COURT Administrator Jose Midas Marquez yesterday said the admission by President Benigno Aquino III’s political adviser, Ronald Llamas, that Chief Justice Renato Corona may be acquitted during the impeachment trial was an indication that the cases against him are weak.

Marquez, who is also the concurrent SC spokesperson, said Corona’s legal team is of the belief that there is no evidence against the embattled magistrate.

He pointed out that Llamas’ admission proved that the cases – eight Articles of Impeachment – will not stand the scrutiny of the Senate sitting as an impeachment court.

"Dati pa naman sinasabi namin na mahina ang ebidensiya at walang matibay na ebidensiya laban kay Chief Justice Corona," he said.

‘Damning proof’

The House prosecution panel however said it is already holding evidence that will  convict Chief Justice Renato Corona including a Condominium Certificate of Title to an expensive condominium unit which is not included in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

In a press briefing yesterday, Chief Prosecutor Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. presented to the media a copy of the CCT and Deed of Absolute Sale of one of the properties of Corona which he had not declared in his SALN.

The non-disclosure of properties is one of the articles of impeachment filed against Corona before the Senate impeachment court.

Based on the documents, Corona and wife Cristina bought a condominium unit and three parking slots at the high-end Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City for P14.5 million.

The property in The Bellagio was bought by Corona and wife in December 2009 and the four titles were transferred to their name in January 2010.

The property includes a 303.5-square meter unit at Unit 38B at the 38th floor of Bellagio 1 and three parking slots each measuring 12.5 square meters.

“We are uncovering properties of the Chief Justice one by one. The question is, is this in the SALN of the Chief Justice?” Tupas said.

“We are challenging him to make public his SALN,” he said, adding that there are three more questionable properties of Corona that will be revealed in the impeachment hearing that may begin on January 16.

Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo and Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara, the spokespersons of the prosecution panel, said that they have requested copies of Corona’s SALN from the SC however, their requests have been turned down.

“We are receiving documents about his properties. Our challenge to him is to make the public disclosure now,” Quimbo said.

“Si P-Noy nakikita ang SALN niya. Si dating President GMA nakikita natin ang SALN niya. Tangging ang CJ lang ang hindi nakikita ang SALN. Lahat ng opisyal sa ating bayan ay pwedeng makita ang SALN. There had been at least two recorded times na nirequest sa Korte Suprema (ang SALN) ni Chief Justice. Hindi sinasagot or dinideny nila. Ang tanong namin -- bakit?” Angara said.                           

More petitions

Another petition has been filed before the High Court questioning the legality of the impeachment of Corona.

Former Immigration Commissioner Homobono Adaza and human rights lawyer Alan Paguia asked the SC to declare as unconstitutional the impeachment complaint and articles of impeachment against Corona.

Paguia and Adaza questioned the verification of the complaint, alleging that the complaint "has not been verified by the overwhelming majority of the complainants."

They also charged that the House of Representatives committed grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack of jurisdiction by transmitting the complaint to the Senate, claiming that due process and the equal protection clause of the Constitution was violated;

They charged that the Senate committed grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack of jurisdiction by accepting the Articles of Impeachment, which did not meet the verification requirement;

Finally, they averred the Senate committed grave abuse of discretion when it assumed jurisdiction over the complaint and scheduled the trial of the Chief Justice.

Petitions assailing the legality of the impeachment proceedings in the House against the chief justice were earlier filed by Social Justice System lawyer Vladimir Cabigao, tax informer Danilo Lihaylihay, former Integrated Bar of the Philippines president Vicente Millora and Marcos lawyer Oliver Lozano filed the motions.