corona during the first two weeks of the trial, the chief magistrate’s defense team has now turned to firing made-up stink bombs at certain House prosecutors and their spokespersons, in a frantic bid to muddle up the proceedings and sidetrack the Senate court’s focus from the submission of evidence and testimonies proving that he does not deserve to stay one minute longer at the helm of the Supreme Court.”

The group believes that the defense team “has apparently seen this early the writing on the wall — the losing legal battle of the Chief Justice to wiggle himself out of crimes contained in the eight Articles of Impeachment — that they want to put the prosecution on the defensive by hurling trumped-up charges against them and to similarly put senator-judges in a straight-jacket by moving for the inhibition of certain senators on the trumped-up allegation that they have been lawyering [...]

Read the full story >>   ‘Movement 188′ hits alleged ‘squid tactics’ of Corona lawyers

Brouhaha over pirated DVDs

PerryScope
By Perry Diaz

Shooting buddies

From the time President Benigno “P-Noy” Aquino III appointed Ronald Llamas as presidential adviser on political affairs, Llamas has become the lightning rod for criticism against P-Noy’s administration.  But P-Noy doesn’t seem to be bothered with the attacks directed at Llamas.  Indeed, nobody could touch Llamas…  unless his critics could produce incontrovertible evidence of malfeasance.

The latest “torpedo” launched at Llamas was an allegation that he purchased pirated DVDs.  As a result of this controversy involving one of P-Noy’s despised – and envied – shooting buddies, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. issued a memorandum instructing Llamas to explain within five days – by February 1 — why no administrative disciplinary case should be filed against him for buying pirated DVDs.

In his memo, Ochoa said that Llamas was “seen buying a stack of pirated DVDs worth P2,000.”  Llamas responded to the memo immediately to which Ochoa’s office said that it would make a recommendation.  According to deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte, the recommendation could be administrative sanctions or dismissal.

When P-Noy heard the story, he pooh-poohed it saying that Llamas “might just have been passing by.”  But according to a first-hand account by Dona Policar, the associate editor of Bandera, she saw — and photographed — Llamas going over the pirated DVDs on display at the Circle C mall in Quezon City.  According to the DVD retailer, Llamas bought P2,000 worth of pirated DVDs.  He also said that Llamas was a regular customer.

Poor Llamas, he never realized that in one of his rare personal and private moments, a paparazzo was lurking behind a stack of DVDs while he was browsing over the merchandise displayed.  But Llamas should have known better that as an alter ego of the President, he is public property, 24/7 [...]

Read the full story >>  Brouhaha over pirated DVDs

What’s the unbelievable tale and retraction of Cuevas all about?

AS I WRECK THIS CHAIR
By William M. Esposo
The Philippine Star

The tale of impeachment trial lead defense lawyer Serafin Cuevas that Malacanang Palace is pressuring him to quit from the defense panel was simply unbelievable. To a political and marketing communications strategist — the Cuevas tale appears to be directed at winning the public relations battle of the impeachment trial rather than exposing an irregularity.

Cuevas could not name names after Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda challenged him to do so. That’s untypical of a top caliber lawyer like Cuevas who would know the difference between a factual assertion and a tall tale. It’s also something we would not expect somebody like Cuevas to state sans any other details that would protect him from being called to account.

Last Tuesday’s dailies carried the subsequent denial of Cuevas. He was emphatic in saying that nobody representing the Palace ever approached him to ask that he quit from the defense panel. The Philippine Daily Inquirer, which broke the “Palace pressure on Cuevas” story last Monday, countered in the face of the Cuevas denial that the tape and transcript of the interview with Cuevas says otherwise — meaning that Cuevas did tell the tale. Hearing that tape in the Inquirer website prevents us from giving [...]

Read the full story >>  What’s the unbelievable tale and retraction of Cuevas all about?

Ping: Mike A, Iggy have P4-billion deposits

By Marvin Sy
The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Panfilo Lacson says he has documents to prove that former first gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo and his late brother Ignacio or Iggy each owned bank accounts containing over P2 billion.

Lacson yesterday said the two accounts are in one bank, and that these are still active.

The accounts are no longer in the names of “Jose Pidal” but those of Mike’s and Iggy’s, Lacson added.

Lacson said he intended to revive the Jose Pidal probe with the new evidence in his possession.

“There was really no closure (on the issue),” he said.

“There really has to be closure, but not at this time because Iggy has yet to be buried.”

Lacson asked Ferdinand Topacio, the lawyer of Mike Arroyo, to ask his client for a written waiver on the money contained [...]

Read the full story >>   Ping: Mike A, Iggy have P4-billion deposits

The Legacy of 182 Trees in Baguio City

As the Bamboos Sway
By Rudy D. Liporada

While the Sendong mudslide catastrophe which killed thousands of Filipinos is still fresh in our emotional quotient and with the seeming withering away from memory of similar disasters in Bicol and Leyte, Baguio City citizens are up in furor against what they call the impending ‘massacre’ of 182 trees by conglomerate ShoeMart (SM).

These 182 trees might as well be the hallmark of the fight against denudation in the Philippines which have given way to mining conglomerates, real estate expansions, and commercial encroachment which, unbridled, have proven disastrous to the environment – bringing death and continuing pestilence.

The issue on the 182 trees has all the trappings of the conflict drama involving a heartless conglomerate, a castrated Baguio mayor and his City Council, environmental policies which are being railroaded – all against Baguio citizens who are against the ‘massacre’ of these trees.

While the Sendong, Bicol, and Leyte and other denudations were happening which caused those thousands to be buried in their sleep, no huge clamor against those denudations really hit the headlines before the denudations. Reactions after the disasters, investigations, policy resolutions against more denudations were mere talk as the onslaught on the environment continued waiting for the next disasters [...]

Read the full story >>  The Legacy of 182 Trees in Baguio City

DISCLAIMER: Commentaries or articles may be submitted for publication. However, the commentaries and articles submitted by writers and readers for publication do not necessarily reflect the views of Global Balita and its Editor. The Editor does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of writers and readers exercising their right to free expression. Global Balita and its Editor reserve the right to reject any commentary or article submitted for publication.

We Watch While They Go Hungry

GLIMPSES
By Jose Ma. Montelibano

4.5 million Filipino families experience hunger and the rest who can help prevent this watch as they go hungry. It is a cursed life that the hungry live, and it is a curse that many who can help, but do not, will have to bear in their lives.

As I travel around the United States, speaking to Filipino-Americans who have keen interest in learning more about the plight of the poorest among our people, I appeal for their sympathy and active intervention. My basis is in their latest annual remittance to their families in the Philippines estimated at around $9 billion, proof of massive resources and proof of consistent generosity. I have not asked them to send more money to the Philippines. I have simply pointed out that they sent money to their families but not their country, to individuals but not to the collective. If their generosity has lifted their beneficiaries out of poverty, it has not lifted lifted the hungry from their misery.

To feed the hungry is a Christian obligation. To not do so will not allow salvation or entry into the kingdom of God. This is not my claim. This is the promise of the Founder of Christianity – Jesus Christ. I am Christian so I had been taught this, by my parents who were Christians themselves, by my schools which were Christian as well, and by the religious authorities of the Catholic Church. According to their teachings, each believer will be asked at the end of time important questions by Jesus Himself – and one would be, “When I was hungry, did you feed me? [...]

Read the full story >>  We Watch While They Go Hungry

The Great Poverty Divide

By Fr. Shay Cullen
(His columns are published in The Manila Times,
in publications in Ireland, the UK, Hong Kong, and on-line)

Manuel a semi-illiterate teenager just rescued from the filthy jails of Metro Manila was longing to see his parents and family. He told us that they had no home and lived on the street. They had a food stall near Baclaran Church and lived there under a plastic sheet. They eked out a living selling bananas cooked in recycled vegetable oil and brown sugar to the church goers at the weekly novena and daily masses.

Both rich and poor filled the Wednesday novena prayers. The poor being the vast majority were begging divine help to find enough food for their families and medicines for their sick and the irresponsible and unrepentant rich praying for forgiveness and donating coins for a ticket to heaven. Alas that’s the great divide; the poor trying to live for a few days more, the rich trying to live forever.

Blessed are the responsible well off rich people, the Zacchaeus people of this world who are enlightened and see the social and human reality and are determined to use their influence and resources to change it for the better. They are agents of change and have compassion for the poor, exploited and the abused, and they dedicate their talents, wealth and efforts to change this unjust divide between the haves and have not. But it’s not an easy task. In Davos, Switzerland the world leaders have lost their way. Greed and excess has damaged the world economy and they can’t fix it [...]

Read the full story >>  The Great Poverty Divide

Criminal intent, not number of properties, is key in Corona trial—Sen. Santiago

By TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines – While probably terrified of her, prosecutors at the House of Representatives may have found an ally in Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who thinks there’s been too much ado over the prosecution’s “flip-flop” on the number of Chief Justice Renato Corona’s properties.

“There is a Latin phrase we often use, ‘falsus in unum falsus in omnibus’ [false in one thing, false in everything ]. If a witness is caught lying in one detail, he has been lying in other details,” Santiago said in a telephone interview.

However, regardless of the number of properties, Santiago said, the more important issue was whether there has been  “criminal intention” on the part of the respondent not to declare his assets, which she said would constitute “proof of a high crime.”

“If it appears indicative of a criminal intent, there’s no need to go to the other properties. One or two examples would suffice,” she said, quickly adding, “Unless he has an explanation acceptable to a  reasonable man.”

So far, in their presentations on Article 2, Corona’s alleged failure to disclose his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth, the prosecution “attempted to show certain irregularities.” The defense, however, has been able to [...]

Read the full story >>  Criminal intent, not number of properties, is key in Corona trial—Sen. Santiago

Prosecution insists on getting CJ bank records

By Christina Mendez
The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines – The prosecution panel yesterday reiterated the need to subpoena the bank records of Chief Justice Renato Corona in a bid to bolster allegations in relation to the failure of the chief magistrate to truthfully declare information in his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs).

Prosecution spokesman Rep. Miro Quimbo said the members of the defense team and bank executives cannot invoke the confidentiality rule under the Bank Secrecy Law before the impeachment court.

“The banks cannot refuse the subpoena of impeachment court. It is the highest court, it is in fact a Constitutional Court. The secrecy of bank deposits is not above the impeachment court. In fact an impeachment is a clear exemption to the Secrecy of Bank Deposit Law,” Quimbo stressed.

Quimbo accused the defense of trying hide the truth from the public when it repeatedly objected to the prosecution’s move to subpoena Corona’s records with two banks.

As regards foreign bank deposits, Quimbo said the prosecution would understand the banks’ stand against the subpoena but the law has made exception as regards impeachment proceedings.

“We can understand the banks will hesitate because they would want as much as possible not to reveal (those records for the protection of the) banking system but precisely that’s why the law makes exceptions, the law is very specific. Impeachment is one exemption when it comes to secrecy of bank deposits,” he said [...]

Read the full story >>  Prosecution insists on getting CJ bank records

‘5 or 10 or 20 or 45, Corona did not declare these assets’

By Gil C. Cabacungan, TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Spokespersons of the prosecution in the trial of impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona on Friday said the criticism directed at it for its failure to present proof of his purported 45 properties is not only undeserved but also missed the point of the impeachment.

“They claimed we have lost the case because we only presented 25 and not 45 [properties]. But whether it is 5 or 10 or 20 or 45, the point is he did not disclose and declare them for years. And why were these declared at very low values? It’s like he’s hiding something, like where did he get the money to pay for these?”  Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara said.

The lawmaker also said saying sorry would not cut it for Corona, who is expected to argue that his omissions in his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs) were not enough grounds for his ouster.

Apology acceptable if…

“[The apology] will be acceptable if he makes it voluntarily and before there was a full-blown trial,” Angara said. “Clearly, it will [...]

Read the full story >>  ‘5 or 10 or 20 or 45, Corona did not declare these assets’

Corona, Megaworld & SC 2004 decision

By Atty Batas Mauricio
Zamboanga Today

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love…” (Ephesians 4:2, the Holy Bible).

LACK OF PREPARATION HOUNDS PROSECUTION: Well, I am now inclined to believe that before they filed the impeachment articles against Chief Justice Renato Corona with the Senate for trial, the 188 congressmen who signed and endorsed it did not really prepare their cases, as they even failed to research Corona’s decisions as a justice of the Supreme Court involving the companies where he supposedly bought his posh properties.
Otherwise, they would have found out that on March 31, 2004, or more than six years before he became chief justice, Corona authored a decision in the case entitled “Megaworld Properties and Holdings, Inc. vs. Hon. Judge Benedicto Cobarde”, and docketed as G.R. No. 156200.

THE PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW: In that decision, concurred in by then Justices Conchita Carpio Morales and Angelina Sandoval Gutierrez, the Supreme Court favored Megaworld by striking down a Court of Appeals’ decision requiring Megaworld to pay some P25 million to a couple who acted as agents over a vast beachfront property which Megaworld contracted to develop. In other words, Megaworld was spared the agony of paying P25 million to the couple, which the Court of Appeals earlier  [...]

Read the full story >>   Corona, Megaworld & SC 2004 decision

Supreme Court should fire Midas, solon says

Source: ABS-CBNnews.com 

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court should sack spokesman and administrator Jose Midas Marquez for abusing his position, Akbayan party-list Rep. Walden Bello said Wednesday.

Bello has filed House Resolution 2103 calling for Marquez’s removal from office.

Bello, in a press statement, said Marquez caused pubic anger by failing to separate the interests of impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona and the Supreme Court.

He said Marquez should step down “to prevent the further erosion of the people’s trust in the highest court of the land.”

“We are pulling all stops to prevent Mr. Marquez from escaping accountability for his abuse of office,” he added.

He mentioned Section 3 of Presidential Decree 842, as amended, that describes the qualifications, appointment and tenure of the members of the Office of the Court Administrator in the Supreme Court.

The decree states that “The Court Administrator and the Deputy Court Administrators may be removed or relieved for just cause by a vote of not less than eight (8) Justices of the Supreme Court.”

Bello said the way Marquez has been defending himself puts the credibility of the Supreme Court [...]

Read the full story >>  Supreme Court should fire Midas, solon says

Lito Lapid Pampanga’s pride, shame

By Inquirer Central Luzon
Tonette Orejas

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—Kapampangan pride received either a boost or a beating depending on who you ask among the cabalen of Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid concerning his first-ever “performance” at the Senate impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

For a few minutes, the action star-turned-lawmaker, not exactly known for eloquence but more for his membership in the so-called committee on silence, rose confidently on Day 10 of the trial to throw questions in Filipino at a prosecution witness from the Security and Exchange Commission.

Lapid took to the floor on Wednesday at the time when he was in the media spotlight albeit for an entirely different case closer to home: His wife Marissa was charged with dollar smuggling in the United States last week.

Kapampangan musician Irwin Nucum was hardly impressed by what he saw. He dismissed as “insignificant,” for example, Lapid’s question on the difference between a “cash advance” and a “loan.” [...]

Read the full story >>  Lito Lapid Pampanga’s pride, shame

Grace Lee: PNoy courts ‘like any normal guy’

BY ROWENA JOY A. SANCHEZ
MANILA BULLETIN

 

MANILA, Philippines – Following President Noynoy Aquino’s admission that they are dating, TV and radio personality Grace Lee has become more open in disclosing some details about their burgeoning bond.

Despite holding the highest post in the country, PNoy’s courtship style remains “normal,” according to the Philippines-based Korean.

“I don’t know about calling everyday, I don’t wanna divulge too much details, pero yes very normal, like any normal guy,” Grace said in an interview on “24 Oras,” Feb. 2.

She has also received “a couple of chocolates and flowers” from the chief executive.

“He’s just very sweet,” Grace added.

Although she’s been part of the entertainment industry for some years now, Grace is still surprised by the outpour of attention she’s receiving. Reporters and photographers of international wire agencies, such as Agence-France Presse, were seen tailing her on Thursday, “24 Oras” stated.

It took a while for the GMA-7 showbiz reporter to speak up about PNoy because she “wanted this to be more private.”

“We’re still at the stage of getting to know each other. And I didn’t want so many people having so much to say about what’s going on between us… I don’t think I’m gonna waste my time, spending hours of my day trying to know a man if [...]

Read the full story >>   Grace Lee: PNoy courts ‘like any normal guy’

GMA News TV to air documentaries on Marcos, Aquino on EDSA anniversary

Source: GMA News

GMA News TV commemorates the Edsa Anniversary this year by airing two powerful documentaries on former Philippine Presidents: “Marcos: The Fall of a Dictator” and “Cory Aquino: The Housewife Who Led a Revolution”.  Commissioned by and first aired on History Channel Asia, the documentaries include valuable archival video of the Marcos era and Martial Law years as well as of the Edsa Revolution and Aquino’s first years in office — footage few of today’s youth have ever seen.

DISCLAIMER: Commentaries or articles may be submitted for publication. However, the commentaries and articles submitted by writers and readers for publication do not necessarily reflect the views of Global Balita and its Editor. The Editor does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of writers and readers exercising their right to free expression. Global Balita and its Editor reserve the right to reject any commentary or article submitted for publication.

Corona’s secret stash in cash

BY AMADO P. MACASAET
MALAYA

‘A clear pattern is emerging. Corona’s true wealth is either not declared or undervalued in his SALN.’

THE impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona is about to take a crucial turn.

The prosecution has just filed more requests for subpoenas for the submission of bank records that are expected to raise legal issues involving the secrecy of foreign currency deposits.

These accounts are expected to open a can of worms. Do not be surprised to see defense lawyers frothing in their mouths trying to block the damning evidence.

Fact is, since Corona joined the Supreme Court in 2002, he declared under oath no more than P3.5 million in cash. If copies of bank documents relating to a dollar account in the name of Corona are accurate, he appears to have at some point at least US$700,000 or about P34 Million deposited in a PSBank account as of October 2008.

These funds, as well as those deposited in several other accounts in PSBank also covered by the request for subpoena, were never declared in Corona’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) [...]

Read the full story >>  Corona’s secret stash in cash

Corona bank deposits allowed to be opened 

ON the 12th day of the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, the court granted a prosecution request to subpoena bank documents under the account name of the magistrate.

Presiding officer Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said the resolution “was simply to authorize the issuance of a subpoena, and whether those evidence subpoenaed are admissible evidence, given the fact that they apparently appear in violation of existing law, is a question that must be resolved in due course.”

“I hope that is understood. We are not prejudging the admissibility or non-admissibility of this evidence and this issue will come up at that point when the subpoenaed material and testimonies are offered in evidence,” he said.

Subpoenaed to appear before the court tomorrow are bank managers of the BPI branch at the SGV Building along Ayala Ave., Makati City and the PSBank branch on Katipunan Ave. in Quezon City.

The PSBank manager was ordered to bring bank records of Corona’s 10 accounts, showing balances as of  [...]

Read the full story >> Corona bank deposits allowed to be opened

Day 12: Highlights of Corona impeachment trial at the Senate

Call to Order

• At 2:11 p.m., the trial was resumed.
• Senator-judge Miriam Defensor-Santiago was absent.

ITRs of Corona’s son-in-law

• Presiding officer and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, over the objection of Chief Justice Renato Corona’s lead defense counsel Serafin Cuevas, allowed private prosecutor Arthur Lim to resume his direct examination of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) chief even though cross-examination had started.
• BIR commissioner Kim Henares produced the income tax returns (ITRs) from 2005 to 2010 of Corona son-in-law Constantino T. Castillo III (husband of Carla Corona), which were marked in court.
• Enrile did not allow Lim to read the contents of Castillo’s ITRs for “propaganda” purposes, and chided Lim for pointing out “unnecessary details” in describing the documents.
• The presiding officer Enrile added that the impeachment court will not accept evidence on paragraph 2.4 on allegations of ill-gotten wealth because the Senate has disallowed this.
• After Enrile stressed that the prosecution must demonstrate the relevance of the ITRs to Article II on lack of disclosure in Corona’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth (SALNs), Lim said they were trying to show that the La Vista property belongs to Corona because his daughter and her husband did not have the financial capacity to buy the P18 million property.
• The prosecution also presented a deed of sale for shares at the exclusive The Palms Country Club from Filinvest in the name of Corona and his wife, that were not declared in his SALN.

BIR ‘investigating’ Corona [...]

Rad the full story >>   Day 12: Highlights of Corona impeachment trial at the Senate

Prosecution: Corona opened $700K bank account in 2008

The document indicated that a certain Renato Geronado Corona opened a bank account with an initial deposit of $700,000. It also showed that the depositor wrote “income and investments” as the source of the money.

The prosecution, however, noted in its request that it “cannot vouch for the authenticity of the said documents.”

“The prosecution believes that it is its duty to submit the documents to this honorable impeachment court, as they may have a bearing on the court’s resolution of the pending request for subpoena,” the supplemental request read [...]

Read the full story >>  Prosecution: Corona opened $700K bank account in 2008

Henares cites discrepancies in Corona’s SALNs

MANILA, Philippines (1st UPDATE) – Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Henares said she found several discrepancies in the Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth (SALNs) vis a vis the income tax returns (ITRs) of Chief Justice Renato Corona, which pushed her to launch a separate tax investigation.

During her re-direct examination on day 12 of the impeachment trial, Henares said nine properties were not included in Corona’s 2002 SALN.

These properties, as well as the La Vista and Marikina properties, were omitted in the 2003 SALN. She said Corona stated his net worth in his SALN to be P7 million, when it should have indicated a net worth of P14 million.

For 2004, Henares said that Corona should have disclosed a P21-million net worth, instead of [...]

Read the full story >>  Henares cites discrepancies in Corona’s SALNs

What is ‘public trust?’

By Christina Mendez
The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines –  How can a government official be held accountable for negligence or dishonesty in public office or negligence in the entries in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN)? What is betrayal of public trust?

Are these impeachable offenses?

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, presiding officer in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, has ordered the defense and prosecution to define public trust and betrayal of public trust.

Dishonesty became a buzzword after prosecutors of the House of Representative asserted that Corona had demonstrated dishonesty in his non-declaration of some properties in his SALN.

The prosecution said such dishonesty constitutes betrayal of public trust, an impeachable offense under the Constitution.

However, retired Supreme Court Justice Serafin Cuevas, the lead defense counsel, said Corona’s apparent failure to  [...]

Read the full story >>   What is ‘public trust?’

Aquino admin finally submits its version of FOI bill to House

UPDATED 5:00 p.m. – The Aquino administration has finally submitted to the House of Representatives its version of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill which aims to promote transparency by giving people greater access to government information.

In his speech during the 112th anniversary of the Manila Bulletin on Thursday, President Benigno Aquino III said the FOI bill was sent to their coalition partners in the Lower House that day.

“We want every other administration voted into power to work under the same standard of transparency and accountability that we have set for ourselves. This is a significant step toward achieving that goal,” he said.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the FOI bill may not be included in the priority bills of the administration but its passage will be pursued vigorously.

“The FOI version we submitted yesterday was crafted way after decision on the 13 priority measures was made, President Aquino has finally authorized a version and we will pursue it vigorously,” Valte said in a text message to reporters.

Last month, Aquino ordered his Cabinet to ‘push ahead’ with  [...]

Read the full story >>  Aquino admin finally submits its version of FOI bill to House

President Noynoy As Starmaker

President Benigno Aquino III and Grace Lee
(Photo by Richard Vińas)

Just a thought: At the touch of love everyone becomes a poet. – Plato

MANILA, Philippines — Pnoy As Starmaker: By virtue of Pres. Noynoy Aquino’s bachelor status, he has unwittingly become today’s hottest starmaker.

Every girl who gets linked to the 51-year-old President attains celebrity status that often leads to a showbiz career. Some of the women who had been linked to the President include Shalani Soledad, Liz Uy, and now, Grace Lee.

Recently married Shalani Soledad is a case in point. A simple, small-town councilor at the time she dated PNoy, Shalani went on to pursue a TV career as co-host to Willie Revillame on “Willing Willie.”

These days, the media’s eyes are focused on Grace Lee, a GMA News TV broadcaster, radio host, and a columnist of  [...] 

Dionisia Pacquiao says she suffered from ‘spiritual disease’

Source: ABS-CBNnews.com

MANILA, Philippines – Dionisia Pacquiao, more popularly known as Mommy D, is back in the limelight, sharing with her fans what she went through during her four-month absence from show business.

The mother of boxing champ Manny Pacquiao said she suffered from unexplained swelling in different parts of her body — from her tummy to her feet. She said, however, that it is not life-threatening.

Dionisia said it is a “spiritual disease,” the same one she experienced in 2000.

“Sakit na hindi naman nakakatakot, sakit na hindi pisikal. Spiritual ba,” she said in an interview with Korina Sanchez on radio dzMM on Friday. “Pero wala na, di na sila nakaganito sa akin.”

Dionisia said she consulted the help of an albularyo (folk healer) in Cavite to treat her illness which, she hinted, is kulam (a form of hex where rag dolls are stabbed with needles, causing unbearable pain to the intended victim).

She said some people may have done this out of jealousy. “Sobrang inggit, may naiinggit sa akin. Sobrang inggit, sabi ng [...] 

Miriam hits ‘Brenda’ attacks

By  Marlon Purificacion
Journal Online

SENATOR-JUDGE Miriam Defensor Santiago yesterday lambasted the alleged attempt by her enemies to use her mental health condition to pressure her in the impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona.

In a press statement sent to Senate media, Santiago said any attempt to resurrect the age-old issue of mental health is a dead give-away that the personal attacks are part of an orchestrated smear campaign.

‘As the last ploy of desperation, it was used against me during the 1992 presidential campaign. It always resurfaces when, in my crusade against corruption, I make enemies who are so filthy rich that they hire an expensive PR firm specializing in dirty tricks,” said Santiago.

The veteran senator informed the media that she would no longer answer any question from the media to respond to personal attacks.

The senator gave two reasons: First, taking the debate outside of the courtroom would distract the public discourse on the issues raised by the impeachment trial and second, it would raise her blood pressure that could make her suffer [...]

Read the full story >>  Miriam hits ‘Brenda’ attacks 

DISCLAIMER: Commentaries or articles may be submitted for publication. However, the commentaries and articles submitted by writers and readers for publication do not necessarily reflect the views of Global Balita and its Editor. The Editor does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of writers and readers exercising their right to free expression. Global Balita and its Editor reserve the right to reject any commentary or article submitted for publication.

‘I am not guilty, I don’t want trial’

BY AMADO P. MACASAET
MALAYA

‘In this sense, it is Gloria Arroyo who is under trial. If Chief Justice Corona is not convicted, Mrs. Arroyo’s majority of eight jurists will save her from the gallows.’

FIRST, the Chief Justice declared upon impeachment that he did no wrong and was prepared to face trial.

Second, he declared that anybody who can find the 45 or so pieces of properties in five cities of Metro Manila in his name and that of his wife will get them. Upon his written permission, of course.

Third, the prosecution was furnished machine copies of his “initial deposit” of $700,000 in a savings bank in Quezon City. Now he objects to the production of the records for examination by the senators sitting as judges in the impeachment trial.

Now comes Chief Justice Renato Corona filing a petition with the Supreme Court seeking to stop the impeachment trial.

The petition, denied or granted, does not prove his claim of having done no wrong. He does not want to defend himself as he said he was ready to, in fact in full battle gear to face his accusers, namely President Aquino, who he said wants  [...]

Read the full story >>  ‘I am not guilty, I don’t want trial’

What is Corona hiding?

PerryScope
By Perry Diaz

A storm is brewing at the Senate impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona.  In a move to prove charges of culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust against Corona, the House of Representatives’ prosecution team subpoenaed his bank records, which makes sense if conviction is to be secured.  It did not then come as a surprise that Corona’s defense team opposed every attempt to delve into Corona’s bank records, particularly his secret dollar account, which many believe is the repository of his alleged ill-gotten wealth.

The prosecution claimed that Corona and his wife Cristina’s account won P1 million in Philippine Savings Bank’s “Monthly Millions” raffle draw and that the couple “had time deposits, money market placements, and dollar accounts in the bank.”  But the defense team’s spokesman, Tranquil Salvador III, said, “Why should the Chief Justice be faulted if he really won the raffle? If he’s just lucky, is it a sin? I don’t think there’s a problem with that or if any law was violated.”

I agree that Salvador was right in that sense.  But would he agree that for the Coronas to qualify for the P1-million monthly raffle, they should have had a huge deposit in that bank?

So, how much moolah do the Coronas have stashed in the banks? [...]

Read the full story >>  What is Corona hiding?

Our billionaire CJ

BY DUCKY PAREDES
MALAYA

‘(E)veryone can see how dumb the bum is and how, if he was a little smarter, he could have got away with (if not murder) billions!’

SO they found that our Chief Justice has P24 million in a bank and who knows how much more in other banks where he also has deposits. Why am I not surprised?

How much more has to be revealed before the Impeachment trial winds down? How much more must still be discovered before a judgment can be made?

In existing legislation, if a civil servant is found with more money to his name than he could have legitimately earned and cannot explain how this could have happened, the excess is forfeited to the government. This being only an impeachment trial, why not rule on the crook, kick him out and let’s all get on with our lives? What is an impeachment all about, anyway? Isn’t it only to decide whether the bum should continue serving the public? What else do we want to know about this awful person?

Spending any more funds for several more months of impeachment time is impractical and pointless.

Frankly, going on with it will only uncover more dirt and may only serve to inspire crookedness in many of our young. After all, everyone can see how dumb the bum is and how, if he was a little smarter, he could have gotten away with  [...]

Read the full story >>  Our billionaire CJ

The issue is Corona’s guilt, not the prosecutors’ competence

By Ted Laguatan 

Like many who follow the Corona impeachment trial, I am often frustrated by the obvious lack of competence shown by the prosecution team. Repeatedly, they fail to do what needs to be done. They are often unprepared, show sophomoric exposure to rules of evidence, lack tactical skills and fail to anticipate that their own witness might turn hostile against them.

But from something bad, something good can sometimes happens.

Let’s take the last point. They brought in the Megaworld witnesses to support their argument that Corona did not declare the correct value in his SALN and to obliquely attack him by showing that he was given an extraordinary 40% discount — subliminally suggesting that this was a bribe.

They should have anticipated that the Megaworld witnesses could easily turn hostile. Certainly, Megaworld would look bad and could be subjected to criminal penalties if they gave the impression that the 40% discount was a bribe.

Predictably the witnesses justified the discount: They claimed the unit was water damaged due to a typhoon and that the [...]

Read the full story >>  The issue is Corona’s guilt, not the prosecutors’ competence

Iglesia ni Cristo-led rally cheers up tearful Chief Justice

By Jaymee T. Gamil
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Seven thousand people and not one organizer behind them.

This was what the rowdy crowd that gathered outside the Supreme Court building on Thursday would have the public believe, with picketers saying they were simply “concerned citizens” who happened to come across one another at the same place and time.

As early as 11 a.m. Thursday, droves of people, many of them members of the politically influential Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), started convening outside the Supreme Court compound on Padre Faura Street in Manila.

They carried placards bearing such messages as “No to Impeachment,” “Uphold Judicial Independence,” “Uphold bank secrecy law” and “Stop Malacańang takeover of the judiciary.”

At least 20 placards were obviously from the same source, with red words printed on white tarpaulin sheets. But when asked, the picketers said they were “volunteers” or “individuals” showing support for Chief Justice Renato Corona.

At around 2 p.m. a tearful Corona appeared with his wife Cristina at the tribunal’s balcony and waved to the crowd.

“Walang iiyak! Walang iiyak (No tears)!” the crowd chanted [...]

Read the full story >>  Iglesia ni Cristo-led rally cheers up tearful Chief Justice

Saved by a TRO

SKETCHES
By Ana Marie Pamintuan
The Philippine Star

Maybe I’ve become so used to seeing the nation lurch from crisis to crisis that I am not overly concerned about the Supreme Court (SC) stopping the Senate impeachment court from looking into the dollar deposits of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Concerns have been raised that the temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the SC yesterday on that particular issue will trigger a constitutional crisis.

I prefer to look on the bright side, which is that the SC restrained itself from stopping the impeachment trial altogether – something Corona also sought. His motion initially landed in the lap of SC Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco, who promptly dropped it like a hot potato (the official reason is that Velasco’s son is a congressman).

The SC instead gave the opposing camps 10 days to submit their respective comments. By that time, enough dirt would have been hurled at Corona by the prosecution that the damage to his reputation is likely to be irreparable.

Even the TRO on the opening of his dollar deposits gives the impression that he is hiding something – normally seen in this country as a sign of guilt.

The ease and speed by which information can spread these days also do not help Corona’s cause. That document supposedly leaked from PSBank’s Katipunan branch in Quezon City, showing “$700K” deposited in the name of  [...]

Read the full story >>  Saved by a TRO

After another prosecution folly Farinas is a breath of fresh air

AS I WRECK THIS CHAIR
By William M. Esposo
The Philippine Star

If ever you have a pressing need for a lawyer, the likes of the Senate Impeachment Trial’s prosecutors — the very ones who have been making a series of fumbles — should be the last that you should enlist. These fumblers are capable of getting you a life term for a simple violation of the jaywalking law.

If the numerous fumbles of the prosecutors were not enough to raise your blood pressure, the latest boner from the House of Representatives Committee on Justice, the very same committee that formed the prosecution panel in the Senate Impeachment Trial of Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice (CJ) Renato Corona, could give you a stroke. In a move that defies logic and common sense, the House Committee on Justice endorsed to the House Plenary the impeachment case against SC Associate Justice Mar del Castillo.

Going for a second impeachment case would have been understandable if the prosecution in the CJ impeachment trial was doing a splendid job. However, as we all saw it on television and in living color – the successes in bringing to the fore vital pieces  [...]

Read the full story >>  After another prosecution folly Farinas is a breath of fresh air

Science, not just English skills

ON DISTANT SHORE
By Val G. Abelgas

Amid the distraction created by the ongoing impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona are a couple of good news coming from the Department of Education that assures us that it has begun to realize the need to push science education in the Philippines.

On Monday, Education Secretary Armin Luistro allayed fears that the teaching of science has been dropped from the Grade 1 curriculum as he clarified that the new K-12 program, which adds two years to the current 10-year Basic Education curriculum, will not de-emphasize science education. He said science would continue to be embedded in Grades 1 and 2 subjects such as math, language and health education. Science as a separate subject will continue to be taught starting in Grade 3. Luistro said Science has not been taught as a separate subject in Grades 1 and 2 for more than 30 years now.

Some sectors were concerned that the Education department was dropping the teaching of science in the early grades, and would instead focus on developing the students’ English language skills to prepare them for an expected boom in business  [...]

Read the full story >>  Science, not just English skills

Subic Coal Plant Getting Permits by Stealth?

By Fr. Shay Cullen
(His columns are published in The Manila Times,
in publications in Ireland, the UK, Hong Kong, and on-line)

Wherever there is a coal-fired power plant, people get sick and die and the environment is damaged beyond repair. Coal is the dirtiest and most toxic form of power generation.

The people of Zambales, Bataan and Olongapo City vehemently oppose the proposed coal plant to be built on scenic Subic Bay and are asking what dirty coal deals have been made between the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and “The Power Company”, made up of Aboitiz Power Corporation, RP Energy, and the Taiwan Cogeneration Corporation (TCC) and the higher Philippine government officials who have allowed this to go forward?

The toxic fumes of the electricity-generating coal plant will cause many diseases especially among the children and the elderly. Despite the campaign of President Aquino for a transparent, clean nation, environment and good government, a dirty deal from the past administration is still going ahead in the SBMA and will bring shame and hurt to the President.

The three main provisions of the original Memorandum of Understanding set up under the corrupt Arroyo Administration have not been honored or implemented by the proponents of the coal plant. The agreement started out as a joint-partnership agreement between the SBMA, the Aboitiz Power Corporation, RP Energy, and the Taiwan Cogeneration Corporation (TCC), call them “The Power Company”. The government was to have a role as partner to monitor compliance with safety and health standards [...]

Read the full story >>   Subic Coal Plant Getting Permits by Stealth?

Tobacco Farmers, Officials Up In Arms VS Hike In Phl “Sin Tax”

By Artemio A. Dumlao

Candon City, Ilocos Sur (February 9, 2012) – Tobacco farmers are up in arms over proposed hikes in “sin taxes” particularly on tobacco and alcohol being introduced in Congress.

Tobacco farmers backed by Ilocos Sur officials are frowning over the proposed bill seeking to restructure the excise tax collected from alcohol and tobacco claiming such moves “stunts their economic growth and eventually kills them.”

Ilocos Sur tobacco farmer-leader Benjamin Sarmiento claims House Bill 5727 authored by Representative Joseph Emilio A. Abaya (1st district, Cavite) “is not favorable to the tobacco industry.”

Abaya’s bill was tagged by the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council as a priority bill.

But according to Sarmiento, “If the bill will be passed and be approved, the tax for locally made high quality cigarette will be increased from P12.00 per pack to P30.00 per pack until 2014 while the premium imported cigarettes would only increase from P28.30 per pack to P30.00 per pack.” With such, he explained, “the importers are greatly benefited considering that only 40 percent from the total volume of cigarette produced in the country are high quality and the remaining 60 percent  [...]

Read the full story >> Tobacco Farmers, Officials Up In Arms VS Hike In Phl “Sin Tax”

DISCLAIMER: Commentaries or articles may be submitted for publication. However, the commentaries and articles submitted by writers and readers for publication do not necessarily reflect the views of Global Balita and its Editor. The Editor does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of writers and readers exercising their right to free expression. Global Balita and its Editor reserve the right to reject any commentary or article submitted for publication.

Poll: 54% think Corona will be convicted

Source: ABS-CBNnews.com 

MANILA, Philippines – Fifty-four percent of respondents in an online poll by The Philippine Star believe he will be convicted by the Senate.

As of 12:20 p.m. of February 11, the Philippine Star’s online poll question “Do you think Chief Justice Renato Corona will be convicted?” had generated 20,528 responses.

Of the 20,528 responses, 11,121 or 54% said they believe Corona will be convicted; 9,407 or 46% said they believe Corona will be acquitted.

An earlier poll conducted by Inquirer.net found that as of February 5 (Sunday), 10,057 out of 15,510 responses or 64.84% voted no to the question, “Do you think the Senate will convict Chief Justice Renato Corona?” [...]

Read the full story >>  Poll: 54% think Corona will be convicted

Unopened dollar accounts do CJ Corona more harm

AS I WRECK THIS CHAIR
By William M. Esposo
The Philippine Star 

It’s regrettable that the Supreme Court (SC) decided by a vote of 8 (for) — 5 (against) — and 2 abstentions to issue a TRO (Temporary Restraining Order) disallowing the opening of the US dollar accounts of Chief Justice (CJ) Renato Corona with PSBank (Philippine Savings Bank) by the Senate Impeachment Trial. Many level headed persons didn’t think that the SC would risk pushing the country to the brink of a Constitutional crisis owing to a dispute between institutions — the Senate sitting as an impeachment court versus the SC.

The decision would have been better appreciated if the respondent involved happened to be another person and not the CJ. The fact that the SC was making a decision on an impeachment case involving its CJ should have prodded its Associate Justices to refrain from issuing the TRO as they could be perceived as merely protecting their CJ. The naturally suspicious public mind will be inclined to appreciating more the decision as one that was influenced by close relationships, one that might even be perceived as self serving for Associate Justices who might find themselves in a similar fix in the near future.

Already, impeachment trial prosecutor Rep. Rudy Farinas threatened last Thursday to impeach all the 8 Associate Justices who voted to issue the TRO. Oddly, one of those who voted to issue the TRO was Associate Justice Bienvenido Reyes, an appointee of President Noynoy Aquino (P-Noy) — something the defense panel quickly capitalized on.

Up to last Wednesday, the defense panel had been perceived as enjoying the upper hand in the impeachment trial. This impression was created largely by the series of fumbles by the prosecution, led by Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. After filing that motion for certiorari with the SC, many changed their minds and saw it was an act of desperation on the part of the defense. If you were playing Talk N Text in the PBA (Philippine Basketball Association), how would you feel if Talk N Text coach Chot Reyes was suddenly tapped to referee the game?

Read the full story >>  Unopened dollar accounts do CJ Corona more harm

Corona is finished

By Ellen Tordesillas
Malaya

 

As I was writing this piece, Supreme Court Spokesman Midas Marquez was having a press conference announcing the Temporary Restraining Order that the High Court issued against the Senate, seating as an impeachment court, to subpoena information on the foreign dollar account of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

The vote was 8-5-1. Corona inhibited.

As to the petition of Corona to stop the his impeachment trial, no action was done because when it was raffled Wednesday, it went to Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco, who inhibited because his son is a member of the House of Representatives from where the Corona impeachment emanated.

Whatever would be the final decision on the Chief Justice’s dollar account or accounts, Corona is finished.

In last Wednesday’s hearing, PSBank President Pascual Garcia revealed that the five peso accounts of Corona as of Dec. 31, 2010 contained P19,728,555.39.

Yesterday, the manager of the Bank of the Philippines Island, Ayala branch testified that as of Dec. 31, 2010, the balance of Corona’s checking account with them was P12,024,000.67.

What has been revealed in the impeachment court was that as of Dec. 31, 2010, Corona had about P32 million in the bank.

Corona stated in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) for 2010 that he had only P3.5 million in cash and investments.

The huge discrepancy is glaring proof of dishonesty [...]

Read the full story >>  Corona is finished

P-Noy dares Corona: Bare dollar accounts

By Delon Porcalla
The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines – President Aquino challenged yesterday Chief Justice Renato Corona to disclose all his bank accounts if he has nothing to hide.

In an interview at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority in Taguig, Aquino said Corona’s alleged “$700K” in Philippine Savings Bank contradicts the P23 million he had declared in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth.

“Bakit hindi tugma?” he said.“Ngayon kung biglang haharangin iyung pagsiyasat niyan, pangit iyung mensaheng kinakalat natin sa lahat, na ito ang paraan para maitago.”

(It doesn’t add up. Now if we suddenly restrain the investigation it might appear that something is being hidden).

Aquino said the Supreme Court (SC) ruling protecting the secrecy of foreign currency deposits had became a tool for injustice.

“Parang napakahigpit, napaka-narrow ng definition nila doon sa pagbasa doon sa batas na tungkol sa foreign currency deposit,” he said.(The reading of the law on foreign currency deposit is too narrow).

Aquino said people who committed injustice must not find refuge in the Foreign Currency Deposits Act [...]

Read the full story >>   P-Noy dares Corona: Bare dollar accounts

Reforning the bank secrecy laws

I agree with Sen. Recto that the laws should be responsive to the “changing times and changing crimes.”  With the way Republic Act 6426, it would be attractive for corrupt officials, criminal elements, money launderers, gambling lords, and foreign drug cartels to hide their ill-gotten wealth in dollar accounts in Philippine banks and nobody could touch them including the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), which is tasked with tracing where drug cartels deposit their money.  This could lead the Philippine banking community to be branded as pariahs by international banking institutions.  — PERRY DIAZ

Recto seeks review of bank secrecy laws

ABS-CBNnews.com

MANILA, Philippines – As lawyers in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona debate on whether or not his dollar accounts should be opened, Sen. Ralph Recto, one of the senator-judges, has called for a revisit of the laws governing confidentiality of bank accounts in the country.

Recto has filed Senate Resolution 711 seeking a review of Republic Act 6426 or the Foreign Currency Deposits Act and Republic Act 1405 or the Bank Secrecy Act.

Recto said the laws should be responsive to the “changing times and changing crimes.”

“With FCDU (foreign currency deposit unit) and the Bank Secrecy Act taking center stage in the ongoing impeachment trial, we deem it imperative to call a review of these laws,” Recto, who is chair of the Senate ways and means committee, said.

“The review is not meant to de-fang said laws but to make certain that no one gets hurt or gets special treatment when the claws of these laws start to pounce on its object of prey,” he added.

Recto said he has received admonitions from concerned members of the banking community about the ramifications of  [...]

Read the full story >>  Reforning the bank secrecy laws

Corona And Beyond

GLIMPSES
By Jose Ma. Montelibano

If we are to gauge things from the advocacies that individuals and groups devote to reform of institutions and public agencies, one would be shocked at the utter lack of initiatives for reform in the Judiciary. This gives the impression that there is little or no concern about the state of affairs in this very important branch of government., presumably because there is no cause for alarm.

In contrast, the Executive and Legislative Branches of government have been perennial targets of not only criticism but reform initiatives as well. The most known and persistent advocacy is popularly known as “good governance.” Every election, and often in-between, the cry of the opposition, justified or magnified, is good governance, meaning that the incumbent is unable to govern well.

Electoral campaigns themselves allow the people to hear the criticisms and accusations in a hyped manner, often overdoing what media does on a daily basis. Beyond that, elections allow the people to get rid of unwanted public officials – or install new ones who bear new hope of a better tomorrow. Because of elections, the most criticized public officials are changed without the need of impeachments.

Will Corona resign after the trial?

As I See It 
By: Neal H. Cruz
Philippine Daily Inquirer 

It looks like most lawyers have given up on saving impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona. At the Kapihan sa Manila at the Diamond Hotel last Monday, all the four guests unanimously agreed that Corona can no longer stay in the Supreme Court even if he is acquitted. In the words of former Sen. Rene Saguisag, Corona is “very badly damaged goods.”

“He is merely floating on the waters of the law,” Saguisag added. “We cannot have a perjurer, a falsifier in the Supreme Court.”

Lawyer Rudy Salalima said win or lose, Corona would no longer have the moral ascendancy to lead the judiciary, considering all the negative evidence coming out against him.

Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello said that Corona can no longer serve effectively as Chief Justice even if he is acquitted. “He would not have the moral ascendancy to continue to serve,” he added.

Former Rep. and now Tesda chief Joel Villanueva said practically the same thing. “A chief justice must have the complete trust and confidence of the people to be effective,” he said. “After what we have heard at the Senate impeachment trial about his assets and income, I don’t think he still has that trust and confidence.”

Saguisag said there is a rumor that once Corona is acquitted, he would probably resign anyway. That is the honorable thing [...]

Read the full story >>  Will Corona resign after the trial?

Is Senator-judge Joker Arroyo joking?

By Raďssa Robles
http://raissarobles.com/2012/02/07/is-senator-judge-joker-arroyo-joking/

In January 2001, Joker Arroyo took the lead in asking the Senate impeachment court to subpoena Cathy Weir, then president of Citibank N.A., in order to produce records on then President Joseph Estrada’s dollar deposits. Arroyo was then a House senior prosecutor in Estrada’s impeachment trial.

A grateful nation subsequently voted Joker Arroyo to the Senate four months later in May.

I am raising this matter because moments ago, I heard Joker Arroyo, now a senator-judge, express wariness and caution in opening Chief Justice Renato Corona’s bank records, particularly dollar account records.

Sen. Arroyo said:

Whether foreign bank deposits can be opened and disclosed before us, an impeachment court, it is very serious….We are treading on a gray area which I share….I have read all the books….on this. we have to discuss this very thoroughly. No one can say he is an expert on this interpetation of the bank secrecy law. And whether it can be opened or not. And because of the policy consideration of course (whether) there will be capital flight or whether there’ll be a bank run and all that sort of thing.

I just could not believe it when I heard Senator Arroyo say all that because he did the exact opposite 11 years ago  [...]

Read the full story >>  Is Senator-judge Joker Arroyo joking?

House panel votes to impeach Del Castillo

By Jess Diaz
The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines –  The House of Representatives moved closer yesterday to impeaching another member of the Supreme Court (SC) while the Senate impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona is ongoing.

Voting 27-4 with one abstention, the committee on justice handily hurdled the third step of its four-step impeachment process by finding “sufficient ground for impeachment” against Justice Mariano del Castillo for alleged plagiarism and misrepresentation.

Minutes before it found enough ground to pursue the impeachment complaint against Del Castillo, the committee, by a 28-5 vote, threw out a motion presented by former minority leader Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman to dismiss the case.

If the two lopsided votes were a portent of things to come, it could be just a matter of time before the House impeaches Del Castillo, who is going on sick leave next week.

According to SC spokesman Midas Marquez, Del Castillo would take a leave next week to undergo a heart bypass operation.

Those who voted against Lagman’s motion belong to the ruling Liberal Party and its coalition partners, including [...]

Read the full story >>   House panel votes to impeach Del Castillo

Minister Bloy: We need more immigrants to build Canada

By Alex P. Vidal

PORT MOODY, British Columbia — In the next 15 years, Canada will need 650,000 skilled laborers, Minister of State for Multiculturalism Harry Bloy disclosed during a gathering of four state ministers and representatives of the Filipino community at the Inlet Theater on February 6.
“Immigration has built this country,” Bloy declared. “We need you (immigrants) to continue to build this country.”

He assured the third largest ethnic community in Canada that “we are always prepared to listen and work with all of you to the best that we can.”
Bloy emphasized that Premier Christy Clark has a “family first” policy saying “we all share the same values and we shall continue to build jobs so you can provide for your families.”

Bloy and Clark’s chief of staff Pamela Martin represented the Premier in the two-hour program. They were joined by  [...]

Read the full story >>  Minister Bloy: We need more immigrants to build Canada

DISCLAIMER: Commentaries or articles may be submitted for publication. However, the commentaries and articles submitted by writers and readers for publication do not necessarily reflect the views of Global Balita and its Editor. The Editor does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of writers and readers exercising their right to free expression. Global Balita and its Editor reserve the right to reject any commentary or article submitted for publication.

‘Explosive Monday’ seen over SC TRO

By Christina Mendez
The Philippine Star

Palace dangling P100 M to senators? Lacierda slams ‘diversionary tactics’

MANILA, Philippines – Citing “very reliable information,” lawyers of Chief Justice Renato Corona accused Malacańang last night of offering P100 million for pet projects to each senator who will defy the Supreme Court’s order stopping the opening of Corona’s dollar accounts.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, however, dismissed the accusation as part of the defense team’s “diversionary tactics” following revelations that Corona had several dollar accounts that he apparently failed to declare in his official asset statements.

Lacierda predicted an “explosive Monday” as the Senate tackles today its final response to the SC’s temporary restraining order, issued upon the request of Philippine Savings Bank. PSBank, fearing sanctions for violating laws on the secrecy of foreign currency deposits, sought the TRO last week.

In a press conference at Club Filipino in San Juan last night, Corona’s defense team claimed Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., “acting on behalf of President Aquino,” personally contacted several senators and offered them [...]

Read the full story >>  ‘Explosive Monday’ seen over SC TRO

Crunch time for senators

Obey or junk TRO? Decision made today

SENATOR-JUDGES will hold a caucus at 11 a.m. today to discuss the Supreme Court’s temporary restraining order on disclosing the foreign currency deposits of Chief Justice Renato Corona as the impeachment trial enters its fifth week.

The senators are being pressed to either respect the TRO, as urged by lawyers’ groups, or to defy it, as demanded by elements sympathetic to the administration.

The impeachment imbroglio turned ugly when the defense camp Sunday night accused President Aquino of arm-twisting senator-judges to defy the TRO.

Defense counsel Dennis Manalo said the President, through Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, contacted senator-judges and allegedly offered them P100 million each for “soft” projects in exchange for their vote to defy the TRO.

“Yesterday (Saturday), we received very reliable info that Executive Secretary Paquito “Jojo” Ochoa, acting in behalf of President Benigno Aquino III, is personally contacting and phoning senator-judges to persuade them to defy the Temporary Restraining Order issued by the Supreme Court in favor of Philippine Savings Bank,” Manalo said [...]

Read the full story >>  Crunch time for senators

Defense: Palace offered P100-M per senator to skirt TRO

Palace says claims are ‘unsubstantiated,’ a ‘desperate gimmick’

Day 15: Highlights of Corona impeachment trial at the Senate

Call to Order

• The trial resumed at 2:07 p.m.
• Senator-judge Miriam Defensor-Santiago was absent.

Which is higher, SC or impeachment court?

• Lead defense counsel Serafin Cuevas said the statement of Senator-judge Teofisto Guingona III on Wednesday implied that the Senate sitting as an impeachment court is higher than the Supreme Court (SC). He insisted that “impeachment procedures are still subject to SC’s power of review.”
• Guingona clarified that the SC “cannot impose its will” on the trial because the Senate is “not a co-equal branch” when it is “exercising a judicial function as an Impeachment Court,” and not doing its legislative role. He added that this view was shared by many senator-judges.
• Regarding the claim of Cuevas that no jurisprudence supports Guingona’s view, Senator-judge Francis Pangilinan explained that no SC ruling would be applicable because the Senate was “treading on unfamiliar terrain where no entity has ventured thus far before.” He said precedent can be drawn from foreign jurisprudence concerning impeachment.

PSB bank manager is ‘tall’ and not ‘small lady’ [...]

Read the full story >>  Day 15: Highlights of Corona impeachment trial at the Senate

SC shield of Corona deposits too late?

GOTCHA
By Jarius Bondoc
The Philippine Star

It shouldn’t matter that the Supreme Court forbade the disclosure of impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona’s dollar accounts. Prosecutors already have shown preponderant proof of his understating of assets. Senator-judges can proceed to try the other impeachment counts of graft, culpable violation of the Constitution, and betrayal of public trust.

Already exposed in hearings are Corona’s five peso deposits in PSBank and a checking account in Bank of P.I. From these appear a mis-declaring of his sworn Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN). As culled from news reports:

• One PSBank account had a balance of P5,018,255.76 in yearend-2007, plus P5,069,711.18 in BPI — adding up to P10,087,966.44. Corona declared P2,500,000 in “cash and investments” in his SALN for that year. There is an unexplained [...]

Read the full story >>  SC shield of Corona deposits too late?

Culture of impunity rules in the SC

BY DUCKY PAREDES
MALAYA

“What better proof of a prevailing culture of impunity in the SC than that its justices see wrong in what others do but not in the exact same thing when it is them doing this exact same thing.”

IT was a familiar tableau — the most hated person in the country at the time and his beauteous edy wife beside him, thanking the loyal followers cheering them below their balcony.

A bit teary-eyed, the man extends his arms as if to embrace them all, much like some errant Pope, having been rejected by the Almighty, embracing all of his still-loyal followers. It is, of course, simply something as from a play — a production to show that they still have supporters even if the masses have already gotten sick of them.

The difference is that in 1986, the Marcoses were soon gone. This time the Coronas are still here, vowing to fight their perceived enemies — the Filipino people — to the death.

Why do they hold on? Whence can they expect their saviors to come? Can there still be any?  [...]

Read the full story >>   Culture of impunity rules in the SC

‘Sila ang pari, sila ang hari’

BABE’S EYE VIEW
By Babe Romualdez
The Philippine Star

Thirty years ago, I had a rare opportunity of interviewing Senator Ninoy Aquino in Tokyo while he was traveling in exile. I was then a news reporter for Channel 9 when I bumped into the senator at the shopping arcade of the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. He invited me for coffee in his suite that evening where he was having a meeting with Doy Laurel, Lorenzo Tańada Sr., and Ernie Maceda. I distinctly remember asking him, “Why do you want to go back at this time when you know Secretary Enrile is going to have you arrested?”

I will never forget his classic Ninoy answer: “Sila ang pari, sila ang hari. Tell them they can start cleaning their guns. I am going home.”

The world — and our country’s history — has indeed turned around many times since then. Today, Ninoy’s son Noynoy is president, facing what is perhaps the biggest test of his administration thus far – the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, whom he has identified as a stumbling block in his fight against graft and corruption. But for many Filipinos however, the underlying issue has gone beyond the removal of Renato Corona – and has inadvertently shifted to the separation of powers between co-equal branches of government. The question now foremost in the minds of people is whether the Senate, acting as the impeachment court, has the sole authority to decide on matters pertaining to the impeachment without interference or intervention from the Supreme Court [...]

Read the full story >>  ‘Sila ang pari, sila ang hari’

Grace Lee wants PNoy to stop smoking

By Ellen Tordesillas
Malaya

‘Lee should have a good chance to succeed in convincing Pnoy to stop smoking because she said they always talk animatedly for three to five hours.’

ANTI-SMOKING advocates have a new ally and could yet be the most effective in the crusade to stop the habit that kills some 80,000 Filipinos every year.

In her radio program, “Good Times in the Morning”, with Mo Twister last Wednesday, the 29-year old Korean TV and radio host who has admitted dating 52-year old President Benigno Aquino III, said, “I can always convince the guy to quit smoking.”

Lee should have a good chance to succeed in convincing Pnoy to stop smoking because she said they always talk “animatedly for three to five hours. ”

Lee says her relationship with the President going the “full length” and is headed to “the altar.”

Lee’s self-imposed mission should warm the hearts of anti-smoking advocates in the country like Dr. Anthony Leachon, internist-cardiologist and consultant to the Department of Health on Non-communicable Diseases and Dr. Cecilia Llave, gynecologist-oncologist, Initiative Coordinator of the national Cancer Institute [...]

Read the full story >>  Grace Lee wants PNoy to stop smoking

Let’s Get Our Acts Together!

By Erick San Juan

Americans are our friends. But, let us all be wary every time Uncle Sam’s top officials and representatives visit the country. . .

In May of last year, I wrote about the “visit” of US Senators Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) and William Thad Cochran (R- Mississippi) to the country for a “possible return of the US naval base in Subic.” Of course, the US embassy here denied this and that the visit was “to see the economic progress in the Subic Freeport area that has been made over the years and to ask how the US can collaborate.”

And, could it be that the said visit of the two elder senators from the US Senate Appropriations committee was to test the water, so to speak of what could be the reaction of the populace?

It has been ten months since that visit (translation – ocular inspection) and there seems to be a follow-up on the matter now that the Pentagon is seeking to cut about  [...]

Read the full story >>  Let’s Get Our Acts Together!

Why the World Needs America

Foreign-policy pundits increasingly argue that democracy and free markets could thrive without U.S. predominance. If this sounds too good to be true, writes Robert Kagan, that’s because it is.

By ROBERT KAGAN
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

History shows that world orders, including our own, are transient. They rise and fall, and the institutions they erect, the beliefs and “norms” that guide them, the economic systems they support—they rise and fall, too. The downfall of the Roman Empire brought an end not just to Roman rule but to Roman government and law and to an entire economic system stretching from Northern Europe to North Africa. Culture, the arts, even progress in science and technology, were set back for centuries.

Many of us take for granted how the world looks today. But it might look a lot different without America at the top. The Brookings Institution’s Robert Kagan talks with Washington bureau chief Jerry Seib about his new book, “The World America Made,” and whether a U.S. decline is inevitable.

Modern history has followed a similar pattern. After the Napoleonic Wars of the early 19th century, British control of the seas and the balance of great powers on the European continent provided relative security and stability. Prosperity grew, personal freedoms expanded, and the world was knit more closely together by revolutions in commerce and communication [...]

Read the full story >>  Why the World Needs America

DISCLAIMER: Commentaries or articles may be submitted for publication. However, the commentaries and articles submitted by writers and readers for publication do not necessarily reflect the views of Global Balita and its Editor. The Editor does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of writers and readers exercising their right to free expression. Global Balita and its Editor reserve the right to reject any commentary or article submitted for publication.

The Trials of Al Capone and CJ Corona

Telltale Signs
By Rodel Rodis

If Senator Miriam Santiago had been the defense lawyer of Al Capone in his tax evasion trial in 1931, she may have argued for the exclusion of all evidence of unexplained wealth as she warned her Philippine Senate colleagues this week that exposing the dollar bank accounts of Chief Justice Renato Corona in the Senate Impeachment Trial would have a “devastating effect” on the Philippine economy and “would drive away the capital market for our country.”

Al Capone’s lawyers employed similar apocalyptic hyperbole when they exhorted a Chicago jury to “stand as a bulwark against an oppressive government that was using the tax law as a means to stow Al Capone away.” One Capone defense lawyer implored the all-male jury: “You, gentlemen, are the last barrier between the defendant and the encroachment and perversion of the government and the law in this case.”

Unfortunately for Capone, he faced a judge who was not at all like the Philippine Supreme Court justices who issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) preventing the disclosure of the dollar accounts of their Chief Justice to comply, they said, with the strict disclosure rules of the Foreign Currency Deposit Act of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 6426) on dollar accounts.

The problem with their argument, as Justice Antonio Carpio explained in his dissent, is that RA 6426 was specifically intended to protect foreign depositors and not Filipinos. If Ferdinand Marcos had deposited his hundreds of millions of US dollars in foreign currency accounts with local banks – instead of in Swiss banks – under RA 6426, “he would have gotten away with his loot under this ruling of the majority,” Justice Carpio wrote.

US government prosecutors faced a more difficult task in accumulating evidence of tax evasion against Capone because he had no bank deposits in his name unlike CJ Corona who kept his funds in his own name in the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) and in the Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank). In two of his peso accounts in the PSB, Corona had [...]

Read the full story >>  The Trials of Al Capone and CJ Corona

It’s safer here

Source: Journal Online
www.journal.com.ph

We don’t know whether to laugh or cry.

It’s not only more fun in the Philippines.

It’s also safer to keep your funds secret here than in Switzerland. Got that?

Yes, especially if it’s tainted cash.

So step right in, folks. We welcome mob money, narco-cash, jueteng proceeds, and other dividends of criminal activities.

Our financial system must be awash in dirty money.

But is it an honor for our banking institutions, our monetary enforcers, and our financial legislation?

Would the Transparency International give the country accolades or citation? Is an award forthcoming from the Bank for International Settlements? [...]

Read the full story >>  It’s safer here

‘Catch me if you can’

PerryScope
By Perry Diaz

 

Has it occurred to you that when a person tries to convince others, more doubts are raised about that person’s sincerity or honesty?  Such is the situation that Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona has gotten himself into.  It’s likened to a person who falls into a quicksand; the more he tries to get out of it, the faster he sinks.  But if that person remained immobile he’d still sink nevertheless.  The lesson here is: Don’t go near a quicksand.

And that’s precisely what Corona did when he accepted an illegal appointment from then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo during a period when a ban on “midnight appointments” was in effect.  He jumped into a quicksand knowing full well that he might not get out of it!   It’s a case of “come what may” or “bahala na.”

It did not then come as a surprise when a year and a half after he reached the pinnacle of his career – a dream come true – Corona found himself in a quicksand of legal and moral questions about his ascendancy to the highest position of the judicial branch of government.   And now, he is struggling to save his career and what is left of his reputation.  He might have a chance of saving his career; however, it seems that his reputation is now stained indelibly as a result of a slew of damaging evidence that came out at the Senate impeachment trial in which he is accused of culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust.

When the Senate impeachment trial began, Corona’s battery of topnotch lawyers led by retired Supreme Court Justice Serafin Cuevas took the offensive like a German blitzkrieg, which caused heavy damage to the House prosecutors’ initial presentation.  Even the experienced private prosecutors who were helping the House prosecutors seemed ill equipped in battling the legendary Cuevas.  In his cross-examination of the prosecutors’ witnesses, Cuevas assaulted them with a “take no prisoner” stance and at one point declared one witness as “bankrupt.”  He was brutally effective in pulverizing the testimony of the witnesses and neutralizing the prosecutors with his courtroom maneuvers… until he met his Waterloo [...]

Read the full story >>  ‘Catch me if you can’

The people’s comments and why the Impeachment Court should ignore the Supreme Court

No Limitation 
By Ted Laguatan 

“Siguradong limpak limpak na dolyar ang tinatago nitong si Corona!” (“For sure, Corona is hiding tons of dollars.”)

Anthony, a care home owner in the San Francisco Bay Area, home to hundreds of thousands of Filipinos – was reacting to the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) issued by the Philippine Supreme Court against the subpoena issued by the Senate Impeachment Court on the dollar accounts of Corona.

Thanks to ABS CBN TV, Filipinos worldwide get real time live full coverage of the impeachment proceedings. For sure, the following real comments on the trial are heard globally. These comments express the people’s sentiments. They tell us much.

Here they are:

Comment 1: “Kung walang tinatago iyan, e di dapat matutuwa pa siyang ilabas ang kanyang mga ari-arian at bank accounts para mapakita niya na hindi siya magnanakaw.”
(“If he has nothing to hide, he should be happy to reveal his properties and bank accounts to prove he is not a thief.” [...]

Read the full story >>  The people’s comments and why the Impeachment Court should ignore the Supreme Court

The rule of law should always prevail

ON DISTANT SHORE
By Val G. Abelgas 

By deciding to respect the temporary restraining order issued by the Supreme Court against disclosing the foreign currency deposits of Chief Justice Renato Corona, the Senate averted what could have been a constitutional crisis that can bring irreparable damage to the nation and its democratic institutions.

The Supreme Court was not expected to stand still if the Senate chose to ignore its position as a co-equal branch of government or its constitutionally mandated authority as the final arbiter of laws. The Senate made the right move, choosing “government stability over constitutional crisis,” as Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago puts it.

“Obedience to the TRO preserves governmental stability, while disobedience precipitates a constitutional crisis. If we have a choice between stability and crisis, the wiser choice is always national stability,” she said.

The senators, sitting as an impeachment court, on Monday voted 13-10 to respect and obey the TRO issued by the high tribunal last week.

Senate Preident Juan Ponce Enrile, however, made it clear that the impeachment court is still seeking to assert the efficacy of its subpoena powers over Corona’s dollar accounts and that it would pursue the matter before the Supreme Court. For his part, Sen. Francis Escudero said he voted to respect the TRO, even though he believes it was wrong. “I believe the TRO issued by the Supreme Court is wrong. However, the place to slug it out is not here, but in the Supreme Court,” [...]

Read the full story >>  The rule of law should always prevail

Corona goes back on his own words

BY AMADO P. MACASAET
MALAYA

‘Presiding Officer Enrile and Senator-Judge Defensor-Santiago cavalierly dismissed the Nixon case as one that applies only as a precedent In the US.’

OUR piece on the sanctity of the impeachment court and how it is beyond the pale of judicial authority merited the following comment from a lawyer who said his name is not as important as this thoughts on the subject:

***

An impeachment proceeding is a remedy for offenses against the people and entirely results from removal of impeachable officers from their positions for violating the mandate that public office is a public trust. In fact, in his separate opinion in Francisco Jr. vs. House of Representatives, 415 SCRA 44 (2003), involving the impeachment proceedings against then Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., then Associate Justice Renato Corona wrote in his own words [...]

Read the full story >>   Corona goes back on his own words

In due time?

BY DUCKY PAREDES
MALAYA

‘We need a Court that can rise above their friendships and clients, rise above their biases and make sacrifices for the blind Lady Justice and the Country.’

HOW much has chicanery must be uncovered about a sitting Chief Justice before he is proven to be unfit for his lofty perch? Why doesn’t impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona want to open his dollar accounts? What is he hiding? He keeps saying that – in due time – he will reveal anything,

When will that be? When he retires in 2017?

On his deathbed? Pagputi ng uwak?

Is he afraid that disclosure of his hoard of dollars would open a can of worms, that his claimed four decades of “hard and honest toil” where he says he accumulated a lot of savings would turn out to be the proceeds of quite possibly under-the-table deals? [...]

Read the full story >>  In due time?

That terrible script of the defense worsened the SC’s woes

AS I WRECK THIS CHAIR
By William M. Esposo
The Philippine Star

The Supreme Court (SC) created its own nightmare when it issued that TRO (Temporary Restraining Order) that prevents indefinitely the opening of Chief Justice (CJ) Renato Corona’s dollar bank accounts with PSBank (Philippine Savings Bank). Had the Senate politely refused to obey the TRO — the SC merely demonstrated how toothless it is to enforce its own orders. The Senate impeachment court could opt though to act with diplomacy by asking the Solicitor General to appeal to the SC to reconsider its TRO.

Widely regarded as a desperate move based on a very bad script, the defense panel of the impeachment trial hurled wild accusations during a press conference last Sunday evening. Judging from the media questions, apparently the defense panel failed to sell their line, which was clearly intended to influence the Senate’s Monday caucus on the TRO. Many Senators felt insulted instead.

It’s the Executive Branch of government, under President Noynoy Aquino (P-Noy), that has the capability to enforce. As Commander in Chief, P-Noy commands both the military and the police forces. An alignment of the Executive and Legislative branches of government against the SC places the CJ and Associate Justices at a great disadvantage. The CJ and Associate Justices are not elected by the people but appointed by representatives of the people. With no real political base, unlike P-Noy and all the nationally elected Senators and District Representatives, the SC is easily isolated [...]

Read the full story >>  That terrible script of the defense worsened the SC’s woes

Lessons in Davos: Listen to the poor, work with the young

By Tony Meloto

Davos 2012 was a contrast of many worlds that the World Economic Forum was valiantly trying to bridge.

I was there hoping to be an active contributor on behalf of the poor but I ended up mostly as a spectator to superpowers who were groping for clues on how to keep poverty out of their door.

As the newcomer to the forum, it was wise to simply listen and learn from the successes and failures of those who developed ahead of us. I was there with a clear agenda: to promote the best interest of the poor and help address poverty wherever they exist.

Understandably, it was a Eurocentric event. From Merkel to Lagarde to Cameron, many were trying to sort out the debt mess -over borrowing, overspending, lack of growth, rising unemployment – and finding ways to respond to the immediate threat of a currency collapse. Those of us from the East were quiet as European experts were battling with Americans but we were eager listeners nevertheless since we are all enmeshed in this mess. Besides lasting solutions to the problems of the West perhaps could also be found in our expanding markets. As part of the WEF family we are all in this together, “committed to improving [...]

Read the full story >>  Lessons in Davos: Listen to the poor, work with the young

No rhyme or reason

BY REY O. ARCILLA
MALAYA

‘The proposed closure of some diplomatic and consular posts will not be consistent with one of the three pillars of Noynoy’s foreign policy.’

TAKING the cue from his boss President Noynoy Aquino, Foreign Secretary Albert “Amboy” del Rosario has been very particular about showing his official, if not personal, concern for the welfare of our heroic OFWs. And rightly so. It is one of the three pillars of Noynoy’s foreign policy.

Del Rosario has made several trips to strife-torn Libya, Bahrain, Yemen, Syria and lately, to Iraq, to somehow ensure the safety and in some cases the smooth repatriation of our nationals in those countries.

Recently, however, Del Rosario announced that about ten diplomatic and consular posts will be closed to “rationalize the foreign service posts”. While there is a case to be made in four or five of those reported to be shut down, there definitely is no rhyme or reason for the closure of the others.

If indeed Ireland, Palau, Barcelona, Frankfurt and Saipan are in the list of those proposed to be closed, it would not be consistent with Noynoy’s policy. There are tens of thousands of Filipinos residing and working in [...]

Read the full story >>  No rhyme or reason

DISCLAIMER: Commentaries or articles may be submitted for publication. However, the commentaries and articles submitted by writers and readers for publication do not necessarily reflect the views of Global Balita and its Editor. The Editor does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of writers and readers exercising their right to free expression. Global Balita and its Editor reserve the right to reject any commentary or article submitted for publication.

Is Corona morally fit for the job?

March 10, 2012 | Featured, Opinion, PerryScope

PerryScope
By Perry Diaz

In a stinging setback for embattled Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, the Senate sitting as an impeachment court junked on March 6 his motion to “suppress” the alleged illegally-obtained evidence by the House prosecution team against him. According to one senator, who asked to remain anonymous, the ruling was “unanimous.” However, absent in the caucus were Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Manny Villar, and Aquilino Pimentel III.

Had the senator-judges ruled in favor of Corona’s motion, the prosecution team would have difficulty establishing an airtight case against Corona. But accepting the evidence wouldn’t necessarily mean that the Corona is headed for a conviction. The real battle has just begun.

Strong evidence

The question is: Is there “clear and convincing” evidence to convict Corona? To convict Corona, a minimum of two-thirds — or 16 — “guilty” votes are required while only eight votes would suffice to acquit him. The prosecution team’s challenge is how to convince eight senators who are inclined to vote for acquittal. And if these senators can claim that the prosecution team was unable to present “clear and convincing” evidence, then all is lost – Corona would emerge victorious.

Given the political nature of the impeachment trial, the prosecution team should – nay, must – not only present “clear and convincing” evidence to prove Corona’s guilt but also prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Corona is guilty as hell! The prosecutors should prove that he is not only guilty of culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust but is morally unfit to preside over a collegial body of 15 men and women whom the people have given the supreme – and absolute — power to protect the sanctity of the Constitution and the sovereignty of the people.

And this brings to fore the question: What kind of a man is Renato Corona? [...]

Read the full story >>   Is Corona morally fit for the job?

The Nun who floored the Chief Justice

March 10, 2012 | Opinion

AS I WRECK THIS CHAIR
By William M. Esposo
The Philippine Star

Last Thursday, your Chair Wrecker was informed that Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice (CJ) Renato Corona had announced in a Radio DWIZ interview that he was blaming me for the spread of that story about a second wife that he allegedly has.

Valuing our relationship, my immediate reaction was to text CJ Rene this message: “Rene, I was just informed that you’ve blamed me for that ‘second wife’ blogger’s posting. I never wrote that. In case, you read my columns, I shy away from such issues where innocent victims could get affected. That was from a blogger, identified as PedestrianObserverGB, who posted it all over.” CJ Rene duly acknowledged receipt of my text message.

Last Wednesday, CJ Rene initiated a media blitz to address the fallout spawned by Ana Basa’s revelations on how he and his wife Tina allegedly maltreated their family and illegally acquired their Basa-Guidote assets. Ana Basa is the daughter of one of the original owners of the Basa-Guidote Enterprise, Inc. (BGEI), Jose Ma. Basa III.

Ana Basa’s story must have thrown the CJ camp into panic, as evidenced by the media blitz that it spawned. In his March 8 column, Mon Tulfo of the Inquirer, a CJ backer, wrote that his sympathy for the Chief Justice “was somehow lessened after reading Basa’s story.” [...]

Read the full story >>   The Nun who floored the Chief Justice

An Open Letter to Sister Flory Basa

March 10, 2012 | Opinion

March 10, 2012 | Politics & Government

By Cynthia D. Balana
Philippine Daily Inquirer

(First of two parts)

Impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona reported in his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs) in 2003 and 2004 that he had obtained an P11-million cash advance from Basa-Guidote Enterprise Inc. (BGEI).

The alleged loan has turned media attention to BGEI, the company established in 1961 by the family of the Chief Justice’s wife, Cristina Roco-Corona, and the internal squabble that pitted one side of the family against another.

At the impeachment trial, Corona’s lawyers said the money [P32.6 million according to the prosecution] withdrawn by Corona from his three peso time deposit accounts with Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank) on Dec. 12, 2011, came from the proceeds of the sale of a piece of BGEI property to the City of Manila. The withdrawals came on the same day that 188 members of the House of Representatives impeached the Chief Justice.

Jose Ma. Basa III, one of the original BGEI stockholders and Cristina’s uncle, had filed an estafa case against his niece for her alleged failure to account for the P34-million income from the sale of a property on Bustillos Street in Sampaloc, Manila, to the city government [...]

Read the full story >>   Ana Basa: We were oppressed by the Coronas

Ana Basa: We’re talking only now due to revelations in trial

March 10, 2012 | Politics & Government

By Cynthia D. Balana
Philippine Daily Inquirer

(Last of two parts)

(Editor’s Note: In this interview, Ana Basa, one of Jose Ma. Basa III’s nine children and one of the heirs of the original stockholders of Basa-Guidote Enterprises Inc., talks about the family corporation and what she says were the injustices heaped on them by Chief Justice Renato Corona and his wife Cristina.

For security reasons, Ana, who is here on a short visit, requested the Inquirer not to reveal her whereabouts. She has been in the casino business for more than 20 years in Las Vegas, Nevada.

She clarified on Tuesday a sentence in the introduction to Part 1 of the Q and A which reads: “Jose Ma. Basa III, one of the original BGEI incorporators, had filed an estafa case against his niece [Cristina] for her alleged failure to account for the P34-million income from the sale of a property on Bustillos Street in Sampaloc, Manila, to the city government.”

Ana said the estafa case against Cristina Corona, filed in 1995, was about the BGEI rental income, not the proceeds from the sale of the property. )

Philippine Daily Inquirer: Of the original stockholders of Basa-Guidote, how many are still alive?

Read the full story >>  Ana Basa: We’re talking only now due to revelations in trial

March 10, 2012 | Opinion

BY DUCKY PAREDES
MALAYA

‘Renato Corona, then a Malacańang lawyer pulled out a gun, pointed it to the face of Mang Indo, a long-time caretaker of BGEI, and screamed in his face: ‘Gusto mo pasabugin ko ang mukha mo?’”

WHO really is Renato Corona? Is he the softie who sheds tears in public over his troubles with Malacańang? Or is he no more than a goon, a scheming, egotistical power tripper who will put a gun to the head of an octogenarian caretaker of Basa Guidote Enterprises, Inc. (BGEI)? Hopefully, the Impeachment Court will soon tell us.

In the old days, when the Commission on Appointments (CA) vetted all of our justices, a letter, such as what Jose Basa III, the uncle of Cristina Corona, wrote the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), which now does what the CA used to do, would not have been completely ignored. The letter outlined why his wife’s uncle thought that Corona did not have the moral ascendancy to be appointed as an SC Justice. Jose tried to block Corona’s nomination as SC associate justice, citing the injustices Corona and Cristina heaped on the siblings of the Basa-Guidote clan.

Had this been a letter to the CA, surely, the headlines the next day would have wondered whether the presumptive CJ was the right man for the job.

Of the five Basa siblings, who owned BGEI, only Flory, a nun, still survives at 90. Ana, the daughter of the eldest, Jose Basa III, was recently interviewed.

According to Ana, it was Renato Corona’s machinations and intimidation of their family as a Malacańang official during the Ramos and Arroyo administrations that allowed Cristina to take over BGEI as its “administratix.” [...]

March 10, 2012 | Opinion

BY AMADO P. MACASAET
MALAYA

‘Unfortunately, he only succeeds in sinking himself deeper in the hole every time he talks.’

CHIEF Justice Renato C. Corona charges the Philippine Savings Bank with leaking his dollar accounts as early as September last year.

The charge is stupid.

He publicly accused the bank of leaking his peso and dollar accounts, an imputation of a crime that could very well be interpreted as having severely damaged the reputation of PSBank.

It is for this reason that the bank may consider the withdrawal of a petition for a TRO. Instead, the bank should release to the impeachment court all the records of deposits of the Head Magistrate. The impeached magistrate should know that all banks and financial institutions are examined periodically by the Bangko Sentral.

In every examination trip, the BSP is accompanied by a member of the Anti-Money Laundering Council whose eyes are trained solely on undeclared deposits of foreign currencies.

It is not correct for Mr. Corona to say that it was the PSB which leaked the details of the dollar accounts. Leaked to whom, he did not say. The fact is the $700,000 account turned up during a regular examination.

The dollar deposit was not leaked. It was discovered by the BSP and the AMLA in the course of routine examination of all financial institutions [...]

Read the full story >>  Concealing dollars is money laundering

How Many Dirty Judges, Justices and Lawyers Are There?

March 10, 2012 | Opinion

GLIMPSES
By Jose Ma. Montelibano

It is jolting to reflect on the corruption of the Judiciary even though it can be everyday man’s assumption that our justice system sucks. The poor have long experienced a different kind of justice for them and a far friendlier one for the rich. That is nothing new and has been a powerful issue used by the rebellion to recruit partisans. But corruption is not about a rich-versus-poor scenario, it is the corrupt for themselves against everybody.

From the onset, I had welcomed the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Rene Corona. I have less interest in Rene Corona the person and much, much more for Rene Corona as the personification of both the Supreme Court and the Judiciary. It has been a keen interest of mine to have the public eye focused deliberately to the corruption of the Judiciary because it is the worst kind of corruption. And if others, especially the Judiciary and the legal profession would like to make a counter claim and deny the shameful level of corruption in their area of responsibility, they may wish to look at how the Philippines can be considered a corrupt country with one crucial branch not blackened as well [...]

Read the full story >>   How Many Dirty Judges, Justices and Lawyers Are There?

Is Aquino ready to end impunity?

March 10, 2012 | Opinion

ON DISTANT SHORE
By Val G. Abelgas

On Friday, March 2, another journalist was shot and wounded by two motorcycle-riding gunmen outside his home in Iloilo City in the latest attacks on media men in the country. The victim, Fernando Gabio, who hosts the “Mr. Expose” program on Radyo Mo Nationwide, was lucky he was hit only in the leg and survived.

So far, 10 journalists have been killed in the country since President Benigno S. Aquino III took over in July last year. That means one journalist killed every other month, reinforcing the Philippines’ rank as the toughest country in the world for journalists, trailing only behind Iraq, a nation still reeling from a virtual civil war.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines reports that more than 150 journalists have been killed since the fall of dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986. In 2009 alone, 39 journalists were killed, with at least 30 killed in the infamous Maguindanao massacre.

In 2010, four journalists were killed and in the following year, eight more were gunned down. Last year, broadcaster and environmental activist Gerry Ortega was ruthlessly murdered in Palawan. In January, publisher and editor Christopher Guarin of General Santos City was killed in cold blood [...]

Clerical Abuse of Children Must Rooted Out

March 10, 2012 | Opinion

By Fr. Shay Cullen
(His columns are published in The Manila Times,
in publications in Ireland, the UK, Hong Kong, and on-line)

The conference recently held at the Vatican’s Gregorian University brought together cardinals, bishops, priests from over 100 countries and the heads of thirty-three religious orders to tackle the sexual abuse of children by catholic priests. Marie Collins from Ireland, abused at 13, by a priest was the only victim of clerical abuse allowed to speak.

Revelations of widespread child sexual abuse and their cover-up by bishops in the United States and Europe in recent years have brought shame and disgrace on several dioceses and led to the resignation of bishops in Ireland and elsewhere. It is now recognized that the issue of clerical child sexual abuse was grossly mishandled for decades if not generations, with a policy of cover up, secrecy, denial, and private payoffs. The failure of church authorities to act on behalf of the victims and report the offenders to the civil authorities allowed them to abuse children repeatedly.

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle told the Vatican conference that clerical child abuse was a problem in the Philippines and in Asia too. The Archbishop said that in Asia this is due to a “culture of shame that holds dearly one’s humanity, honor and dignity,” A children’s rights defender told this column, “The Archbishop is correct, this is a false and warped sense of honor and has no dignity or humanity at all. There is no honor, dignity or humanitarian care in ignoring a child’s cry for help having being raped” [...]

DISCLAIMER: Commentaries or articles may be submitted for publication. However, the commentaries and articles submitted by writers and readers for publication do not necessarily reflect the views of Global Balita and its Editor. The Editor does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of writers and readers exercising their right to free expression. Global Balita and its Editor reserve the right to reject any commentary or article submitted for publication.

May the farce be with you

March 13, 2012 | Featured, Opinion

Telltale Signs
By Rodel Rodis

To describe the Senate Impeachment Trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona as a farce is to be historically accurate as a farce is a comic play in which authority, order, and morality are placed at risk in a ridiculously absurd situation where everything goes wrong or becomes a sham.

The word can be traced to 15th-century France where it was first used to describe the elements of clowning, acrobatics, caricature, and indecency bound together in a single form of entertainment which often included acts of impromptu buffoonery inserted by actors into the texts of religious plays.

How else would you describe a trial where the presiding judge is a former client of the chief defense attorney? [...]

Read the full story >>  May the farce be with you

Cristina Corona retained lot title 21 years after sale

March 13, 2012 | Politics & Government

By TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer

The deed of absolute sale between Cristina Corona and Demetrio Coronado Vicente involving seven parcels of land in Marikina City was notarized by an unlicensed notary public in Makati City in 1990 and Renato Corona himself witnessed this.

While the deed of absolute sale was executed over 20 years ago, the parcels of land with a total area of 1,700 square meters and purchased for P509,900 in 1990 remained in Cristina’s name. The tax declaration was also in her name.

All this surfaced on Tuesday during the cross-examination of defense witness Vicente, a relative of Corona, on Day 28 of the impeachment trial of the Chief Justice.

He was presented as a defense witness in connection with the second impeachment article, which accuses Corona of not disclosing his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs).

Vicente, 70, told the Senate impeachment court that he purchased seven parcels of land in Marikina Heights, Marikina City, from Cristina in July 1990 [...]

Read the full story >>   Cristina Corona retained lot title 21 years after sale

Corona may have used power for wife

March 13, 2012 | Opinion

BY AMADO P. MACASAET
MALAYA

‘The inconsistencies in the statements of the Chief Justice insult even a moron.’

THE first wonder of it all is how Basa-Guidote Enterprises, a dissolved corporation, could have advanced P11 million to a stockholder. Cristina R. Corona, wife of the impeached Chief Justice.

We maintain that the advances may be considered in two ways. First, as a cash dividend from the profits of the corporation which have not been given to other stockholders in proportion to the number of shares they held.

Second, dividends are considered income and therefore subject to tax. There is no record that the advances, treated as obligation if it were not to be classified as such, were listed as a liability in the joint statement of assets, liabilities and net worth of the spouses Renato Corona and Cristina Roco.

If the money was treated as income, a tax should have been paid. The money does not appear as an income (if considered as dividend) or a liability (if classified as advances as the Coronas claim). The failure or refusal to have the amount included in the joint SALN implicates Chief Justice Corona [...]

Corona’s latest offer: I’ll resign but I keep everything I have

March 13, 2012 | Opinion

By Ellen Tordesillas
Malaya

I find the revelations of Chief Justice Renato Corona of the meetings that he had with President Aquino and other administration stalwarts very interesting. I just wish that he tells the complete story and not just be selective in his sharing with the public.

I also expect the same from Malacańang.

Corona disclosed the proposal of administration ally Sen. Teofisto Guingona for a term sharing with Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, which Guingona denies.

He should also disclose his counter-offers especially the latest ,made through a retired associate justice , that he was willing to resign on condition that he would keep everything that he owns now.
What Corona has only disclosed were his meetings with President Aquino and the Guingonas, father and son.

The Aquino-Corona meeting has been confirmed by Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda. It took place in July 2010, a few weeks after the latter was sworn into office by Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales, in the house of the President’s sister, Pinky Abellada.

It’s only now that we are learning that despite the inaugural snub, Aquino met with Corona in private. Corona said Aquino was not friendly with him during the meeting which was arranged by former Associate Justice Antonio Nachura, a member of the Liberal Party, the administration party [...]

Read the full story >>   Corona’s latest offer: I’ll resign but I keep everything I have

Putting his foot in his mouth?

March 13, 2012 | Opinion

To Take A Stand
By Oscar P. Lagman
BusinessWorld

I heard Chief Justice Renato Corona tell Arnold Clavio during the latter’s TV program Unang Hirit, early morning of Wednesday last week that he decided to close his three bank accounts in PSBank Katipunan branch when some depositors of the branch who have been his friends and neighbors for over 40 years told him that the branch manager, Annabelle Tiongson, had been discussing his accounts with some people.

“We lost trust in the bank. We believe that the leak came from there. If you were faced with that situation, I’m sure you would have done the same because you already lost trust in the bank.” I heard the Chief Justice tell Noli de Castro more or less the same thing during the latter’s “Magandang Umaga, Bayan” radio program the following day.

As usual, Corona raises a number of perplexing questions whenever he opens his loose mouth. First, if he had lost trust in the bank, why did he re-deposit in his name in the same PSBank branch still managed by the supposedly talkative Tiongson the money he withdrew from those three accounts? In a hearing in late February, I heard PSBank president Pascual Garcia III say, in answer to Senator Franklin Drilon’s question that the money Corona had withdrawn from his three accounts has been re-deposited in the same bank branch of PSBank under Corona’s name. Secondly, why did he maintain his dollar deposits, which according to Senator Jinggoy Estrada amount to $700 K, in the same bank that has betrayed his trust?  [...]

Read the full story >>  Putting his foot in his mouth?

Why coup plots have a dismal track record of failure

March 13, 2012 | Opinion

AS I WRECK THIS CHAIR
By William M. Esposo
The Philippine Star

According to Muntinlupa City Representative Rodolfo Biazon, retired generals from the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA) regime have been meeting since November 2011in order to plot a military coup that’s intended to topple President Noynoy Aquino (P-Noy). Senator Sonny Trillanes IV shared the same information. In our contemporary history, coup plotters proved to be greater threats to themselves than to the government but a coup, whether serious or mere daydreaming, has to be monitored.

The November 2011 timing mentioned by Biazon as the start of the said recruitment is significant in the light of the recent events involving the detention of GMA for charges of electoral fraud and the impeachment trial of Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice (CJ) Renato Corona. A GMA desperately seeking escape from the many cases filed and will still be filed against her is more than enough motivation for one seeking to escape from accountability.

Galunggong economics

March 13, 2012 | Opinion

ON DISTANT SHORE
By Val G. Abelgas

If his mother’s yardstick were to be followed, President Noynoy Aquino’s economic program would get a failing grade.

During the snap election campaign in 1986, opposition presidential candidate Corazon Aquino, in downplaying the economic achievements of then President Ferdinand Marcos, said that the price of “galunggong” has risen to P12 a kilo (about 80 US cents at the prevailing exchange rate then of P14 to a $1) and, therefore, Marcos should go. “Sobra na, tama na, palitan na!”

Indeed, if an administration cannot lower the price of galunggong and rice, the Filipinos’ staple foods, then it has not helped the people economically. The administration is a failure.

Read the full story >>  Galunggong economics

South China Sea – Asia’s Tinderbox

March 13, 2012 | Opinion

By Erick San Juan

Over half of the world’s annual merchant traffic in tonnage passes through the Malacca, Sunda and Lombok Straits with some 10 million barrels of crude oil transiting the region everyday. As well as being a vital transit route, the South China Sea is also a resource in itself with an estimated seven billion barrels of oil and 900 trillion cubic feet (25 trillion cubic meters) of natural gas. (Source: Broadsides Sink South China Sea Peace by Chietigj Bajpaee)

Given the abovementioned situation, the fact remains that its still the world’s economy which is at stake here. Whether we like it or not, both big powers-the US and China are watching and suspect each other. Uncle Sam’s dislike on China’s rise gave way to more US troops in the region while China has been protesting and re-arming to counter US intervention. There is a greater possibility of a regional conflict that might lead to a global confrontation this time.

The stake is high in maintaining peace in this region. For as I have mentioned, the world’s economy will be the most affected here, not only the claimants of the disputed areas in the South China Sea. The mere fact that Uncle Sam’s “return to Asia” has added greater tensions among the claimants especially Beijing, which actually turned the region into a military camp [...]

Read the full story >>   South China Sea – Asia’s Tinderbox

‘PMA Breeding Ground of Putschists, Cheats, Fascists No More’

March 13, 2012 | Politics & Government

By Artemio A. Dumlao

Fort Del Pilar, Baguio City (March 12, 2012) – The Filipino people can be sure the Philippine Military Academy is no more a breeding ground of military officers staging coup d’ etats, corrupt practices and fascism.

PMA superintendent Major Gen. Nonato Peralta said drastic changes in the Academy were undertaken already to mean that “culture” is fixed so that values like maltreatment are nowhere already.

“Maraming innovations ang ginawa to erase maltreatment,” Peralta explained during the presentation of the top ten graduates of the PMA class of 2012 (Bagwis) becoming military officers on Sunday here.

Tom Puertollano, son of a lowly carpenter and market vendor from barangay Tambo, Lipa City, Batangas topped this year’s graduates [...]

Who Coddled The Toxic Terror?

March 13, 2012 | Opinion

By Fr. Shay Cullen
(His columns are published in The Manila Times,
in publications in Ireland, the UK, Hong Kong, and on-line) 

The protection, preservation and nurturing of life is more than just an act of survival based on instinct as it is with the animal kingdom. For human persons it is a rational balancing of alternatives as to what action is best to take in any given situation. The fact we have free will to choose a way of life that will save life rather than destroy or damage or endanger it would seem a very rational and morally right thing to do.

But not all humans will agree on what is the right course to take, the best thing to do in various given situations and competing opinions and interests can result in conflict if reason does not prevail. So it is morally reprehensible to spread toxic waste in a neighborhood, cut the trees that will result in landslides that can bury hundreds of people or build a poison factory in a pristine environment. The poison fumes and waste from such a facility will contaminate the air and environment and is very life threatening to those living within its vicinity. Rational moral people would not even think of it [...]

DISCLAIMER: Commentaries or articles may be submitted for publication. However, the commentaries and articles submitted by writers and readers for publication do not necessarily reflect the views of Global Balita and its Editor. The Editor does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of writers and readers exercising their right to free expression. Global Balita and its Editor reserve the right to reject any commentary or article submitted for publication.

Ana and the ‘King’

March 14, 2012 | Featured, Opinion, PerryScope

PerryScope
By Perry Diaz

 

Just when the House prosecutors seem like they’re losing steam in building a strong case against Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona… just when the senator-judges are beginning to doubt if there is even “clear and convincing” evidence to convict him… just when Corona went on a media blitz against President Benigno Aquino III and others whom he perceived as conspiring to oust him… and just when Corona’s invincibility seems beyond the reach of ordinary mortals, a young lady appeared on the scene.

During the early days of the Corona impeachment trial, it was revealed in Corona’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) for 2003 and 2004 that he obtained a “cash advance” of P11 million from Basa-Guidote Enterprises Inc. (BGEI), a corporation that has since been dissolved.  That caught the attention of Ana Basa, a Las Vegas-based Fil-Am and daughter of the late Jose Ma. Basa III, one of five siblings who established the Basa-Guidote Enterprises Inc. (BGEI) in 1961.  One of the other siblings was the late Asuncion Basa Roco, the mother of Cristina Roco Corona.

The buzz generated in the media about the “cash advance” in Corona’s SALNs prompted Ana to fly to the Philippines to talk to her aunt, Sister Flory Basa, the sole survivor of the Basa siblings.  Sister Flory is a nun at the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary [...]

Read the full story >>  Ana and the ‘King’

DISCLAIMER: Commentaries or articles may be submitted for publication. However, the commentaries and articles submitted by writers and readers for publication do not necessarily reflect the views of Global Balita and its Editor. The Editor does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of writers and readers exercising their right to free expression. Global Balita and its Editor reserve the right to reject any commentary or article submitted for publication.

One Can Smell Change

March 16, 2012 | Featured, Opinion

GLIMPSES
By Jose Ma. Montelibano

 

I noticed that I had written about the impeachment trial, the Chief Justice and the Judiciary in my last few articles. I know that the topic has been a hot one, but I also know I had wanted to write about other matters closer to my heart but passed them over for the impeachment trial. I think I gave in to a human desire to check on my readers’ responses – which are more if the subject matter is on the impeachment and less when it is about poverty, about hunger.

There are facets of life that need even more attention than the impeachment of a Chief Justice whom I believe to be utterly unworthy to be the chief symbol of justice, of integrity and transparency. There are other cancers that have to be addressed, great challenges that should be welcomed, great opportunities that have to be embraced. Life goes on with or without Corona in the Supreme Court, though I admit the kind of life with Corona as Chief Justice will be very different than life without him in the Supreme Court [...]

Read the full story >>   One Can Smell Change

The Original Sin of Renato Corona, the Most Controversial Chief Justice of the Philippine Supreme Court

March 16, 2012 | Opinion

By JJ Domingo
International Business Times

“Well, modesty aside, if you see my qualifications, I think you’d agree that any president would appoint me, or at least consider appointing me, to the post,” he said.

“Yes, I do agree with you, sir. But why, then, did you not wait for President Aquino to appoint you instead?” [...]

Read the full story >>    The Original Sin of Renato Corona...

‘Chief Justice Corona’s fortune worth P80M’

March 16, 2012 | Politics & Government

Prosecution based it on acquisition costs; a ploy, says defense

By Gil Cabacungan, TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Claiming he undervalued his assets, prosecutors on Friday said impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona should have declared a personal fortune of as much as P80 million—more than four times what he put down in his most recent statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

“We believe that his net worth should have been P70 million and P80 million based on our computation of all of his assets and bank deposits that were presented in the trial. He only declared a net worth of P22 million in his SALN in 2010,” Quezon Rep. Lorenzo Tańada III said at a press conference.

Defense counsel Tranquil Salvador III rejected the prosecution claim.

“That is their own computation. We don’t know where they got the values or how they got the computation. We should be given a chance to lay down our evidence. It appears they’re preempting our presentation of evidence by making their own explanation of evidence they have presented,” Salvador said [...]

Still unexplained: The gap between Corona’s wealth and SALN

March 16, 2012 | Opinion

By Ellen Tordesillas
Malaya

‘What the public wants Corona to explain is his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth, which is required by the law. That’s all.’

IT’S perfectly understandable for Chief Justice to take care of his cousin, Demetrio Vicente, who testified in his favor Tuesday at his impeachment trial.

The 70-year old Vicente is not in the best of health having suffered two strokes and Marikina is quite a distance from the Senate in Pasay City.

But he should have used his personal car, not the vehicle belonging to the Supreme Court,

Solar News reporter Albert Alicer and his crew caught on video Vicente riding in a beige Toyota Camry 1996 model with a red plate SEJ.953 after the impeachment hearings Tuesday evening. The vehicle turned out to be registered with the Supreme Court.

Another Solar News reporter interviewed Vicente and the old man, sans guile, admitted that he was “hatid-sundo (fetched and brought home) ” by the chief justice [...]

Read the full story >>   Still unexplained: The gap between Corona’s wealth and SALN

Solons see breakthrough

March 16, 2012 | Politics & Government

Say door opened on hidden wealth

BY WENDELL VIGILIA and JP LOPEZ

THE 11-man prosecution panel in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona yesterday said the defense committed a “strategic error” by presenting witnesses and evidence that tend to prove that the assets of the magistrates were not illegally obtained, even if amassing wealth is not among the allegations in the Articles of Impeachment against him.

Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara said the defense strategy would open the door for the prosecution to present evidence on ill gotten-wealth during rebuttal.

The court has barred the prosecution from presenting evidence on allegations of ill-gotten wealth because it was not among the main causes of action in the 79-page Articles of Impeachment prepared by the House committee on justice chaired by Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas, the head public prosecutor.

“Itong ebidensiya na nilalatag po nila ay nakikita po natin hindi nakakatulong sa kanila. Pero mas nakakatulong po sa panig po ng prosecution,” said deputy speaker Lorenzo Tańada III [...]

Read the full story >>   Solons see breakthrough

GMA is in, Mike Arroyo to follow, Pacquiao joining them?

March 16, 2012 | Opinion

The Tall Order
By Mon Datol
Philippine News Today
Vancouver, Canada

The Sandiganbayan ordered the arrest of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, her husband Jose Miguel Arroyo, former COMELEC chair Benjamin Abalos and former transportation secretary Leandro Mendoza on Tuesday for allegedly receiving millions of dollars in bribes from a Chinese telecommunications company ZTE over the anomalous contract with China’s ZTE Corp.

However, Sandiganbayan just pegged the bail for GMA et al at P30,000 each. Peanuts to them. Ang laki ng money involved sa botched ZTE Corp. contract, something like US$329-million, tapos, P30,000 bail lang? Pang-mahirap na piyansa. Gayung something like US$200-million ang overpriced ng nasabing broadband contract. Dapat na bail kina GMA, Mike Arroyo, Ben Abalos at Leandro Mendoza ay tig…. [...]

Filipino nun opposes graft and former President Arroyo’s husband

March 16, 2012 | Politics & Government

By David Viehland
Asia News

The Sandiganbayan Court orders the arrest of Jose Miguel Arroyo, husband of the Philippines’ former president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, for kickbacks involving a project with a Chinese company. The main witness in the case is living under the protection of the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines.

Manila (AsiaNews) – Sister Mary John Mananzan, women’s chairperson of the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines (AMRSP), praised anti-graft court’s decision to arrest Jose Miguel Arroyo, husband of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The latter is co-accused in an aborted telecommunications project with a Chinese company. For the nun, the move is a necessary step in transforming the Filipino government and society.

The husband of ex-president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo reportedly posted bail two days ago after the Sandiganbayan (People’s Advocate) Court ordered his arrest on charges of graft in an alleged overpriced deal with a Chinese company, ZTE, which allegedly paid him kickbacks. Mr Arroyo has denied the charges [...]

Read the full story >>   Filipino nun opposes graft and former President Arroyo’s husband

Paradise Lost to Destructive Mining

March 16, 2012 | Opinion

By Fr. Shay Cullen
(His columns are published in The Manila Times,
in publications in Ireland, the UK, Hong Kong, and on-line) 

President Aquino plans to issue a historical Executive Order (EO) to regulate the mining industry to protect the environment and the rights of the people. A strict order is needed and hopefully, it will levy at least a 20% tax on mining profits. Hundreds of thousands of justice loving Filipinos live in hope and expectation that it will be so.

Mining in the Philippines has a bad reputation for environmental destruction, bribery, low tax and even extensive “tax holiday” privileges despite soaring commodity prices. It has provoked reaction and a strong people’s power opposition. (See the resistance to these incursions www.preda.org/environment). The investors in mining don’t need low tax incentives. The high commodity prices of minerals worldwide assure big profits. There should be no mining allowed where there will be serious environmental and community damage.

Without strong taxation on the mining industry, the government and the people will get practically nothing from the vast wealth of the nation’s minerals. In Australia, the profits of mining corporations are recently taxed to 35%. Now that is what we need in the Philippines [...]

Read the full story >>   Paradise Lost to Destructive Mining

In These Exciting Times – Be Wary

March 16, 2012 | Opinion

By Erick San Juan

The UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) or drone was first used in the US wars in Bosnia in 1995. After the balkanization of Yugoslavia, it was used in Southeast Asia, in the Philippines. Have we forgotten how the US drones monitored the attack of the Abu Sayyaf’s of our soldiers in Basilan as reported by several newspapers in Mindanao? What about the successful simultaneous attack by the drones of several camps of the MILF in central Mindanao, assisting our armed forces as told to us by the late Defense secretary Angelo Reyes?

As reported by different news network, remember the airstrike by the AFP, killing three senior militants from al-Qaeda-linked groups (last February 2) in the south known to be the terror groups stronghold, has also been fruitful.

Partylist Rep. Luz Ilagan has aired her concern of a possible hand of the US troops stationed in Mindanao in the said airstrike. Her fear regarding the said operation also worries us of Uncle Sam’s meddling in our military’s undertakings on the insurgency problems in the south [...]  

Filipino community devastated by death of 4 Pinoy workers in Calgary

March 16, 2012 | Business & Lifestyle

By Alex P. Vidal

BURNABY, British Columbia – The death of four Filipino temporary workers in a car mishap in Edmonton on March 4 has devastated the Filipino community in Calgary.

“We are still at loss on how to accept the sad news and we continue to mourn until today,” said Rachelle Antiojo, a hotel worker in Edmonton.

Erlinda Mamora, a nanny, said she was a friend of one of the four saying “she could not come to terms” realizing how brutal was their death when a suspected drunk driver rammed their vehicle in a head-on collision on the QE II Highway.

Antiojo and Mamora said the whole community continued to mourn “like we lost four members of our own family.”

They were among the hundreds of members of Edmonton’s Filipino community that gathered March 12 night to celebrate the lives of victims — Anthony Subong Castillon, 35, Joey Flores Mangonon, 35, Eden Dalu Biazon, 39, and Josefina Flores Velarde, 52 — all temporary foreign workers from the Philippines [...]

DISCLAIMER: Commentaries or articles may be submitted for publication. However, the commentaries and articles submitted by writers and readers for publication do not necessarily reflect the views of Global Balita and its Editor. The Editor does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of writers and readers exercising their right to free expression. Global Balita and its Editor reserve the right to reject any commentary or article submitted for publication.

Annoying P-Noy

March 18, 2012 | Featured, Opinion

AS I WRECK THIS CHAIR
By William M. Esposo
The Philippine Star

Because the Reds have time and again failed to sell to the majority of Filipinos their offered prescriptions to our national problems, they’ve resorted to all sorts of gimmicks in order to get our attention.

The latest concoction of the Reds is this term NOYNOYING, which is a pun on the president’s nickname and associating it with LAZY, CLUELESS and INEFFECTIVE. It’s a very cheap form of argumentum ad hominem. Their NOYNOYING term has no basis at all.

During the worst period of the Ferdinand Marcos dictatorship, a period when the Reds, or Left as they’re sometimes called, should have grown by leaps and bounds — they could not even muster enough public support to pose a strategic threat to the dictatorship. Their controlled areas grew but not to the extent where strategic victory could be attained. To many Filipinos, yes Marcos was a mega problem but no, the Left is not the solution.

Corona pressed on dollars

March 18, 2012 | Politics & Government

Enrile: Must explain absence from SALN

BY JP LOPEZ and WENDELL VIGILIA

SENATE President Juan Ponce Enrile yesterday said impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona still needs to explain his reported dollar account at the Philippine Savings Bank despite a temporary restraining order issued by the Supreme Court barring the public disclosure of foreign currency deposits.

“Inaantay pa natin yung presentation ng depensa ng ebidensya… hanggang ngayon di pa napapaliwanag ang mga sinasabing bank accounts ng Chief Justice. Antayin natin,” he said in an interview over radio dzBB.

He said Corona has to explain why the dollar account was not included in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) if it was indeed excluded.

“Yung bank account, di mo maitatanggi na meron nun…ang hindi talaga maliwanag dun, magkano ba talaga yung peso bank account and yung sinasabing dollar account…Hindi ko alam kung sa kanya ba talaga yun o hindi. Kaya yun ang hintayin natin na ipaliwanag…Sapagkat assets yun, ngayon kung hindi isinama (sa SALN), kailangan ipaliwanag kung bakit hindi isinama,” he added [...]

Read the full story >>  Corona pressed on dollars

Ombudsman asks AMLC for Corona’s bank records

March 18, 2012 | Politics & Government

By Ellen Tordesillas
VERA Files 

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales has asked the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) for a copy of the records of impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona’s bank deposits, including dollar accounts that are the subject of a temporary restraining order issued by the Supreme Court.

A highly placed source in the Office of the Ombudsman confirmed that Carpio-Morales sent the request after her office received a complaint seeking an investigation on Corona’s supposed ill-gotten wealth and possible money laundering. But AMLC Executive Director Vicente Aquino said he was not aware of such a letter in his office. “We have not received such request,” he said.

Aquino also said he refuses to talk about Corona’s assets in the media, calling it a “sensitive” issue.

The Anti-Money Laundering Council is composed of the governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Insurance Commissioner and the Securities and Exchange Commission chairperson [...]

Defense sees no reason for Corona to testify

March 18, 2012 | Politics & Government

Source: ABS-CBNnews.com 

MANILA, Philippines – The defense team of Chief Justice Renato Corona still sees no need to summon their client to his impeachment trial, despite calls from some senator-judges for him to testify and explain discrepancies in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth (SALN).

The defense lawyers believe that their evidence and witnesses’ testimonies are strong enough to defend their client.

“Wala pa kaming nakikitang dahilan para gawin ito. Ang pambabastos ang ikinakatakot namin (We’ve not yet seen any reason to put him on the witness stand. We’re afraid he will be disrespected),” Atty. Tranquil Salvador III, one of Corona’s lawyers, told ABS-CBN News on Friday.

Lead defense counsel Serafin Cuevas said on Wednesday he has not made a final decision whether to put Corona on the witness stand [...]

Read the full story >>   Defense sees no reason for Corona to testify

Corona trial relates to the just war against corruption

March 18, 2012 | Opinion

No Limitation 
By Ted Laguatan 

The Constitution provides for an impeachment process to immediately remove from office a key official who betrays the public trust.

However, in the warped Philippine socio-political setting, successfully removing an official through the impeachment process is as likely as the Ampatuans becoming Carmelite nuns.

Removing erring Philippine officials, no matter what process is involved, is extremely difficult. Even Justices and judges with notoriously questionable reputations and exorbitant lifestyles that reek of corruption remain unchecked and unpunished. Enough effective mechanisms are just not there to correct the whole sorry mess.

The impeachment process is inherently defective and bound to fail in accomplishing its purpose of removing key officials who ought to be removed. We have seen the systemic defects in the Estrada impeachment trial. We are seeing it again now [...]

Read the full story >>   Corona trial relates to the just war against corruption

Is there hope in mining?

March 18, 2012 | Opinion

By Rita Linda V. Jimeno
Manila Standard Today

Rita Linda JimenoI salute Gina Lopez, a zealous environmental advocate, for courageously standing her ground against mining, amidst big businessmen who were pro-mining, in a recent forum. Rather than mining, Lopez said, our nation should focus more on eco-tourism. Mining destroys the ecological balance and leaves the soil toxic and bereft of life, she explained in so many words. I could not agree with Lopez more when she said that mining results in wastelands. Because the reality is, in mining, trees are cut (the forest cover diminished); the earth is excavated to extract minerals; and toxic chemicals are used to separate the minerals from the soil. Consequently, the soil’s nutrients die. Once mined, a place turns into a barren, lifeless piece of wasteland forever. “Sustainable” mining is, therefore, an oxymoron because after mining, land can no longer sustain any form of life.

Church and People Call For a New Mining Law

March 18, 2012 | Opinion

By Fr. Shay Cullen
(His columns are published in The Manila Times,
in publications in Ireland, the UK, Hong Kong, and on-line) 

Bishops, priests, pastors, people from all walks of life and non-government organizations have taken a stand against the unfair, exploitative and damaging mining operations in this country. It is an important moral issue because for generations 75% of the people have endured a life of poverty and want, exploitation and injustice. Wealth distribution in the Philippines is among the most unequal in the world and 1% of the population unjustly own or control 70% of the national wealth.

The mineral wealth is said to be worth US$680 billion and is the heritage of the Filipino people. If not stolen by the 1% it can be a way out of poverty for millions [...]

Read the full story >>   Church and People Call For a New Mining Law

PNoy To PMA Grads: ‘ End Of Vacation… On To Real Life… Of Serving The Filipino People

March 18, 2012 | Politics & Government

By Artemio A. Dumlao

Fort Del Pilar, Baguio City (March 18, 2012) — President Benigno Aquino III “ended” the four-year “vacation” of the 187 members of the 2012 graduating class at the Philippine Military Academy Sunday.

Both in jest and seriousness, Pres. Aquino III after congratulating the graduates for hurdling the rigors of four-year cadethood at the premier military officers training institution, said their graduation also ended their vacation at Fort del Pilar..

‘Now is the start of real woes you will face in your chosen field,’ he said in Filipino as he challenged 22-year old Batangueno Tom Puertollano, the topnotcher of the class, and his 186 other mistahs of “Bagwis” class that it is now the start to face the real problems of the society. “Panahon na ng totoong sukatan ng inyong pagkakawal, pagka-Pilipino, at pagkatao [...]

Read the full story >>   PNoy To PMA Grads: ‘ End Of Vacation…

Pacquiao Watch: Double taxation, no way

March 18, 2012 | Business & Lifestyle

By Edwin Espejo

Manny Pacquiao (Credit: AP)

Senator Ralph Recto recently defended Rep. Manny Pacquiao’s earnings from professional boxing in the US against taxation by the Philippine government.

Recto said Pacquiao’s income in the US is already subject to withholding taxes by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), counterpart of the Philippine’s Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

The Filipino boxing champion’s income tax became an issue after the BIR filed criminal charges against him for violation of Article 266 of the National Internal Revenue Code, ostensibly for failing to comply with summons.  The BIR said Pacquiao failed to present his book of accounts including copies of his fight contracts and other endorsement deals for 2010 despite formal order from the tax bureau [...]

Duero: A principled worker ditched by a corrupt officialdom

March 18, 2012 | Politics & Government

By Dionesio C. Grava

One of the stumbling blocks regarding President Noynoy Aquino’s “matuwid na landas” commitment is the perception that his administration is quite selective regarding the choice of guilty officials to prosecute. While he is preoccupied tooth and nail in former President Gloria Arroyo’s incarceration and Chief Justice Corona’s impeachment, he handles with velvet gloves allegations of  irregularities involving associates in the so-called “kakampi, kaklase and kabarilan” circle.

DISCLAIMER: Commentaries or articles may be submitted for publication. However, the commentaries and articles submitted by writers and readers for publication do not necessarily reflect the views of Global Balita and its Editor. The Editor does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of writers and readers exercising their right to free expression. Global Balita and its Editor reserve the right to reject any commentary or article submitted for publication.

Is P-Noy aspiring to be our Fuehrer?

March 19, 2012 | Featured, Opinion

AS I WRECK THIS CHAIR
By William M. Esposo
The Philippine Star

Last Thursday, Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice (CJ) Renato Corona spoke before an assembly of the PWJA (Philippine Women Judges Association). Being members of the judiciary, the forum offered the besieged CJ a sympathetic ear for pursuing his “defense by publicity” tactic.

CJ Corona said: “Recent events point out that the nation is now in great peril of teetering toward one-man rule, where executive action aims to shield, to shackle judicial independence undermining the rule of all and erode the systems of governance, particularly the principle and the mechanism of checks and balances.”

Of course, that was nothing new from the CJ’s many incredible assertions since his impeachment trial started. From Day 1, CJ Corona tagged President Noynoy Aquino (P-Noy) as lusting to dominate the judiciary in order to expand the president’s power base. The CJ camp must have thought that Filipino love for democracy will tilt public opinion in favor of CJ Corona if they can sell that “lust for power” concoction. However, all these selling of concocted falsehoods could only gain traction if there’s a base in the public mind for it to take off.

Last Friday, at the Ang Paglilitis (The Trial) program of PTV-4, a student asked former Senator Rene Saguisag what his reaction was to the CJ’s assertion of a “teetering toward one-man rule” in our country. They could not have asked a better [...]

Enrile: Corona erred in SALN

March 19, 2012 | Politics & Government

Status of condo unit not properly stated

BY WENDELL VIGILIA
MALAYA

SENATE President Juan Ponce Enrile yesterday said Chief Justice Renato Corona erred when he did not declare ownership of a P3.5-million condominium unit at The Columns in Makati just because his wife Cristina had a pending complaint with Ayala Lands about the “defective” unit.

The property was not in the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) filed by Corona for the years 2004 to 2010.

“If the buyer wanted to rescind the contract, he (Corona) should have declared it (in the SALN) as a receivable,” Enrile, presiding officer of the impeachment court, told defense counsel Judd Roy on Day 31 of the Corona impeachment trial.

Roy presented the defense’s 11th witness, Benz Lim, property manager of the Ayala Property Management Corp., to show the court that there was a valid reason for Corona’s failure to declare the property in his SALN for six years.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson noted that the deed of sale for the property was executed on Oct 1, 2004 and Condominium Certificate Title (CCT) was subsequently issued to Cristina on Nov. 3, 2004, which made the couple the owner of the unit.

The unit at The Columns was one of the 45 properties which the 11-man prosecution panel originally linked to Corona based  [...]

Read the full story >>   Enrile: Corona erred in SALN

‘Omission in SALN an admission of guilt’

March 19, 2012 | Politics & Government

By Paolo Romero
The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines – Administration lawmakers said yesterday that Chief Justice Renato Corona had virtually owned up to committing an impeachable offense when his lawyers admitted to some omissions in his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs).

Movement 188, composed of the 188 congressmen who signed the impeachment complaint last year, said the defense lawyers’ new argument that the “non-compliance” by Corona with certain SALN requirements is a virtual admission by them that the prosecution had nailed their client on Article 2.

Article 2 alleges that Corona failed to publicly disclose his SALN, and that the Chief Justice had not been truthful and even concealed certain assets from his annual wealth declarations.

The group noted comments from defense lawyers that Corona’s failure to declare the acquisition costs of his real properties in his SALN is not sufficient to remove him from office.

The group hit the “cavalier attitude” of defense lawyers in dismissing the discrepancy in the chief magistrate’s SALN [...]

Part I: Corona listed Marikina lot in his SALN two years after sale to cousin

March 19, 2012 | Politics & Government

Our Plaza Miranda Exclusive -

By Raďssa Robles

Chief Justice Renato Corona listed the Marikina property as an “Asset” in his 1992 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) two years after his wife Cristina sold it to his cousin.

This point – raised by Senator Judge Ralph Recto – was probably the most interesting revelation in the four hour-long testimony on March 12 of CJ Corona’s buyer-cousin, Demetrio Vicente.

Defense out to prove genuine sale 

Vicente’s direct testimony for the defense was devoted to proving that Cristina Corona really sold her Marikina property and therefore CJ Corona was justified in no longer reporting it in his SALNs when he became a member of the Supreme Court in 2002.

This was even though the country’s land records – maintained by the Registry of Deeds – still lists Mrs Corona to this day as the owner of seven parcels of land in Marikina totaling 1,700 square meters.

Last January 12 before the start of the impeachment trial, the prosecution had listed the Marikina properties as among CJ Corona’s “undeclared wealth”. House prosecution lawyer Jose Justiniano, who grilled Vicente, insisted that the sale between Vicente and Mrs Corona was merely “simulated” [...]

Read the full story >>   Part I: Corona listed Marikina lot in his SALN two years after sale to cousin

Corona’s late declaration of posh condo ‘absolutely ridiculous’

March 19, 2012 | Politics & Government

BY ROUCHELLE DINGLASAN
GMA News   

Sen. Sergio Osmeńa on Monday said Chief Justice Renato Corona’s delayed declaration of one of his condominium units in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) was “absolutely ridiculous.”

“It (condominium unit) was paid in 2004 but was not declared in his SALN up to 2010. It is absolutely ridiculous,” Osmeńa said during the 31st day of the impeachment trial in the Senate.

He was referring to the one-bedroom, 43-square-meter unit that Corona’s wife, Cristina, bought at The Columns in Makati City in 2003.

Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson said the Deed of Absolute Sale between Mrs. Corona and The Columns’ property developer Ayala Land was signed on Oct. 1, 2004. The condominium title was transferred to the Corona couple on Nov. 3, 2004.

“After the transfer, the Coronas already owned the condominium unit,” Lacson pointed out [...]

Read the full story >>   Corona’s late declaration of posh condo ‘absolutely ridiculous’

Senator Santiago spells out winning tacks for prosecution, defense

March 19, 2012 | Politics & Government

By Cathy C. Yamsuan
Philippine Daily Inquirer 

MANILA, Philippines—Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago on Monday spelled out the gut issue as the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona heads for a Lenten break.

Santiago said prosecutors would win their case if they convinced senator-judges that Corona deliberately committed dishonesty and gross misconduct when he omitted several properties in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

But if Corona’s lawyers could show that he did not act in bad faith when he omitted specifically the dollar accounts being questioned in his SALN, the Chief Justice would be acquitted, she said.

“You now have your work cut out for you,” Santiago told the prosecution and defense panels on Day 31 of the trial [...]

Comelec finally admitted PCOS defective

March 19, 2012 | Opinion

SHOOTING STRAIGHT
By Bobit S. Avila
The Philippine Star

Last Friday, I was in the midst of a very important meeting when a friend interrupted our meeting to show us a texted report that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) finally approved the purchase of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines. My meeting had nothing to do with politics, yet a report like that was shocking enough for us in Cebu because of the incident that happened in the town of Compostela, 25 kilometers North of Cebu City where they didn’t have any town officials for 22 months, thanks to the PCOS machines that doesn’t know now to count!

But in truth, the Comelec decided to re-proclaim Mayor Joel Quińo despite the request of complainant Richie Wagas to open the ballot boxes to prevent more embarrassment. Opening the ballot boxes would have revealed that what’s inside the ballot boxes would not match with what the PCOS machines reported. This is the same in all the electoral protests in the 2010 polls.

Read the full story >>    Comelec finally admitted PCOS defective

President: Recto Bank Explorations Continue

March 19, 2012 | Politics & Government

BY GENALYN D. KABILING
MANILA BULLETIN

BAGUIO CITY — The government will still pursue oil and gas exploration in the Recto Bank, also known as the Reed Bank, because it is still within its territory, according to President Aquino.

The President has downplayed the protest of Taiwan against the country’s plans to search for oil and gas in Recto Bank, insisting the area is not part of the Spratlys Island disputed by claimant countries.

Aquino pointed out that Recto Bank was mentioned by Taiwan only in 2009 when it followed China’s nine-dash territorial claim over the South China Sea.

Read the full story >>   President: Recto Bank Explorations Continue

‘China can carry out explorations but under Phl supervision’

March 19, 2012 | Politics & Government

By DJ Sta. Ana
The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines – China is welcome to carry out oil and mineral exploration activities in the Philippine zone of the disputed Spratly Islands in the West Philippine Sea – but they must abide by Philippine laws.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, in an exclusive interview with News5, disclosed that China has made several overtures for possible joint exploration and development in the Spratlys even as Beijing had made it clear it considers the disputed areas as sovereign territory. The Spratlys are claimed in whole or in part by six countries, namely the Philippines, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia, and are widely believed to have substantial deposits of oil, gas and minerals.

Meanwhile, the Philippines will raise with American officials its grave concern over President Obama’s plan to bring back outsourced jobs to the United States when key officials meet in Washington in April. Obama’s plan is expected to impact heavily on the Philippines’ call center industry [...]

Manny Pacquiao says God told him in a dream to quit boxing

March 19, 2012 | Business & Lifestyle

Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—What his mother failed to accomplish, God apparently succeeded with Manny Pacquiao.

It took a divine vision, by way of a dream sometime in January, to make the Filipino ring icon change his ways and mull early retirement.

Pacquiao, widely regarded as the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter, said that God appeared to him in a dream and asked him to retire soon.

“I will not stay long in boxing because He said: ‘You have done enough. You have made yourself famous but this is harmful,’” Pacquiao told dzMM radio in Monday’s interview that was also broadcast over the network’s Teleradyo show.

As early as 2009, Aling Dionesia, Pacquiao’s mother, had been badgering her son to hang up his gloves to avoid further harm [...]

DISCLAIMER: Commentaries or articles may be submitted for publication. However, the commentaries and articles submitted by writers and readers for publication do not necessarily reflect the views of Global Balita and its Editor. The Editor does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of writers and readers exercising their right to free expression. Global Balita and its Editor reserve the right to reject any commentary or article submitted for publication.

A hard-working president

March 20, 2012 | Featured, Opinion

BY DUCKY PAREDES
MALAYA

‘(I)t looks as if the time has arrived when the regime of higher oil prices is here to stay.’

CLEARLY, President Aquino is not a do-nothing president as proclaimed by those who would annoy him by “noynoying” would have us believe. Would he have the kind of popularity ratings that he continues to have if he were actually doing “nothing”? The masses are smarter than those who see everything in a negative way, who criticize whatever a sitting government does or does not do.

Sure, oil prices are up and rising; but, where in the world is this not happening? Nowhere, except, perhaps, in the countries where the oil is found underground. Those countries can give away the oil to their citizens while selling it at top prices to those who have no oil, countries like the Philippines.

So, what can one really do about it? Shall we, as Marcos did, control the price by supporting the previous lower price, incurring debts with the oil companies so that our transportation costs do not go sky-high? [...]

Read the full story >>  A hard-working president

47% of Pinoys think CJ is guilty: Pulse Asia survey

March 20, 2012 | Politics & Government

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE) – Nearly half of Filipinos believe Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona is guilty of the charges filed against him in the Senate impeachment court.

“Almost half of the Filipino population (47%) is of the view that Supreme Court Chief Justice Corona is guilty, with 33% saying he is probably guilty and 15% being certain about his guilt,” Pulse Asia said in its March 2012 Ulat ng Bayan national survey.

However, 43% of the Filipinos cannot say whether Corona is guilty or not. Only 5% say he is innocent [...]

Read the full story >>   47% of Pinoys think CJ is guilty: Pulse Asia survey

Is Corona contradicting self in SALNs?

March 20, 2012 | Politics & Government

‘HIS WORDS.’ The prosecution is using a decision penned by Chief
Justice Renato Corona to argue that he should have declared The
Columns property back in 2004. File photo from the Supreme Court
website.

MANILA, Philippines – Back in February 2010, when Renato Corona was still Supreme Court Associate Justice, he penned a decision on the sale of land and the payment of an outstanding loan.

“Article 1498 of the Civil Code provides that, as a rule, the execution of a notarized deed of sale is equivalent to the delivery of a thing sold,” Corona wrote in his ruling in Raymundo S. De Leon v Benita T. Ong.

Two years later, Corona’s decision again becomes relevant with the legal debate in his impeachment trial as Chief Justice. At issue is the condominium unit that he and his wife bought in The Columns, Makati in 2004, and why he declared this only in 2010 in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN). (See SALNs of Chief Justice Renato Corona.)

In a legal memorandum submitted last month, the prosecution cited Corona’s very own ponencia in arguing that the Corona couple assumed ownership of the property in 2004 because a deed of absolute sale was executed in their favor that year [...]

SC agenda: Corona’s dollar accounts

March 20, 2012 | Politics & Government

DOLLAR ACCOUNTS. Will the Supreme Court on Tuesday decide
with finality on the TRO against the disclosure of Chief Justice Renato
Corona’s dollar accounts?

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday, March 20, is set to discuss the temporary restraining order (TRO) it issued last month on the disclosure of Chief Justice Renato Corona’s dollar accounts in the Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank).

It is unclear, however, if the SC justices will vote on the matter during their en banc session Tuesday.

After Tuesday, the High Court’s next en banc session will take place April 10. The impeachment court also takes a long break next week and won’t resume trial until the first week of May.

Issued on February 9, the TRO stopped PSBank from further testifying and presenting documents before the impeachment court about Corona’s dollar accounts. Citing bank secrecy laws, the SC voted 8-5 to issue the TRO.

The prosecution has appealed the ruling, and it is now up to the High Tribunal to decide on the matter with finality [...]

Enrile: All assets should be in SALN

March 20, 2012 | Politics & Government

By Ira Pedrasa
ABS-CBN News 

MANILA, Philippines – Senator President Juan Ponce Enrile said an asset, whether concrete or not, should be disclosed in a public official’s statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).