MANILA — The anti-graft court has dismissed the forfeiture cases filed against former chief justice Renato Corona in relation to the deceased magistrate’s assets that were not declared in his Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).
In a decision dated Nov. 3, the Sandiganbayan’s Second Division said the allegations against Corona “are misplaced” as it declared that the questioned assets of the ex-chief justice were not “unexplained wealth” but were not only mentioned in his SALN.
It said that Corona and his heirs were able to adequately prove that their income could enable them to acquire the questioned assets.
“Petitioner’s assertions are misplaced. Thus, we are inclined to rule in favor of respondents […] In determining whether or not there is unexplained wealth within the purview of R.A. No. 1379, the Courts are not bound by the SALNs filed by the respondent,” reads the 48-page decision of the Sandiganbayan’s Second Division.
“On the contrary, the statute affords every opportunity to explain to the satisfaction of the court how he acquired the property in question,” it added.
To recall, Corona was impeached in December 2011 for failing to indicate P180 million worth of his assets in his SALN. The Senate – sitting as an impeachment court – convicted Corona in May 2012.
After his impeachment, the Bureau of Internal Revenue filed a tax evasion case against the late chief justice and his family. His impeachment also prompted several petitioners to ask the Office of the Ombudsman, then under former Supreme Court associate justice Conchita Carpio-Morales, to investigate alleged ill-gotten wealth amounting to more P130.5 million. (Gabriel Pabico Lalu © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
