'Nothing personal in ouster of Corona'

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino reiterated yesterday there was nothing personal in his support for the ouster of Chief Justice Renato Corona, who must explain the accounts not included in his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

Distancing himself from the testimony of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, Aquino said properties and accounts of Corona must be in his SALNs as part of his obligation as a government official.

“We are not talking about change here,” he said.

Aquino said in some cases, judges and justices appeared like they are saying, “I am the law.”

“My point is, this is not personal,” he said.

“Again, it’s very important that instead of ‘we interpret the law,’ it became ‘I am the law’.”

Aquino denied that the administration was talking to senators to convict Corona, and that he had no knowledge of the documents being presented by Morales.

“I have no capability (to find out) because in the SALN, it is stated there that I authorize the Ombudsman to check on all my bank accounts, etcetera. The President is not authorized to look into the accounts,” he said.

“So I don’t know those accounts...there were too many accounts and dollars being mentioned. Senate President (Juan Ponce) Enrile said the point was not whether it was one peso or billions. What we are talking about is whether this was included in the SALN or not.”

Aquino said he wanted to watch the trial, but he was busy, although he was monitoring it on radio.

“Is the system of checks and balances working or not?” he asked. “What’s being mentioned in the (trial) are quite shocking.”

 Corona accused of trying to delay trial

The prosecution accused Corona’s camp yesterday of trying to prolong his impeachment trial.

Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara, a prosecution spokesman, said Corona’s lawyers are delaying the trial by choosing to present irrelevant witnesses instead of putting him on the witness stand.

The testimonies of former lawmaker Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel and other witnesses were not material to the accusation that Corona had more than $10 million in bank deposits, he added.

Angara said Baraquel and other complainants in an illegal wealth and forfeiture case pending with the Office of the Ombudsman had already declared that they were not the source of the $10-million figure.

“Clearly, their testimonies were no longer needed and their presentation was a delaying tactic on the part of the defense,”he said.

Angara said Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales herself told the impeachment court on Monday that the information about Corona’s alleged $10-million bank accounts did not come from Baraquel and her co-complainants but from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).– With Jess Diaz