Noy to Corona: Show your dollar accounts

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III today dared Chief Justice Renato Corona to allow the disclosure of his dollar bank accounts.

In an ambush interview with reporters, the President challenged Corona to give his consent to banks officials to testify and open these questionable banks deposits to scrutiny by the Senate impeachment court.

"Maganda sana magboluntaryo na ‘yung nasasakdal kung walang tinatago: 'Bakit, buksan ninyo para makita ninyo wala akong tinatago,'" Aquino said.

Aquino made the statement in reaction to the Supreme Court's issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO), preventing the public disclosure of foreign currency accounts maintained by Corona in the Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank).

President Aquino also said that the SC's TRO might send a wrong signal, enticing even criminal syndicates to hide behind the high court to keep their ill-gotten stash and properties secret from the authorities.

"Huwag naman natin sigurong hinihikayat ‘yung mga drug lord ng ibang bansa, “Halikayo punta kayo dito sa Pilipinas, dito hindi masisilip ‘yan," he added.

Corona's dollar accounts in the PSBank allegedly amounts to at least $700,000, which President Aquino would prove that there was a big discrepancy in the Chief Justice's declared assets and liabilities.

A majority of eight justices voted in special full-court session to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) enjoining the Senate from implementing its subpoena on five foreign currency accounts in the PSBank reportedly in the name of Corona.

Those who voted for the issuance of a TRO were Associate Justices Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, Arturo Brion, Lucas Bersamin, Roberto Abad, Martin Villarama Jr., Jose Mendoza, Jose Perez and Bienvenido Reyes.

Five magistrates dissented: Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and Associate Justices Diosdado Peralta, Mariano del Castillo, and Ma. Lourdes Sereno and Estela Perlas-Bernabe.

Sereno and Bernabe are appointees of President Aquino to the high court.

The high court, meanwhile, deferred action on the petition of Corona seeking a TRO on the entire impeachment trial proceedings.

The SC directed the parties to first answer the petition in 10 days before the justices discuss whether to issue the TRO.