Defense: We all interpreted foreign
currency act the same way

DEFENSE LAWYERS argued that Chief Justice Renato Corona was not alone in interpreting the Foreign Currency Deposits Act or Republic Act 6426 as an absolute veil of confidentiality on all foreign currency accounts, saying this interpretation was shared by everyone in the bureaucracy.

“The Chief Justice was at very least in good faith, that to me was very clear,” said defense counsel Dennis Manalo during the second round of oral arguments before the impeachment court.

“Confronted with this situation, (the Chief Justice) told everybody that I interpreted the law in accordance with the Foreign Currency Deposits Act,” Manalo said. “Hindi ba parepareho ang interpretation natin nyan?”

“We all looked at it the same way,” Manalo reiterated, speaking in behalf of his client.

Manalo said proof of this was Corona’s willingness to sign a waiver allowing banking and financial institutions to publicly disclose his bank assets.

“I will sign the waiver now, to prove to you we have the same interpretation,” Manalo said, still speaking in behalf of Corona. “Let us show the Filipino people that we have the same interpretation. But did anyone take up the challenge before the court? Nobody.”

“This is because the Chief Justice was able to show that his interpretation has been followed by most of the honest, hardworking public officials of our bureaucracy,” he added.