Corona’s pre-SC net worth declarations//
IN his 10 years in the executive branch, before then President Gloria Arroyo named him in 2002 the 150th justice of the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Secretary Renato C. Corona had declared a net worth ranging from P13,968,000 to P14,968,000, or an average of P14.6 million.
Corona, who worked his way up from the position of President Fidel Ramos’ assistant executive secretary in 1992 to Arroyo’s presidential adviser and chief of staff, had also consistently declared three properties in the annual Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.
These were a Quezon City land acquired in 1970 through donation, with a current market value of P5.138 million; a house, also in Quezon City, he acquired and built in 1976 with a current market value of P2 million; and a land in Marikina acquired in 1980 through donation with a current market value of P2 million.
He had also reported his wife Cristina’s business interest in a commercial leasing firm, Basa-Guidote Enterprises Inc., owned by her family.
His brother Ruben’s employment at the National Home Mortgage Finance Corp., a manager in 1992 who later became vice president, and his cousin Benedicto’s position in the Marines, a lieutenant colonel in 1992 and later a full colonel, also appeared in the declarations.
In several declarations early in his stint in government, Corona also listed his brother Arturo, a director at the Philippine National Oil Corp., and first cousin Purita Inumerable, an employee in the municipal government of Tanauan, Batangas, as among his relatives in government.
Corona, who was impeached by the House of Representatives on Dec. 12, will be tried by the Senate impeachment court starting Jan. 16 on charges of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, and graft and corruption.
Of the eight articles of impeachment, one charges the chief justice with failure to disclose to the public his SALN while in the Judiciary.
He will also be tried on allegations of having accumulated ill-gotten wealth, acquiring assets of high values and keeping bank accounts with huge deposits.
The complaint said Corona has, among others, a 300-square-meter apartment in a posh Mega World Property development at the Fort in Taguig that he omitted to declare in his SALN.
News reports, quoting impeachment prosecutors and other sources, have since said that Corona has 45 properties in Metro Manila, 19 of them supposedly not declared in his SALN and estimated to be worth P200 million. The properties include a condominium unit at The Columns in Makati; a unit at Bellagio I in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig; a unit in Bonifacio Ridge also in Fort Bonifacio, and several pieces of property in Marikina Heights and in Diliman, La Vista Subidivison and Cubao in Quezon City.
The chief justice has branded the list of his alleged properties, which purportedly came from the Land Registration Authority, a “hoax” and “black propaganda.”
His lawyer said Corona only has five properties: his family residence in Xavierville, two condo units in Taguig, a unit at The Columns and another one at One Burgundy Place on Katipunan Ave., Quezon City.
Earlier, Supreme Court spokesperson Midas Marquez said Corona’s SALNs as a member of the High Court could be released during his impeachment trial or when the Supreme Court en banc resolves petitions requesting for these declarations. The court will meet en banc on Jan. 17.
Members of the judiciary have been citing a September 1992 en banc resolution issued during the term of Chief Justice Andres Narvasa for not making their declarations available to the public. The resolution disallows the disclosure of their SALN.– Yvonne T. Chua
