Malacañang calls Corona account closure timing 'suspicious'

Friday, February 17, 2012

MANILA -- Malacañang said Friday the timing of the closure by Chief Justice Renato Corona of his three multi-million bank accounts on the same day he was impeached by the House of Representatives was suspicious.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the fishy timing has to be explained by Corona's defense team before the Senate impeachment court.
"The timing was really suspicious," she said in a press briefing on Friday.

Two officials of the Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank) have said during Thursday's trial that Corona closed at least his three peso accounts at the Philippine Savings Bank's (PSBank) branch on Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City on December 12, 2011.

The three accounts contained P32.6 million.

"That is something that has to be explained on the side of the defense," Valte said.

Valte, meanwhile, defended Quezon City Representative Jorge "Bolet" Banal regarding his alleged possession of a copy of Corona's bank documents from PSBank.

"Congressman Banal clearly wanted to help his colleagues in the prosecution. He has given his explanation to the impeachment court, and it will be up to the senator-judges to determine their action on the issue," she said.

She added that Banal's action showed how vigorous the prosecution team was.

She said that the senator-jurors could pose questions to Banal when he appears before the impeachment court on Monday.

Banal claimed that he found a one-page document near the driveway of his house in Quezon City on January 30 and admitted to asking PSBank Katipunan branch manager Annabelle Tiongson to verify the document. But the bank manager refused to assist the lawmaker. (SDR/Sunnex)