Article VIII Jester

Day 4 of the Impeachment Trial.

Before anything else, it’s REGISTRAR of Deeds, ok? Registrar, Registrar, Registrar, if you’re referring to the person or holder of the office. As in School Registrar.

REGISTRY is the office itself, as in Registry of Deeds. REGISTER refers to the book or collection of books where the titles and records are recorded, entered and registered, as in Register of Deeds.

Entiendes?

If you still don’t get it, put yourself in the Registrar’s shoes: Don’t judge me, I’m not a book.

Somehow I think you all got the point by now.

On to the substantial part of the day.

Cue Michael Schumacher, also known as Defense Counsel Serafin Cuevas (or Papa Object for short).

Cuevas kept on objecting to the presentation of property titles and documents in the name of Chief Justice Renato Corona, his wife, children and son-in-law by the Prosecution on the ground that the properties supposedly have no connection to the allegation that Corona failed to file his Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) since there was no sufficient allegation on that fact in the Impeachment Complaint.

Prosecutor Elpidio Barzaga Jr. (also known as Papa Postpone), addressing his professor on Evidence, emphasized that the property titles and documents are evidence that Corona did not state certain properties in his SALNs. They alleged the “Ultimate Pak,” remember?

The Presiding Officer, Senator-Judge Juan Ponce Enrile (also known as, well, Manong Johnny), noted Papa Object’s continuing objection but allowed the Prosecution to present evidence on the properties of the Coronas, which prompted Senator-Judge Frankin Drilon (also known to Kit Tatad as a Public Prosecutor) to remain seated.

In my learned legal analysis (also known as “asa ka pa”), Cuevas achieved two things: first, that he is an octogenarian who will rattle you senseless and, second, that his client is one scared guy.

Why do I say this, my dear Watson?

The careful and methodical way by which the members of the Committee on Justice of the House of Representatives drafted the Impeachment Complaint (also known as unnecessary flattery or sarcasm) clearly show that the complaint sufficiently alleges the ultimate facts on Corona’s failure to disclose SALNs, failure to declare certain properties in his SALNs and accumulating ill-gotten wealth.

The second Article of Impeachment reads:

II. RESPONDENT COMMITTED CULPABLE VIOLATION OF THE CONSTITUTION AND/OR BETRAYED THE PUBLIC TRUST WHEN HE FAILED TO DISCLOSE TO THE PUBLIC HIS STATEMENT OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES, AND NET WORTH AS REQUIRED UNDER SEC. 17, ART. XI OF THE 1987 CONSTITUTION.

2.1. It is provided for in Art. XI, Section 17 of the 1987 Constitution that “a public officer or employee shall, upon assumption of office and as often thereafter as may be required by law, submit a declaration under oath of his assets, liabilities, and net worth. In the case of the President, the Vice-President, the Members of the Cabinet, and other constitutional offices, and officers of the armed forces with general or flag rank, the declaration shall be disclosed to the public in the manner provided by law. ”

2.2. Respondent failed to disclose to the public his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth as required by the Constitution.

2.3. It is also reported that some of the properties of Respondent are not included in his declaration of his assets, liabilities, and net worth, in violation of the anti-graft and corrupt practices act.

2.4. Respondent is likewise suspected and accused of having accumulated ill-gotten wealth, acquiring assets of high values and keeping bank accounts with huge deposits. It has been reported that Respondent has, among others, a 300-sq. meter apartment in a posh Mega World Property development at the Fort in Taguig. Has he reported this, as he is constitutionally-required under Art. XI, Sec. 17 of the Constitution in his Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN)? Is this acquisition sustained and duly supported by his income as a public official? Since his assumption as Associate and subsequently, Chief Justice, has he complied with this duty of public disclosure?

Since there are sufficient allegations in the Impeachment Complaint, Papa Object’s, well, objections only serve to reinforce the suspicion that Corona, contrary to his fiery rhetoric on hiding nothing and facing his accusers, will do anything to keep his properties out of the playing court.

Why is he so scared then? Because his SALN is what we suspected it to be. Because now the Prosecution has proof that he in fact concealed properties in violation of law.

Three (3) of the documents presented show glaringly questionable and highly suspicious facts.

Corona’s McKinley Hill property located at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, with an area of 203 square meters, was acquired from Megaworld Corporation in October 2008 for the amount of P6,196,575.00 and registered in the name of  Ma. Charina Corona, under TCT No. 2093-P.

• Fact, the Deed of Absolute Sale with Megaworld was signed by Corona both as Attorney-in-Fact of Ma. Charina Corona and as witness.
• Fact, Corona’s wife, Cristina Corona, also signed as witness.
• Fact, the daughter supposedly bought the property when she was only 30 years old.
• How could she afford to buy such an expensive property at that age?
• The fact that she is only a dummy for Corona wife is obvious from the signatures appearing on the Deed of Absolute Sale.

Corona’s commercial land situated in Diliman, Quezon City, with an area of 819 square meters, was acquired in March 2009 for the amount of P15,000,000.00 and subsequently registered in the name of Constantino Castillo III, married to Ma. Carla Castillo, under TCT No. N-327732. Thereafter, Corona’s La Vista property also at Diliman, Quezon City, with an area of 1,200 square meters, was supposedly acquired from Cristina Corona, married to Renato Corona, in November 2010 for the amount of P18,000,000.00 and subsequently registered in the name of Ma. Carla Castillo, married to Constantino Castillo III, under TCT No. 004-2010010259.

• Fact, spouses Ma. Carla Castillo and Constantino Castillo III bought two expensive properties amounting to P33,000,000.00 within less than two (2) years.
• How could they afford to buy P33 Million worth of properties within such a short span of time?
• The fact that they are only dummies for Corona is obvious.

Imagine more incriminating proof in the days to come.

Now recall the manifestation of Senator-Judge Alan Peter Cayetano during Day 2 that Section 1 of Republic Act No. 1379 provides that properties concealed in the names of relatives and/or any other persons are relevant to determine whether a government official has accumulated ill-gotten wealth.

This is why Cuevas is up and about.

This is why Corona is about to be evicted.

Voluntary or forced?

Let’s ask Big Brother.

PNoy, ikaw ay PNoy. Ipakita sa mundo. Kung ano ang kaya mo. Ibang-iba ang PNoy.

Sorry, LSS.