BEFORE YOU JUDGE CORONA'S SALN...

Since the prosecution in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona is hitting hard on his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN), consider these people before you make any conclusion:

Under the law, any real property owner has the right to choose what value he or she will use in declaring assets – assessed, acquisition or fair market.

There is NOTHING ILLEGAL ABOUT IT! The prosecution has yet to produce proof of this to the contrary.

The assessed value is the cheapest, the fair market value the highest. And when you acquire something and then sell it, naturally you dispose of it for a profit.

Obviously, THERE WILL BE DISCREPANCIES in the values or prices. But it doesn’t mean that Corona undervalued his assets.

The prosecution initially claimed Corona had not submitted his SALNs. But it now turns out that he had been, annually, as produced in the trial by the clerk of court of the Supreme Court (SC), and the Office of the President.

The SC is a public office and the SALN a public document.  

The SC resolution cited by the clerk that controls the release of the SALNs of the justices is a COURT RESOLUTION, not an order only by Corona.  

Indisputable proof of this is the resolution was passed way back in 1989, when Corona was NOT EVEN A JUSTICE yet.

If there had been requests for SALN before which remain pending up to now it’s the resolution which should be blamed. This also proves that Corona DOES NOT CONTROL the SC.

The prosecution has yet to prove that Corona had personally barred the release of his SALN. On the contrary, he allowed it as what we have seen in the impeachment trial.

After first citing Corona’s alleged non-submission of his SALNs as Article 2 of the Articles of Impeachment, the prosecution suddenly included the alleged ill-gotten wealth and non-disclosure of other properties of the Chief Justice among the charges.

But the impeachment court has NOT YET RULED on how to handle this with finality. Both sides have been asked to submit their respective memoranda about it.

These are facts, people. Think about these before you judge for yourselves.

                                                ***

From the readers:

PNOY’S TURN TO DICLOSE SALN!

MARIA DOLORES SANTOS of London , United Kingdom

Tama lamang ang yong tinuran, kaibigan. Naniniwala ako na ang sino mang gustong linisin ang bakuran ng iba ay dapat at marapat lamang na maglinis muna ng sarili niyang bakuran.

CORONA TRIAL GETTING CONFUSING!

LEMWEL SOLIMAN of Gumaca, Quezon

The prosecutors are making the impeachment court as their training ground and obviously, their incompetence knows no bounds.

GEOFF DELOS SANTOS

I think the prosecutors are confused of what to do next. They do not have their ducks in a row. Senators serving as jurors should remain as that. Listen and direct questions to the presiding judge and not directly to the witness. They are just showing which side they're on.

LOLITA BELEN

As I've said in one of my comments, since ang dami naman nila sa prosecution, sama mo na rin ang mga senator/judges. Iyung mga obvious dun! At media, especially ABiaS-CBN/SWS/Pulse Asia. They even said that their evidences are solid! What the distinctive gentlemen (Defense) are trying to prove there is that there is a Law. A Rule of Law which everyone of us must follow!

LUZ IMELDA MACARAEG of Newark , New Jersey , USA

Your effort in sharing objective blogs regarding our country's very significant issues is truly appreciated! Thank you. God bless.

JOSE FERNANDO of Norfolk , Virginia , USA

I'll say the same. If it's in favor of Corona , I wouldn't mind. If it's against him, that is sinister.

JOSEPH OPULENCIA of Zamboanga City

Sayang si Merceditas Gutierrez, nagresign. Kung lumaban siya, siguro walang impeachment trial si CJ.

RUBEN ARCEO of Manteca City , California , USA

I won't be surprised. Everything in the flipland are confusing.

LISTEN, AND THINK, BEFORE YOU JUDGE!

LIEZELTUMPAR of Cebu City

Watching the on going impeachment trial, I observed that some of our dear senators are openly favoring one side. It’s disgusting!

MALOU UDARBE

 I would rather listen to the tweet of birds, the meow of cats and the tik of lizards.

DRILON, PANGILINAN, ESCUDERO SHOULD INHIBIT!

J FLOWER

Yes. Now you see the true colors of the three senator-judges, acting as counsel for the prosecutors. I believe Mr. Corona will get a fair trial. But watch out, people. This might end up in another ‘people power’ if they continue their evil acts.