Senators ask prosecution to clarify allegation on SALN

MANILA -- The House prosecution panel is asked to clarify one of the grounds it stated in the impeachment complaint it filed against Chief Justice Renato Corona.

In the fourth day of the impeachment trial, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero asked lead prosecutor Niel Tupas Jr., one of the authors of the impeachment complaint, to submit a memorandum clarifying Article II. Article II states that the Chief Justice is guilty of betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution for failing to disclose his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

Escudero says the prosecution panel stated in Article II that Corona failed to disclose his SALN, failed to declare properties in his SALN, and that these properties may have been acquired through ill-gotten wealth.

Asking for clarification, Escudero said the rules state that “each article must accuse the respondent of a singular act”.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano said he had doubts on the charges contained in Article II because the prosecution panel stated “reports that some properties not declared in SALN”.

“How did you know (properties were not declared in SALN) when you saw SALN only yesterday?” Cayetano asked Cavite Representative Elpidio Barzaga Jr., a member of the prosecution panel.

Corona’s SALN were submitted by the prosecution panel’s witnesses yesterday, Supreme Court Clerk of Court Enriquetta Vidal and Palace records office head Marianito Dimaandal.

Serafin Cuevas of the defense panel further argued that Corona “cannot be accused of having committed a crime based on suspicion”. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)