MANILA, Philippines – Chief Justice Renato C. Corona through his lawyers has asked the impeachment court to summon the administrator of Land Registration Authority (LRA) and the records custodian of the City of Manila.
In separate motions filed Thursday by former associate justice Serafin Cuevas, the defense counsel sought the testimonies of Atty. Eulalio C. Diaz III and Ms. Annielyn C. Moises, the LRA’s administrator and the Acting Record Officer of the City of Manila respectively, to testify and bring documents in the impeachment trial of Corona on March 19.
Diaz’s testimony is expected to refute the claim of House prosecution panel that Corona owns forty-five properties as alleged in Article II, paragraphs two and three of the articles of impeachment filed against the chief magistrate.
If the defense’s request is granted, Diaz will be required to appear on March 19, 2012 and bring various documents, including a letter he wrote, dated January 10, 2012, addressed to Representative Niel Tupas enumerating the 45 properties allegedly owned by Corona.
The same subpoena, if approved by the impeachment court, will also require Diaz to bring Representative Niel Tupas Jr.’s letter request for information regarding Corona’s alleged properties.
The defense counsel also sought Moises’ appearance and testimony on the same date to prove that Basa-Guidote Enterprises Inc., transacted with the Government of the City of Manila involving the sale of a parcel of land. Corona’s defense lawyers also asked the impeachment court to compel Moises to bring original and certified true copies of a City Ordinance No. 7975 enacted by the City Council of Manila on December 21, 1999 regarding the expropriation of a 1,020.7 square meter of parcel of land located in Sampaloc, Manila.
The defense panel also asked the court to require Moises to bring original and certified true copies of City Ordinance No. 7976 enacted by the City Council of Manila on December 21, 1999 regarding the appropriation of the budget of the City of Manila for the Calendar year 2000, Deed of Sale dated March 26, 2001 between the City of Manila and BGEI involving a 1,027.7 sq.m., parcel of land located in Sampaloc, Manila which was purchased for the amount of P34,703,800.00, and a Letter from Atty. Emmanuel R. Sison dated November 28,2000 addressed to Basa-Guidote Enterprises Inc.
“The testimony of the Annielyn C. Moises, together with the above requested documents, will prove that a transaction between BGEI and the Government of City of Manila took place that resulted in the latter’s issuance of Check No. 188804 on June 5, 2001 for the amount of P34,703,800.000 paid to Cristina Corona in trust for BGEI,” the defense said.
source: interaksyon.com
