2 weeks gone

The 2nd week of the Corona impeachment trial resolved important issues.

The Senate impeachment court decided to allow evidence on Articles 2.2 and 2.3, but denied any evidence to be presented on Article 2.4 which reported illegal wealth of Chief Justice Corona and his family.

But the prosecution scored points when it was able to get SC Clerk of Court Atty. Enriqueta Vidal to submit the SALNs of CJ Corona and BIR Commissioner Kim Henares to submit the income and taxes paid by CJ Corona and the Deeds of Sale and Certificates to authorize registration of properties bought or sold by CJ Corona, his wife Cristina and his two daughters and a son-in-law.

Henares revealed that CJ Corona had not filed any income tax returns as he was included in an “Alpha list” submitted by the Supreme Court.

Sen. Honasan deplored the war of evidence in media waged by the spokespersons of the prosecution and defense and got his motion to direct the Spokesperson of the Senate to meet with the two sides to agree on how to tone down the presentation of evidence to media.

Senator Joker Arroyo reminded the lawyers and the senators that documents just marked are not yet evidence until it is formally offered in evidence and approved by the impeachment court. Senator Pia Cayetano agreed with him.

Senator Ralph Recto got BIR Commissioner Kim Henares to admit that the income tax return is not the conclusive proof of one’s ability or inability to pay the purchase price.

Senators Ping Lacson and TG Guingona batted for open discussion of issues and argued the public is entitled to know.

Senator Miriam Santiago as usual, lectured the prosecution on being unprepared and for not asking the right questions.

The prosecution withdrew its motion to subpoena officials of 3 banks, consistent with the voiding of Art. 2.4 on ill-gotten wealth and huge bank deposits. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said this is a dangerous move against ordinary taxpayers.

Justice Serafin Cuevas started the cross examination of BIR Comm. Kim Henares and got her to admit that this is the 1st time the President had authorized the release of income tax returns.

Comm. Henares in response to Sen. Arroyo also admitted that she has begun a tax evasion investigation of the Coronas which caused the Senator some concern as it subjects the Coronas to charges on two fronts simultaneously.

The defense filed a motion for the inhibition of Senator Franklin Drilon for being biased for the prosecution.

Again, it was a battle of legal technicalities between Prosecutor Arthur Lim and defense counsel Serafin Cuevas.

So far, the trial has not established anything conclusive as the defense was able to block any offer of evidence at this point.

Four witnesses were presented in 2 weeks of trial. So it looks like the prosecution will take until March to finish its case. Then the defense will have its turn. It’s a long way to go. It is too early to predict the outcome but, certainly Chief Justice Corona has a competent defense team.

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SACRED COW. . . In October 2011, Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Ronald Llamas was accused of owning an unlicensed Czech made assault rifle. P-Noy cleared him.

Three days ago, he was caught on video buying P2,000 worth of pirated DVDs at the Circle C Mall in QC. P-Noy again came to his defense saying “That is not my priority”.

It certainly, sends a message that if you are close to the President you can do no wrong. Remember the case of DILG Usec. Rico Puno who was recommended for prosecution by the De Lima committee in the investigation of the Luneta Hostage incident? He was never charged.

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TERRIBLE . . . Protected Areas and Wildlife Director Theresa Mundita S. Lim reported to a UN conference that only 4% of the country’s 26,000 kilometers of coral reefs is still in pristine condition. The rest all need rehabilitation.

Lim said the underwater forests are being destroyed by over exploitation, illegal fishing practices, coastal pollution and rising ocean temperature.

Lim said this will affect our supply of fish and our food security.

Yes, the DENR and the PNP have been totally inutile against widespread illegal fishing usually using dynamite.

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GOOD PROJECT. . . Taking the cue from Efren Peñaflorida’s classroom on a kariton program, DepEd Sec. Armin Luistro has launched a kindergarten on wheels program sending a properly furnished classroom in a truck.

But this is not enough. We need 2,000 classrooms and 2,000 regular teachers for 1.7 million kindergarten students.

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TIDBITS. . . . Social media reports that President Noynoy Aquino is dating 28-year-old Korean TV personality Grace Lee. Lee is also the noontime news presenter of GMA TV news. Lee admitted that he sends her text messages.

Condolences to the family of Negros Occidental Cong. Iggy Arroyo, 61, who died of cirrhosis of the liver in a London hospital.

Two policemen were killed and one seriously wounded when a .81 MM mortal shell they tried to open exploded in a Taguig repair shop.

The Senate Lounge Cafeteria is doing good business. It is owned by former Manila Councilor Felix Espiritu.

It is not normal for a drug laboratory operating in a barangay like Ayala Alabang or Kalbiga, Caloocan without the police precinct or the barangay chairman not knowing about it. Payoffs are in the millions.

There are no formal negotiations yet for the sale of PAL to Ramon Ang’s group.

Greetings to our avid readers Justice Marlene Gonzales Sison, Cong. Pedro Romualdo, Gemma Tampiengco, Alyn Cervantes Garcia, Atty. Teodoro Padilla Jr., Jet de los Santos, Ed Chico and Boy Nethercott. Also, belated birthday greetings to Board Member Doki Blancia of Zamboanga del Sur.