DAY 6: Court disallows evidence
re alleged ill-gotten wealth

ON DAY 6 of the impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, the Senator-Judges disallowed the presentation of evidence allegedly showing that Corona accumulated ill-gotten wealth.

Following a caucus by the Senator-Jurors at noon today, Presiding Officer Juan Ponce Enrile said the senators had agreed to allow the introduction of evidence only with respect to articles 2.2 and 2.3 of the impeachment complaint.

Articles 2.2 and 2.3 are as follows:

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.

On the other hand, the senators disallowed the presentation of evidence on Article 2.4:

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?

The prosecution lawyers indicated they may appeal the ruling, which effectively threw out the chance for prosecutors to present eveidence that would allege that Corona accumulated ill-gotten wealth and acquired huge bank accounts.