Enrile agrees to subpoena Ombudsman,
solon, others; okays 48-hour trial break

By FRED GABOT
Editor in Chief

PASAY CITY – Finally,  Chief Justice Renato C. Corona agreed to testify before the Senate Impeachment Tribunal on allegations that he has an undeclared $10 million account.
The decision which caught the Senator-Judges, the House of Representatives prosecutors and those following the trial by surprise despite the fact that many have been egging the Chief Justice to show up and testify at the trial was announced on the floor by defense lawyer Jose Roy III on Tuesday, the 36th day of the trial of the Chief Justice.
This developed as the prosecutors vowed to file a second impeachment complaint against Corona in case he will be acquitted by the Senate.
The Senate would need 16 votes to convict the Chief Justice and only 9 votes to acquit.
Rep. Romero Quimbo said that in case the Senate would render a decision acquitting Corona they would accept it and would simply just file another complaint come December this year.
“It’s not true that we will not stop going against him,” Quimbo said. “But we cannot also stop our constitutional duty to carry out the process of impeachment when there is sufficient evidence.”
In other developments:
1. Sen. Enrile reiterated the decision of the Partido Masang Pilipino (PMP) to align with Vice President Jejomar Binay’s Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) does not have any bearing in the impeachment trial. There were reports attributing to Binay that supposedly, a vote for the acquittal of Corona in the impeachment trial, is a vote in his favour, purportedly for his presidential bid in 2016..
2. A survey done by StratPOLLS Inc. showed 47 percent agreed that the impeachment trial is Aquino’s way of getting back at Corona, StratPOLLS, however, said the decision has “created an impact” on the minds of those following the impeachment trial.
3. The Senate Tribunal has denied the prosecutors’ motion stopping Justice Secretary Leila de Lima from testifying again. De Lima was supposed to testify next, but her testimony maybe delayed with the testimonies of hostile witnesses to come first on the alleged $10-million account of Corona.
4. Sen. Edgardo Angara refused to inhibit himself from the trial of Corona, pointing out that he could decide independently on the case although his son, Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara, signed the impeachment complaint and acts as spokesman of the prosecutors.

Roy told the Senate tribunal the appearance of CJ Corona was conditioned on the Senate agreeing to subpoena Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, Rep. Walden Bello, former Rep. Risa Hontiveros, Harvey Keh, who divulged the alleged foreign deposits of Corona, and those who filed a complaint before the Ombudsman about the alleged $10-million account of the Chief Justice so that they can testify under oath about their complaint.
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile agreed to issue the subpoenas and also on the defense request for a 48-hour break of the trial so that they can prepare. The trial will resume on Monday, May 14.
Roy told the Senate tribunal that the Chief Justice has denied the existence of the $10-million account but refused to answer the complaint before the Ombudsman pointing out that he was not under the jurisdiction of the agency.
Weeks before the trial resumed on Monday, Roy told Philippines Today there was no way Corona will testify before the tribunal.
Defense lawyer Ramon Esguerra said the decision of the Chief Justice to appear before the Senate-Judges was risky, but it was the call of the day because he was already dying from the many accusations hurled against him, many of which were false and fabricated.
After the Ombudsman and other hostile witnesses shall have testified, Roy said Corona would also appear before the court to rebut the allegations that he has $10 million.
Roy said that if the issue on $10 million is raised before the court, Corona will be “compelled to confront directly the accusations.”.
Roy said that the matter of the US$ 10 million had never been raised in the Impeachment Court.
Enrile told the defense that any asset, regardless of whether legally or illegally obtained, is a function of the SALN (Statement of assets, liabilities and net worth).
The defense assured the Impeachment Court that they will present CJ Renato Corona to respond to all the witnesses on the US$ 10-million issue.
Roy said that once these witnesses testify under oath on the alleged US$ 10 million, they would present evidence to contradict this through the testimony of Corona.
Enrile told the defense that they were happy that they (defense) were cooperating with the Impeachment Court.
Senator-Judge Jose Jinggoy Estrada assured the Chief Justice that if and when he appears before the Impeachment Court, he will be treated fairly.
Corona had said that the accusation that he has a $10 million account was part of the retaliation by President Aquino and his leaders after the Supreme Court ordered the distribution of Hacienda Luisita.
“I do not own $10 million. It simply does not exist. It’s part of the black propaganda and mind conditioning,” Corona said.
Early last week, President Aquino stepped up his attacks on the Chief Justice, saying that it is incumbent upon the chief magistrate to explain his alleged $10 million deposit uncovered by the Office of the Ombudsman.
“He has to explain it. Unexplained wealth is presumed to be ill-gotten,” Aquino said.
Roy said that the matter of the US$ 10 million had never been raised in the Impeachment Court.
Despite the parliamentary courtesy, Enrile said that he was also willing to sign a motion to subpoena Rep. Bello, who is also a complainant before the Office of the Ombudsman.
Roy said the defense as well as Corona are “ready to meet this issue head-on” including the issue involving the alleged dollar deposit of the chief justice with the Philippine Savings Bank.
”When the chief justice testify, this question can be profounded at that time. I wish to assure you the forthright intention of the chief justice your honor,” Roy said.
“We will present the chief justice… definitely,” he assured.
House prosecution spokesman House Deputy Speaker Lorenzo “Erin” Tanada III has called the move of the defense as shifting of strategy but “it’s a welcome shift.”
Defense lawyer Tranquil Salvador said Corona would testify, thus “no need to sign waiver on his bank records including dollar accounts.”

Sec. Panetta also affirms US vow to Phl on Mutual Defense Treaty as Scarborough Shoal row widens

By JOSEPH G. LARIOSA
Special to Philippines Today

2 + 2 DIALOGUE IN WASHINGTON. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta (right), Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin (left) and Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario speak after the opening of their 2+2 Dialogue in Washington D.C. The officials talked bout cooperative efforts and regional diplomatic and defense issues.

Cojuangco family loses in final ruling of Supreme Court; P5 B value rejected

BAGUIO CITY  – Voting 14-0, the Supreme Court (SC), in a landmark decision, upheld on Tuesday its earlier decision mandating the total distribution of the 4,915-hectare Hacienda Luisita owned by the family of President Benigno Aquino III to 6,296 farmers.
The SC, during its summer session in Baguio City, also sustained its earlier position, voting 8-6, that the owners of the sprawling sugarcane estate will be compensated based on the 1989 market price.
The justices said the Cojuangcos,  President Aquino’s maternal relatives, are entitled to compensation of P40,000 per hectare or a total of P186 million based on the valuation made last November 21, 1989, the date when the stock distribution option (SDO) was approved by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). The Cojuangcos were insisting on fair market value of P2.5 million per hectare for a total of P5 billion for the property.
It was the decision of the High Court last year on Hacienda Luisita that reportedly triggered the impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Renato Corona after the Cojuangcos allegedly berated the President for the High Court ruling.
The farmers erupted in cheers outside the SC building after the announcement of the ruling and hailed the justices for working for the benefit of the poor. They expect immediate distribution of the land they and their ancestors had been tilling for years.
SC spokesman Midas Marquez said the eight SC justices who voted in favor of the 1989 valuation are Chief Justice Renato Corona, Arturo Brion, Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, Jose Perez, Jose Mendoza, Roberto Abad, Presbitero Velasco and Martin Villarama Jr.
Justices Lucas Bersamin, Diosdado Peralta, Mariano del Castillo and Aquino appointees Estela Bernabe, Bienvenido Reyes, and Maria Lourdes Sereno opposed the majority ruling on the 1989 valuation.
They said the determination of just compensation should be left to the special agrarian court of the DAR.
Sereno earlier said the valuation of land should be based on the 2006 fair market value of P2.25 million per hectare, a big amount which farmers could not afford to pay.
“The Court will no longer entertain further pleadings. The resolution is already final and executory,” Marquez said.
A thanksgiving mass was officiated by Baguio Bishop Carlito Cenzon following the High Court’s decision. Cenzon advised the farmers to take care and cultivate the land.
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Archbishop Jose Palma hailed the decision of SC to distribute the contested land in Hacienda Luisita.
The Cebu prelate said he is happy for all the farmers, who will now get what they have been waiting for all these years.
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillosaid the High Court’s decision is an inspiration for other farmers fighting to also get their land.
The decision sets aside the appeal by the Hacienda Luisita Inc. (HLI), which sought for P10 billion-compensation it based on the notice of coverage by DAR on January 2, 2006, pursuant to the resolution of the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council (PARC) recalling the approval of the stock distribution option (SDO).
The SDO was declared illegal by the justices last year, paving the way for the total distribution of the 4,915-hectare estate to the 6,296 farm worker beneficiaries.
“The management of Hacienda Luisita along with other landlord estates must now read the writing on the wall. We call on them to immediately and without any hesitation distribute the land to the HLI farmers,” party-list group Akbayan said.
Militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) echoed the same appeal, saying both the HLI management and the Aquino government should take immediate and concrete steps for land distribution.
“The farmers’ struggle is not over yet and they deserve our support in all their efforts to make the land truly beneficial for the people. They deserve our support against other possible maneuvers of the HLI management and the Aquino regime,” Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes Jr. said.
Instead of giving its take on the decision, Malacañang tossed the ball to the DAR and the Office of the Solicitor General to come up with a statement.
“We have not read the decision itself,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a text message.
The Cojuangcos were reportedly disappointed with the November decision and that the President was even berated by his elders, days after the main decision came out last November 22, 2011.
The Chief Justice himself said in various instances that the impeachment case against him stemmed from his position nullifying the SDO and to distribute the lands to farmers. 

By JOSEPH G. LARIOSA
Exclusive to Philippines Today

CHICAGO (jGLi) – Silence did not figure as too golden for Filipino American caregiver Carmelita Pasamba when she suddenly found a “new wealth” from her forgetful elderly ward Marshall F. Davies, 93, who could no longer “tell his age or day of the week.”
Instead of keeping everything to herself and becoming a full-time caregiver to Mr. Davies, who needed 24-hour assistance, Pasamba, 61, even returned to work at the St. Joseph’s Hospital as a Certified Nursing Assistant on reduced hours, and bragged to her supervisor, Cindy Rubio, her new money, the purchase of new Mercedes Benz and employment of her husband, Edgardo Pasamba, as the driver of the new Mercedes, the “iPhone,” “iPad,” her expensive trips and parties.
After almost two years of withdrawing part of the more than $749,100  from Davies’ bank, money market and monthly pension funds as retired city engineer of Chicago City Hall, by the middle of 2010, the Catholic Charities got an anonymous call suspecting Pasamba of financially exploiting her ward.
When Pasamba was confronted by a Catholic Charities investigator, she turned to  Filipino American lawyer Alfonso S. Bascos for help, telling Mr. Bascos that Mr. Davies did not want to be bothered and only wanted to be left alone.
In two letters to Catholic Charities, Mr. Bascos, 76, wrote that there was no reason for Catholic Charities to worry that money was being stolen because Mr. Davies did not want his privacy violated. At this point, Pasamba was already able to withdraw $689,600 from Mr. Davies financial accounts.
Atty. Dawn Keller, a supervisor at the Public Guardian of Cook County, told this reporter that as a lawyer and an officer of the court, Attorney Bascos was supposed to investigate and cooperate in the investigation of reports of elderly abuse or disabled and not hide them.
But Mr. Bascos told Keller’s subordinate, Atty. James Burton, of the Public Guardian’s Financial Recovery Unit, during a deposition last September when asked why he did not take action when there were rumors of financial abuse, Bascos said,  “I didn’t want to get involved in what she’s (Pasamba’s) doing.”
It was also Mr. Bascos, legal counsel and member of the board of the Filipino American Council of Greater Chicago (FACC), to whom Pasamba turned to for help when she asked Mr. Bascos to make her a three-page Special Power of Attorney (SPA) so she can “restyle” herself as Mr. Davies’ co-signer in the bank check and other financial accounts, including the sale of the Davies condo for $189,0101.70 for which Pasamba awarded herself $50,000. She also asked Mr. Bascos to make a new pour-over will and a trust. She paid Bascos $250 for the SPA but paid Bascos $1,750 also for the three-page will out of the Davies account.
The new pour-over will appointed Pasamba as successor Trustee, her husband, Edgardo Pasamba, as Executor, and Attorney Bascos as “retained as attorney for my Executor.”
When the Public Guardian brought the case before the Probate Court, Pasamba issued Bascos $3,685 from Davies account as her attorney’s and appearance fees. But the Court froze Davies’ account causing Bascos’ $3,685 to be dishonored by the bank.
1995 MARSHALL F. DAVIES TRUST CHANGED IN 2008
In 1995, Marshall F. Davies named as beneficiaries in his trust a family friend, May A. Capps, May’s daughter, Sandi Capps, both formerly of Chicago, Illinois now of Walnut Creek, California and Davies’ first cousin, Helen Davies, of Chicago, to receive $12,000 each; the Samaritan Home at 531 E. Washington St., West Bend, Wisconsin in gratitude for taking care of his mother, Marna Davies for 32 years, $60,000; and the rest of his estate described by Atty. Burton as the “ball of wax” to the Salvation Army of 5040 N. Pulaski Rd., Chicago.
2008 MFD TRUST
In the new trust that Attorney Bascos now denies to have crafted on April 27, 2008 that was referenced in the new will that Bascos notarized on the same day in his office, the beneficiaries of trust that Marshall F. Davies signed, although already showing signs of severe dementia,  are as follows:
Salvation Army, $50,000; Carmelita V. Pasamba, of 4330 W. Leland, Chicago, as personal and assistant and caregiver, $100,000; Samaritan Home, $35,000; Donabel Pasamba (Copon), $25,000, (Carmelita’s daughter and ) one of my care givers; Edgardo Pasamba, 61, $25,000, (Carmelita’s husband), a personal assistant and driver, who drives me a lot to places I want to go and visit; Jocelyn Baker, $25,000, (Carmelita’s younger sister); Jose Rizal Heritage Center, a community center of Filipino Americans in Chicagoland, for the maintenance and upkeep of the building, $5,000. This is a not-for-profit organization that provides social services to the community. The Seniors Program of the Filipino American Council of Chicago, $5,000, for seniors and infirmed of the community;
The Health Care Program of the FACC, $5,000; for flu shots, vaccine, health screening and referral programs for elderly and low-income individuals.
The Free Legal Services Program of the FACC, $5,000, free legal advice for elderly, low-income individuals and new immigrants in Chicagoland; St. Joseph Cares Team, $5,000; Bantay Bata Philippines, and $5,000; provides house and health care for homeless street children.
The residue of trust is left to Salvation Army, The Filipino American Council of Greater Chicago, Inc. and Carmelita V. Pasamba in equal shares to be used for the benefit of the respective programs.
ORIGINAL TRUST BENEFICIARY SADDENED BY FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION
Reached by phone in Walnut Creek, May Capps, 90, who only learned for the first time that she was beneficiary in Davies’ 1995 trust when contacted by this reporter, said she was saddened to learn that Mr. Davies, a family friend of her late husband, Lawrence Donald Capps, has become a victim of financial exploitation. “We used to exchange greeting cards with Mr. Davies three or four years ago. But I did not hear anymore from him. It’s terrible that something wrong was done to him. That’s not correct. He needs help. At this point, I don’t need the money (from the trust) as long as he is in good health.”
Pasamba was able to withdraw $749,100.03 from Mr. Davies’ accounts since taking care of him in 2008 until mid-2011 while Jocelyn Baker, 45, encashed $60,840; Dennis Pasamba, $15,000; Donabel Copon, $3,000 for a grand total of $753,600.03. In 2007, Edgardo Pasamba declared bankcruptcy while his son, Dennis, Pasamba declared bankcruptcy in 2008.
In a petition for issuance of a citation to discover assets filed by Atty. Burton on behalf of Public Guardian Robert F. Harris before Probate Court Judge Lynne Kawamoto in the Cook County Circuit Court, the petition named as respondents Carmelita Pasamba, Jocelyn Baker, Donabel Copon, Dennis Pasamba, Edgardo Pasamba, Alfonso Bascos, Cindy Rubio and Resurrection Hospital, owner of St. Joseph’s Hospital.
Atty. Charles Slamar, counsel for Salvation Army, said a hearing of the citation to discover asset is slated on April 26 at 10 a.m. before Judge Kawamoto.
Mr. Burton said he is filing a “Citation to Recover Assets” next week, pending receipt of all discovery.
The Public Guardian will also endorse the case to the Illinois State Attorney’s office, which will determine the filing of a criminal case of financial exploitation of an elderly against the respondents before the Cook County Court.
Mr. Burton said in a previous similar case that he filed earlier, the Illinois State Attorney filed criminal charges for financial exploitation of the elderly, which is a Class X felony, against a respondent, who pleaded guilty to one count, and was sent to jail for five years. Another respondent was sentenced to three years in jail. (lariosa_jos@sbcglobal.net)
 

Aquino’s LP to field own bets; GMA allies joining coalition

By FRED GABOT and CLAIRE M. TRUE
 
MANILA – The next Philippine elections are one year away but the country’s major political parties have started flexing their muscles for the May 2013 senatorial, congressional and local elections.
Already, former Philippine President Joseph Ejercito Estrada and his Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) and incumbent Vice President Jejomar Binay and his Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) have banded together to form a coalition called the United Nationalist Alliance or UNA.
Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said the “coalition agreement” between PMP and PDP-Laban had been signed and filed in the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in time for the deadline last March 31 for the registration of coalition parties.
The coalition is widely believed as a jumpstart Binay’s presidential run three years later. His election as vice president is still being contested by former Senator now Transportation Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.
Allies of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo were welcomed to the coalition by Estrada who indicated UNA’s powerhouse senate slate may include former Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri and current House of Representatives assistant minority leader Mila Magsaysay.
Estrada said applicants to the UNA should have “no connection to whatever anomalies” during the nine-year rule of Arroyo as president.
Arroyo is now detained on electoral sabotage charges. She is also faces plunder and graft charges.
UNA’s senate slate will be led by two topnotchers of senatorial elections, Sens. Loren Legarda and Francis Escudero.
The senate slate of UNA is being prepared in view of the October 2012 deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy.
This early, it is shaping up that UNA’s candidates will be pitted against the candidates of President Benigno S. Aquino III and his Liberal Party (LP).
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile likened the imminent battle between the two groups as that of David and Goliath, UNA being David and Aquino and his LP and administration candidates as Goliath.
UNA is also reaching out with other parties, including Ambassador Edudardo “Danding” Cojuangco’s Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) and Sen. Edgardo Angara’s Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), according to Binay spokesman Joey Salgado.
Sen. Manny Villar’s Nacionalista Party (NP) is also being courted with the inclusion of party stalwart Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano in the UNA senate slate and Sen. Legarda, Villar’s runningmate in the 2010 presidential elections.
LP spokesman Lorenzo Tanada III declared that the LP is not threatened with the coalition formed by the parties of Estrada and Binay.
Tanada said even LP can form its own coalition with other political parties “if the other political parties agree with the agenda of reform as espoused by PNoy.” It was gathered that LP is also courting Angara and his LDP and Danding Cojuangco’s NPC.
Aside from Legarda and Escudero, reelectionist Sens. Gregorio Honasan, Aquilino Pimentel III and Alan Peter Cayetano are also in the tentative UNA senatorial slate. Also mentioned as part of the slate are Joey de Venecia III, the son and namesake of the former speaker; Cagayan Rep. Juan Ponce Enrile Jr., son of the Senate president; former Sen. Jamby Madrigal, former Congresswoman Cynthia Villar, wife of Sen. Villar; former Sen. Ernesto Maceda, and Ma. Lourdes Nancy Binay, the eldest daughter of the Vice President; and San Juan Congressman Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, son of the former President.
Congresswoman Magsaysay, a known ally of former President now Pampanga Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, said she was invited by Binay to become a member of UNA’s senatorial slate.
“I appreciate Vice President Binay’s faith in me, and his confidence in my potential in becoming a more effective leader on a national scale. I thank him for recognizing my consistent performance in my years in Congress, and what I could further contribute to the nation as a public servant,” she said.
In a statement, Magsaysaye lamented criticisms against UNA’s association with the former administration. She said detractors are just picking on scraps to dismiss the credentials of the UNA line-up.
“I have said time and again that government needs check and balance. When I see something wrong with policies, I am honest with it. Is that wrong? Check and balance is something the administration should well be familiar of since they claim to be public servants and stalwarts of the road to a straight path,” she added.
House of Representatives Minority Leader Danilo Suarez, Lakas-Kampi vice chairman, said he hoped to formalize a political tie-up with UNA for the local elections as well.

Clinton and Gazmin meet this month on deal before Obama-Aquino summit

By FRED GABOT

CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City – The Philippine government is offering wider access by American troops at its airports, seaports and other zones, including former US bases in Clark and Subic, in exchange for more military assistance in the wake of a growing tension with China over Spratlys.
President Benigno S. Aquino III approved the acceptance of more American soldiers, increase ship visits and expansion of military exercises between the Philippines and the United States apart from granting US troops expanded access at Philippine airports, seaports and other areas.
Aquino said more US troops would be welcome, but ruled out permanent bases.
 Malacanang, however, explained that the agreement was intended to strengthen the Philippines’ defense capability to protect its borders and has nothing to do with external threats like the tension with China over the disputed Spratlys chain of islands and reefs.
The arrangement will be discussed in detail by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto del Rosario during a dialogue slated in Washington D.C. middle of April.
The Clinton-Gazmin dialogue, a follow-up of dialogues with US Senators led by Sen. John McCaine, US Congressmen and other US officials in Manila and Hawaii, will be followed with a summit meeting between US President Barack Obama and President Aquino at the White House in May or June to firm up the agreement.
The U.S.  is expanding its military presence in the Asia-Pacific as a counterweight to the rising presence of China in the region. It is stationing more soldiers in Australia, Singapore and Thailand, many of whom are to be redeployed from Japan.  
 Gazmin confirmed the Philippine military is to have bigger exercises with the US with the planned increase of visits and presence of American forces in the country. Already, an expanded Balikatan war exercises with 6,000 US soldiers is set this April in Manila and Palawan.
“We will be having bigger exercises with more participation of US forces and our forces as well, but it (exercises) will be lessened in order for us to focus on the high value, high impact exercises that will benefit us,” Gazmin stressed.
Gazmin said these exercises should be on high seas and in the area of disaster response.
The DND chief was not specific on the number of participating soldiers from both sides, but said the number could be bigger.
The US has more than 600 troops currently stationed in Mindanao under its Joint Special Operations Task Force – Philippines, which are assisting the military in its counter-insurgency operations. 
 “We have to update our military training and capability. As we have always maintained, we first acquired the Hamilton Class Cutter for the purpose of maritime protection and also environmental protection,” Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing in Malacanang.
“Our military hardware is quite not up to date with our neighbors. So it’s imperative for us to update our military hardware and that’s for purposes of our protection for our country. This is primarily to improve our military training and capacity,” he added.
Lacierda stressed that the decision of the President was not prompted by the external threats but is intended to ensure the Philippine military’s capability to protect the country’s borders, adding that some Asean-member countries have manifested for a peaceful solution to the disputed West Philippine Sea.
He explained that the arrangement has legal basis and that a new agreement isn’t necessary.
“The parameters would be based on the Visiting Forces Agreement, the Mutual Defense Treaty and also the 1987 Constitution. There are mechanisms involved there. So I think that would be the basis for (the number of) troops (that) will be rotated here in the Philippines for exercises and other related matters,” Lacierda said.
The President said the Philippines would welcome the entry of more U.S. troops in the country on a rotational basis but ruled out putting up permanent military bases.
The Philippines was also asking the United States to build up its defense capabilities, the President said as he emphasized that among the country’s requests are the F-16 fighter jets, patrol vessels, transport aircraft and radar systems.
Aquino said getting modern fighter jets from the U.S. is a top priority for the Philippines, considering that the Philippines is one of the most poorly-equipped in Southeast Asia.

Chief Justice insists one property in California owned by a daughter

MANILA - Chief Justice Renato Corona has been tagged as alleged owner of several properties in California and Florida but it turned out he does not own any house, apartment or lot there.
This recalled the accusation by the House of Representatives prosecutors that Corona and wife Cristina owned 45 properties based on a Land Registration Authority listing, which turned out later to be a dud, as the Coronas insist owning only five properties.
Corona, who is facing an impeachment in the Senate, is insisting that the US properties in Sacramento and Mountain View, California and in Tampa, Florida reported to belong to him and his wife are not theirs.
Corona, however, admitted that one property belonged to his daughter who is based and working as a physical therapist in the United States.
Corona said his two daughters, Maria Charina and Maria Carla, work as physical therapists in the US. The property in Florida linked to him is owned by a family friend, according to Corona.
The Chief Justice said he is prepared to lose everything in his fight before the Senate impeachment court.
“Acquittal will give me nothing new. But if I am not upheld, my life will turn upside down, losing everything that has been always dear to me—my pride, my honor, the stability and peace of our family, my friends, even my retirement pay and pension for which I have worked so hard all these years,” he said.
Corona said the public should expect more attacks on the judiciary in a proxy war waged by Malacañang to ensure the creation of an Aquino-controlled high court that will bow to his every whim.
“The judiciary has been at the receiving end of continued and relentless attacks on its independence with only one purpose, and that is to create a compliant and malleable judiciary,” Corona said
The Chief Justice specifically cited media bashing against him as part of the attacks aimed at undermining court independence in a speech before the graduates of the Philippine Law School (PLS) held at the Philippine International Convention Center.
Corona added: “Why am I risking all these? For one reason alone and that is in my heart of hearts, I am fighting for democracy and the preservation of the fundamental freedoms that guaranteed the preservation of our way of life.”
“You should be prepared to lose everything when you are fighting for your principle,” he said.
Corona said he submitted himself to the impeachment process despite knowing that everything will be thrown at him and his family because “I have done no wrong nor ever violated my oath as a magistrate.”
“My adversaries can fabricate all the lies they want to besmirch me and my family but in the end, it will still be between me and the Lord God almighty,” he added.
The House of Representatives prosecution team, however, does not believe Corona’s story and insisted that it will present to the Senate acting as an impeachment court any new evidence it will find, including his alleged properties in US, even if some senators are reluctant to accept additional evidence.
The house panel also said it is now looking into reports that Corona has undeclared properties in his home province of Batangas and in other areas.
Earlier, Senator-judge Aquilino Pimentel III said the impeachment court would likely decline to accept as evidence the US properties, which Corona has disowned. He also said the prosecution could no longer present information because it has rested its case.
The prosecution announced its decision to rest its case last February 28, the 25th day of the impeachment trial which started January 16.
A blog article last week by one Raisa Robles said a search came up with addresses in Tampa, Florida, and two more in Sacramento and Mountain View in California under the name of Corona.
The Articles of Impeachment accuse Corona of failing to disclose his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) and failing to declare all his properties.
The list produced by the LRA, and which the prosecution used for the impeachment trial had 45 properties.
The Corona camp confirmed ownership of only five of the properties.
Defense lawyer Tranquil Salvador III said that since March 12 to 22, “We have debunked the bloated number of properties publicly presented by the prosecution. From allegedly 45 properties, these have been halved per admission by the prosecution, if not dwarfed by the truth that CJ Corona really owns only five properties,” he said.
He said the defense has also established the financial standing of Corona and his wife Cristina.
Salvador said the evidence includes the sale of two lots and the funds of Basa-Guidote Enterprises Inc., a company owned by the family of Mrs. Corona, that “so appear to be held in trust.”
“This is about more than P90 million they have with them during the relevant period,” he said.
Another defense lawyer, Karen Jimeno, said a “forensics audit will soon make the financials clearer that will explain for instance the interests earned by the trust funds that will explain significantly the bank deposits.”
Corona insisted he did not change his statement regarding the property.
“The question to me was whether I or my wife owned any property in the US,” he said. “We do not. What my daughter owns is hers, not mine nor my wife’s. So what story did I supposedly change?”
Corona’s wife Cristina reiterated that their daughter Ma. Charina owns the property.
“If my daughter has property, it’s hers,” she said. “That’s not mine, not ours.”
Corona said the claim of online writer Raissa Robles that his daughter bought the California property less than a month before buying a P6.1-million property in McKinley Hill in 2008 was “another black propaganda.”
“I don’t think she bought it in 2008,” he said, adding that
his daughter bought the property on installment.
“She bought it dirt cheap at the height of the mortgage foreclosures in the US – 10 percent down payment with 30 years to pay,” he said.
“Anyway she is earning very well as a PT and is in fact working at two jobs,” he said. “And her husband is also earning well.”

Survey says most Pinoys think CJ guilty but many senators disagree
By FRED GABOT 

PASAY CITY -– The leaders of the Senate have assured that the chamber, sitting as impeachment tribunal, will render its verdict on the impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Renato Corona before the sine die adjournment of Congress on June 7.

”We will finish it before June. We will not allow it to go beyond the end of the session this first half of the year,”  said Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who is also the impeachment court presiding judge, on Tuesday.

This developed as a Pulse Asia survey showed 47 percent of 1,200 respondents think that Corona maybe guilty of the complaint filed against him and 43 percent cannot say whether the Chief Justice is guilty or not.

Many of the Senator-Judges, however, warned that their decision will not be based on surveys and interviews but on the evidences presented before the impeachment tribunal.

”If we will use the surveys to convict or not to convict a person charged in our court, then we don’t need the court. All we have to do is to conduct surveys whenever somebody is charged,” said Enrile.

Senate President Protempore Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, and Sen. Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan agreed with Enrile, saying they would just ignore any survey relating to the impeachment trial.
In other developments:
1.      Administrator Eulalio Diaz III of the Land Registration Authority took a beating from Senator-Judges at the trial on Tuesday for coming out with a list of purported 45 properties of Corona, his wife and family, which turned out to be only five to six properties since at least 17 titles have been cancelled and others were in the name of other persons like former Mayor Ismael Mathay Jr.

When Estrada  asked why there were titles in the names of  Mathay and the National Housing Authority, Diaz said because the titles were sold to a certain Constantino Castillo, the name sake of Corona’s son-in-law.

“You have to be sure next time around kasi pinagyayabang ng prosecution that the respondents own 45 properties…” Estrada said.

Sen. Joker Arroyo also stood up and slammed what he described as cavalier attitude of the administration and the prosecution.

“Quite frankly you misled the public by announcing 45,” Arroyo said, directing his statement to Rep. Neil Tupas Jr., lead prosecutor, adding that the accusation against the Chief Justice was “terribly unfair” for him. Tupas said the prosecution had trimmed down  the properties to at least 21.
 Diaz was presented by the defense to prove the “motive,” “bias,” and the “bad faith” of the prosecution when they filed the complaint against Corona.

2.      Lead defense counsel Serafin Cuevas missed the trial for the second time on Tuesday due to a bout of vertigo, prompting Enrile to advise him to take Serc (anti-vertigo drug) and exercise so that he can report back to duty in defending the Chief Justice. Both Cuevas and Enrile are in their ‘80s.

3.      On Monday, the 31st day of the impeachment trial, the defense panel presented as witnesses Makati City Assessor Mario Badillo, Quezon City Register of Deeds Carlo Alcantara, Atty. Randy Rutaquio, the register of deeds of Taguig City and Ayala property manager Benz Lim.
Badillo, an engineer, testified that based on the tax declaration of Mrs. Cristina Corona, The Columns condominium unit has a market value of P1.2 million and with an assessed value of P726,000.

 Alcantara, a lawyer,  presented the basis of non-inclusion of the La Vista and Ayala Heights properties in the chief magistrate’s statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

Manalo said that the Ayala Heights property was transferred in March 2010 to Amalia Rivera and the La Vista property was transferred to Carla C. Castillo.

Instead of relying on the surveys, Sotto encouraged the public to listen to the impeachment trial which will be the sole basis on whether Corona will be convicted or not for betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution.

”It’s easy to speak and make stories if they are not under oath. That’s why, it’s better to listen to the impeachment court and whatever transpires here should be the basis of decision of a senator-judge,” Sotto said.

Senator Estrada disclosed the Senate has no time table on the trial, but “we will render the verdict before we adjourn sine die.”

Estrada said it would be impossible to finish Corona’s trial before the Senate takes a break for the Lenten season on March 23.

”If the defense will not finish the presentation of witnesses, and I think they cannot, we will continue the impeachment trial when we resume on May 7,” Estrada said.

The historic impeachment trial of the chief magistrate started last January 16 with the prosecution panel submitting eight articles of the impeachment complaint but eventually reduced it just to three articles which the prosecutors claimed are enough to convict Corona for betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution.

The House of Representatives’ prosecutors presented a total of 23 witnesses before resting their case, with one reservation on the Corona’s dollar accounts.

Chief Justice, family beef up security, use bullet-proof car

By FRED GABOT

MANILA – Chief Justice Renato Corona has been receiving many death threats prompting him to tighten security for him and members of his family. And as a precaution, Corona has started using a bulletproof car, using his personal funds and not government funds.
Corona supporters made the disclosure as his impeachment trial neared its 30th day at the Senate with his defense lawyers presenting on Tuesday Congressman Tobias Tiangco of Navotas City and two other witness.
Tiangco told the Senate Impeachment Tribunal on the second day of his testimony that President Benigno S. Aquino III and leaders of the House of Representatives headed by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. allegedly exerted a “pattern or scheme”  “to intimidate or exert undue influence” on members to support the filing of the Corona impeachment complaint like delaying or withholding his pork barrel. The President and the House leaders denied the allegation.
Tiangco recounted how the House cooked up the impeachment complaint during a majority caucus on December 12, the same day Corona was impeached.
The lawmakers were not allowed to make any questions on the complaint which he and many other congressmen never read and fully understood, he said.
Tiangco’s testimony triggered warning from Speaker Belmonte and Deputy Speaker Neptali Gonzales Jr. that he and other lawmakers who will testify against the House may face moves to oust them as congressmen.
Tiangco stood firm on his stand, pointing out that it should be Belmonte and Gonzales who should be ousted for allegedly railroading the impeachment complaint without even presenting evidences.
Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago later said that under the Constitution, some of the congressmen who threatened Tiangco and pressured him to sign the impeachment complaint may have committed graft and practices act.
Tiangco agreed, saying those who threatened and pressured him to sign the impeachment complaint could be held liable for corrupt practices act.
House prosecution spokespersons Reps. Miro Quimbo and Erin Tanada said Tiangco was merely sour graping when he testified in the Senate tribunal.
In reaction,  Gonzales said Tiangco undermined the mass signing of the impeachment complaint by his colleagues who crossed party lines in order to hold Corona accountable for wrongdoings
Other witnesses Tuesday were Araceli Bayuga, chief judicial staff officer of the Supreme Court Cash, Collections and Disbursement Division, and Demetrio Coronado Vicente.
Bayuga presented SC records showing that Corona had received a total of about P22 million in salaries and benefits since 2002, to prove that he could well afford the properties he had bought.
Bayuga also denied a claim made by Bureau of Internal Revenue chief Kim Henares that Corona has no income tax returns from 2002 to 2005 because the Supreme Court did not submit its “alpha list” to the BIR for those years. 
Henares appeared before the Senate impeachment court last January 25. She was presented by House prosecutors.
Bayuga’s  testimony was made by the defense in relation to Article II of the  articles of complaint, which accuses Corona of failure to disclose his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) and failure to include in his SALN certain properties, including his peso and dollar deposits.
Vicente told the tribunal, with contracts backing him up, that he bought parcels of land in Marikina City from Corona’s wife Cristina and her sister Marietta for more than P1 million in 1990. The property, which remains under Cristina’s name, was included in the chief justice’s SALN in 1992.
Vicente said he has was not able to  transfer the property to his name because he ran out of money to pay the transfer tax because he built a house and suffered stroke twice.
He pointed to the court that he had built a house for more than P2 million in the lots he bought from Cristina and Marietta. He said he paid Cristina and Marietta out of the P3.5 million proceeds of the sale of his property in Tandang Sora, Quezon City. Part of the proceeds was used for building his house.
Vicente said at least two justices had visited him ly in his house and could prove his claim including Ombudsman Conchita Carpio- Morales whose husband is the first cousin of his (Vicente’s) wife Estrella Morales.
Another magistrate, associate justice Mariano del Castillo also visited him in his house, Vicente said.
  Sen. Ralph Recto, at the latter part of the hearing, said unanswered questions surrounding the sale of the property should prompt the Chief Justice’ to take the witness, stressing he is the only one who can explain why the property was declared in his July 1992 SALN when it was already sold to Vicente.
The Senate court, meanwhile, rejected the issuance of a subpoena on Cavite Rep. Crispin Remulla, Batangas Rep. Hermilando Mandanas and other key officers and members of the House of Representatives to testify in the impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona.
The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, cited the principle of inter-parliamentary courtesy as a reason in denying the request for the issuance of subpoenas made Monday by Corona’s camp to lower house members as “adverse witnesses.”
In a ruling, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said that the court cannot compel or even prevail upon, by compulsory process, any member of the House of Representatives to appear before them.
“In the same manner that we have accorded the same courtesy to the members of the Supreme Court when there was a request from the prosecution to subpoena them, we shall accord the same consideration and inter-parliamentary courtesy to the members of the (lower) house,” he said during the initial stage of yesterday’s proceedings.
Enrile also cited the provisions of Article 11 of the Constitution that the lower house have sole power to initiate all cases of impeachment.
“And in view of this, it is the understanding of this presiding officer that any impeachment that is made against any impeachable officer is an act of the House of Representatives through its representatives and therefore, given that situation, this presiding officer has decide to rule that we cannot compel by compulsory process any member of the House of Representatives to appear as witness even as an adverse party,” he said.
The prosecution panel also filed their opposition to the said request, invoking the previous rulings of the court on inter-departmental courtesies.
On Monday, the Senate impeachment court denied the desire of defense lead counsel former Justice Serafin Cuevas to dismiss the impeachment complaint, saying the court has already denied similar motion on January 18, two days after the trial formally started. ”As much as we want to accommodate the desire of the defense, this presiding officer, with the permission of the impeachment court, regrets to deny the desire of the defense,” Senate President  Enrile said in his ruling. 
Before the defense took its turn to present witness and evidence at the resumption of the impeachment trial, Cuevas manifested that the impeachment complaint was defective for lack of verification. 
”To us, it will appear there is no valid complaint,” Cuevas said when asked by Senator-Judge Joker Arroyo if the defense counsel is asking the Senate to dismiss the complaint. 
Cuevas said the defense would take the issue on the impeachment complaint’s validity before both the Supreme Court and the impeachment court. 
Enrile, however, explained that only the impeachment court has jurisdiction to try and decide impeachment cases. 
”Only this court has the jurisdiction, the SC has no jurisdiction to try and decide impeachment cases,” Enrile stressed. 
Enrile said proper processes have been done, including the notification of the respondent when the Senate received the impeachment complaints the next day when it was signed by 188 congressmen on December 12 last year. 
”This court followed the principle of due process demanded in a case like this,” Enrile stressed. 
Senator-Judge Miriam Defensor Santiago said the defense already accepted the impeachment court’s jurisdiction. 
”If you’ve already accepted the jurisdiction of the court, you cannot turn around and repudiate the acceptance of same jurisdictions. Your hands are already tied,” Santiago said. 
Senator-Judge Franklin Drilon said the impeachment court had categorically validated the verification of the impeachment complaint on January 18. 

Camp of Arroyo blamed by loyalists
as Armed Forces denies coup jitters

PNOY REVEALS COUP PLOT. President Benigno S. Aquino III, assisted by Presidential Security Group (PSG) Commander Colonel Ramon Mateo Dizon, presents the Plaque of Recognition to Major Alfonso Ileto as PSG Best Organic Officer of the Year during the 26th Founding Anniversary celebration of the PSG at the PSG Grandstand of the Malacañang Park on March 1. This year’s theme is “PSG: Kaagapay ng Pangf ulo sa Pagbabago.” The President disclosed during the event that there is an impending attempt to organize a coup de'tat to remove him from office

By FRED GABOT

CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City — Reports are afloat of plots to oust President Benigno S. Aquino III from Malacanang.
Even former coup leader, now Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, has confirmed the coup plot against Aquino but said that those being recruited to join did not join the plot.
Trillanes said that a group of former military officers have tried to recruit active officers and soldiers into overthrowing President  Aquino, employing the red-scare tactic that he is leading a closet communist regime. 
Sen. Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan, a former Army colonel who led several attempts to overthrow then-President Corazon Aquino, has no information on any movement within the military, saying the so-called red scare is “grossly exaggerated.”
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), however, vehemently denied the reports, adding that it is solid behind the Chief Executive.
It can be recalled that during the term of Aquino’s mother, Corazon Aquino, the military made more than a dozen coup attempts to seize power from the then president whom they perceived to be divisive and insensitive to the needs of the people at that time.
The coup plot reports surfaced as critics of the President accused him of inaction on the spiralling prices of oil and oil products, transportation fares and prime commodities, abetting officials involved in anomalies and others.
No less than the Chief Executive fanned the reports when he startled the Presidential Security Group during its anniversary celebration with the revelation of an alleged plot to forcibly remove him from office.
Mr. Aquino said at the PSG event that the coup deta’t to oust him are plotted by forces that want a return to power and their old corrupt ways which the President claims to have eliminated.
The President, however, later said that the threats against him have subsided.
In his speech before the PSG, the President cited the protection the PSG gives him and his family which, he said, allows him to focus more on governance.
“Buo ang loob ko, dahil kasama ko ang PSG—kayo na nagsisilbing kalasag ko laban sa mga nagtatangkang hadlangan ang isinusulong nating pagbabago. Patunay po ito na wala man kayo sa combat operations, napakahalaga ng inyong ginagampanang tungkulin,” the President said.
“Kayo po ang susi sa maayos kong pagtatrabaho upang maitaguyod ang karapat-dapat para sa mga Pilipino,” he stressed.
“Hindi lang po ako ang pinoprotektahan ninyo kundi pati na ang Tanggapan ng Pangulo, ang istitusyong nagsusulong sa nagkakaisang adhikain ng sambayanan. Kapag may nagtangkang agawin ang Malacañang, kayo ang unang sanggalang ng pamahalaan,” the President said.
Meanwhile, Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casino blamed rabid loyalists of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for sowing intrigues to convince people to withdraw their support from President AquinoI.
Casino said that he got information from reliable sources that the Arroyo camp is behind the rumors about Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Ma. Sison being already in the country and offered a Cabinet position.
According to Casino, the purpose is to agitate the Armed Forces of the Philippines to withdraw their support for President Aquino and to instigate attacks on activists and sabotage peace talks.
“All these rumors about Joma Sison coming home and being offered a Cabinet post, and of the Communist Party entering into an alliance with the Aquino government and eventually taking over power, all come from the same source: the Arroyo camp. They are sowing these rumors so that the military would withdraw support from Aquino, attack activists and sabotage the peace talks,” Casino said.
“Obviously GMA’s camp is again using this archaic tactic so that efforts to hold her accountable for her crimes against the Filipino people would soften so that she can continue to enjoy special treatment even under detention. 
President Aquino  confirmed that  Joma Maria Sison will be returning to the country.
He said  Sison would only return to the Philippines after a formal and comprehensive peace agreement between the government and the National Democratic Front has been signed.
Aquino also hinted that Sison could participate in the 2013 elections but did not elaborate.
The AFP through its spokesperson Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr., said that the military was solid behind Aquino.
“As far as the AFP is concerned, we have not monitored any report of an ouster plot. The AFP is solidly behind the President and Commander-in Chief. As a professional organization, we are focused on fulfillment of mandate to protect people and sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country,” he said.
Burgos said that the AFP would continue to monitor and validate information regarding the ouster plots versus Aquino.
“We will continue to intensify collecting information (regarding the matter),” the AFP spokesperson said.
He also assured the public that the AFP was not behind this rumor.
“As far as the AFP is concerned the ouster plot is not brewing in the organization. Our chain of command remains strong and everyone adheres to chain of command,” Burgos said.
In a related development, the Iglesia ni Cristo held a rally attended by some 2 million members at the Luneta on Feb. 28 reportedly to impress upon the President of the big clout of the group and its alleged disenchantment with the President.
Although a supporter of Aquino during the campaign, the Iglesia ni Cristo is reportedly no longer enamoured with the Chief Executive because of his actions, including his continuing attacks on Chief Justice Renato Corona.
Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Serafin Cuevas is the lawyer of INC and Corona.
INC leaders reportedly are disgusted also with the removal of Gen. Gatdula as director of the National Bureau of Investigation due to charges which Gatdula, a retired police officer and a lawyer, denied.