The prosecution team on Wednesday called to the witness stand an official from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to testify on the P11-million loan Chief Justice Renato Corona got from his wife’s firm.
Benito Cataran, director of the SEC Company Registration and Monitoring Department, appeared during the 10th day of the Senate impeachment trial to present documents on the Basa-Guidote Enterprises Inc., owned by Corona’s wife, Cristina.
Cataran was supposed to appear as witness on Tuesday, but his testimony was deferred after Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who is presiding over the impeachment trial, asked the prosecution to present another witness—Megaworld marketing director Noli Hernandez.
Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, one of the public prosecutors, said the prosecution will prove that Corona managed to secure a loan with Basa-Guidote Enterprises in 2003, even after the company’s license was revoked during the same year.
In his 2004 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN), Corona declared a P11-million loan from his wife’s firm. The chief justice continued to declare the loan as his liability until 2009.
Among the accusations against Corona, an appointee of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, is that he amassed ill-gotten wealth while in the Supreme Court — an accusation Corona has repeatedly denied. — Andreo C. Calonzo/KBK, GMA News
source: gmanetwork.com
