High Court injunction on Corona dollar account 'unfortunate event'

Sunday, February 12, 2012

A GROUP of Catholic schools has added its voice to the growing call for impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona to disclose his dollar accounts at the ongoing impeachment trial.

Last week, the Supreme Court en banc voted to issue a temporary restraining order against moves to disclose details of Corona's dollar account in public.

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In a statement released Sunday, the 1,345-member Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) said the issuance of the TRO is an "unfortunate event" and would affect the people's trust in the judiciary.

"This is truly disconcerting inasmuch as the political process of impeachment is seen by many Filipinos as an avenue for authentic institutional reforms in the Judiciary. Instead, the impeachment trial of CJ Corona is being challenged as a violation of the theory of co-equal branch of government, more so when viewed in light of the prevailing criticism that the SC has stepped in on this issue to 'protect' one of its own," the CEAP statement said.

It said Corona's voluntary assent to the opening of his dollar accounts can set the tone for authentic judicial reforms by letting the impeachment proceedings run its course.

"In the interest of truth and justice, CJ Corona should allow the disclosure of these foreign currency account deposits in order that the impeachment proceedings can fully and fairly take place," the statement said.

The group explained that when Corona "conveniently hide" behind the protection of the TRO issued after a motion filed by Philippine Savings Bank (PS) last week, it only resulted in more people questioning his moral integrity to lead the SC.

"If Chief Justice Corona is truly innocent is he so claims, then why is there resistance in the request for disclosure of his foreign currency deposit accounts? We, in the CEAP calls on the Chief Justice to be a shining example to all members of the Bench by exhibiting the kind of moral uprightness demanded of them as best exemplified if he provides his written assent to the disclosure of his foreign currency deposit accounts," CEAP said.

The group also said that disclosure of the deposit accounts would go a long way in restoring the people's faith in the judiciary as well as its members, especially at the SC, and may also strengthen the people’s capacity to have access to relevant records not ordinarily available to them.

"To that end, if there is truly nothing that Chief Justice Corona is hiding in his foreign currency account deposits, the CEAP strongly urges CJ Corona to take heed and permit the disclosure of the same. Not only is this consistent with ethical standards, the same is likewise consistent with the requirement of a judge to be financially transparent about his personal fiduciary interests as well as those of his family members," the group added.

The SC voted 8-5 last Thursday in favor of the issuance of a the TRO stopping the PS Bank from releasing records of Corona's alleged foreign currency deposits.

Under the Foreign Currency Deposit Act, a disclosure of foreign currency bank accounts can only be made upon written permission from the depositor.

The temporary injunction was greeted with criticism with senator-judges of the impeachment set to hold a caucus on the issue Monday to discuss the SC order. (AH/Sunnex)