Prosecution returns CJ papers

MANILA, Philippines - The prosecution team in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona has returned a document borrowed from the defense camp, which it had earlier misplaced.

The document is an acknowledgement receipt signed by Corona’s wife Cristina for titles for seven parcels of land in Marikina City.

“The defense had complained about two missing documents – a deed of absolute sale, and the other one, an acknowledgement receipt. It turns out that the deed of absolute sale was with the defense all along,” Rep. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas told the impeachment court yesterday.

Agabas said the handwritten acknowledgement receipt was returned to the defense camp Wednesday night or immediately after the trial adjourned.

She said she “inadvertently” placed the document in her files.

“Let’s leave it that way, it’s human error. To err is human, to forgive is divine,” Senate President and impeachment court presiding officer Juan Ponce Enrile said.

Lead defense counsel Serafin Cuevas earlier sought the help of the impeachment court in finding the documents, which, he stressed, were important.

He said it was prosecution lawyer Jose Justiniano who borrowed the documents.

The documents were scrutinized by the prosecution during the cross-examination of third defense witness Demetrio Vicente last Tuesday.

Corona is being tried by the impeachment court for betrayal of public trust and for alleged failure to disclose and declare some properties in his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth.