THE House prosecution panel is now studying the possibility of requesting anew the Senate impeachment court to subpoena the bank records of impeached Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Renato and his wife after witnesses revealed that the couple bought properties not included in the net worth declaration in “almost cash basis.”

Officials from two giant property developers testified at the impeachment proceeding Monday that Corona and his wife Cristina purportedly paid in bulk to settle payment for condominium units in the posh Bellagio Tower and Bonifacio Ridge in Taguig City, prompting the prosecution panel to reconsider the filing of a motion for disclosure of bank account information.

“We are currently discussing the banks accounts of the Coronas. Although there is no decision yet, there is an inclination to request the Senate impeachment court to subpoena specific bank accounts so we can comply with the directive of the Senate President,” said Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr., the lead public prosecutor.

Prosecutors had previously asked senator-judges to subpoena the records of bank accounts of the Corona couple from four local banks, but later withdrew the request after the Senate impeachment tribunal set aside their motion until they can prove the charges relating to the chief magistrate’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).

The prosecution panel, however, said then that it “reserved the right to file the appropriate request for the specific bank accounts of Renato C. Corona and Cristina R. Corona at the proper time to prove the allegations… that respondent failed to truthfully, honestly and accurately disclose his personal assets, which include bank deposits, in his SALN.”

Section 2 of Republic Act 1405, or an Act Prohibiting Disclosure of or Inquiry into, Deposits With Any Banking Institution and Providing Penalty Therefore, however, allows disclosure of bank records in case of impeachment.

“If we are going to pursue the subpoena with the bank deposits it will not violate the law because this will be used in the impeachment court, and one of the exemptions to the bank secrecy law is when anaccount is subject to litigation,” explained Deputy Speaker and Quezon Rep. Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada III, spokesman for the prosecution.

Aniceto Bisnar Jr., vice president of Ayala Land which developed the 20-storey Bonifacio Ridge, told the impeachment trial that the 113-square-meter condominium unit of the Coronas was “paid almost in full” within one month.

The Bonifacio Ridge condominium unit was acquired in 2004 but was only declared by Corona in his SALN in 2010 with a market value of P2.3 million. He did not indicate the acquisition cost in his declaration.