Impeachment court subpoenas SC clerk of court, 12 others KIMBERLY JANE TAN, GMA News January 18, 2012 10:03am (Updated 11:25 a.m.) The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, has subpoenad the Supreme Court clerk of court and 12 others to testify during the imepachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona. In a phone interview with GMA News Online, impeachment spokesperson Valentina Cruz confirmed that they served on Monday the subpoenas for the SC clerk of court and 12 other witnesses who will be presented by the House prosecution team later in the day. "Sinerve namin kahapon [yung subpoenas] for those who were [asked] to appear today [Wednesday]," Cruz said. The House prosecution team had asked the impeachment court to subpoena Supreme Court clerk of court Atty. Enriqueta Esguerra-Vidal and bring with her copies of Corona's Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth from 2002 to 2011. Also asked to testify were the registers of deeds and city assessors of Quezon City, Marikina City, Makati City, Taguig City, Pasay City, and Paranaque City. The House prosecution team earlier asked the Senate to ask these government employees to bring with them documents related to the properties supposedly obtained by the chief justice and his family. The 13 witnesses will be made to testify on Article II of the Articles of Impeachment, which accuses Corona of failure to disclose his SALN. In connection with this, the prosecution had also earlier revealed that Corona allegedly owns 45 properties in Metro Manila, including posh condominium units in Taguig. The chief justice claimed ownership of only five of the 45 assets. Later at a press briefing, Cruz said she doesn't know yet what will happen if Vidal will fail to show up during the trial later in the day. "We don't know the regulations of the Supreme Court but if she does not appear today or fails to bring the SALNs, then the Senate will have to decide if they will impose any sanctions against her," she said. No approval yet Meanwhile, Cruz said they are still awaiting the approval from impeachment court presiding officer Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile for them to be able to serve subpoenas for the following persons: • BIR commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares along with the original and certified true copies of the annual income tax returns of Corona (for the years 1992 to 2010), his wife (1992 to 2010), his daughter Carla (2000-2010), his son-in-law Constantino Castillo (2000 to 2010), his son Francis (2005 to 2010), and his other daughter Charina (2005 to 2010); • personnel officer of the Office of the President (along with the original and certified true copies of Corona's SANL from 1992 to 2002); • personnel officer of the Office of the Vice President (along with copies of Corona's SALN from 1998 to 2000); • Giovanni Ng, Megaworld Corporation finance director (along with documents related to The Bellagio properties of Corona and his wife and The Mckinley Hill property of his daughter Charina); • Lourdes and Aniceto Bisnar, Jr. of the Fort Bonifacio Development (along with documents related to Unit 1902, Spanish Bay Tower, Bonifacio Ridge located at The Fort, Taguig City of Corona's wife Cristina and all units in Spanish Bay Tower, Bonifacio Ridge, The Fort, Taguig City sold in 2005); • Grace Evangeline Manankil-Sta.Ana and Nerissa Josef, authorized representatives of Community Innovations, Inc. (along with documents related to all units in The Columns, Ayala Avenue cor. Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City sold in 2004); • Rogelio Serafica of the Burgundy Realty Corporation (along with documents related to all units in Burgundy Plaza, Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City sold in 2003); and • Jamie Eloise M. Agbayani, president and CEO of Camp John Management Corp. (along with the SALN of Cristina Corona). "We haven't issued these subpoenas yet because although we have prepared the request. The SP [Senate President] has not yet issued the subpoenas. So I don't know we would be able to serve the subpoenas today. If the SP signs the subpoenas today we will endeavor to have all of this served," said Cruz. Anybody's game The first two days of the impeachment trial had given both the defense and prosecution several victories and losses. On Monday, the prosecutors was off to a good start after the impeachment court junked two pleadings favoring the chief justice, including a bid for a preliminary hearing and a motion to cite the prosecutors for contempt for presenting evidence to the public. read more..... http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/244919/news/nation/impeachment-court-subpoenas-sc-clerk-of-court-12-others?ref=secitem

• published: 18 Jan 2012
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