BELEAGUERED Chief Justice Renato Corona yesterday accused President Benigno Aquino III of committing an impeachable offense when he urged senator-judges to disregard a lawful order from the Supreme Court in connection with the magistrate’s foreign bank deposits.

“Finally, the President has clearly committed an impeachable offense when he came out swinging by openly urging the senator-judges to disobey the Constitution he has personally sworn to uphold,” Corona said in a press statement.

Just recently, the High Tribunal came up with a resolution in a special en banc hearing stopping the Senate sitting as an impeachment court from compelling bank executives to reveal Corona’s dollar deposits.

While the Senate succeeded in making public Corona’s peso deposits, senator-judges failed to do the same with his foreign bank accounts believed to be stashed in two commercial banks.

Silver spoon

Denying accusations of corruption, Corona stressed that he and his wife Cristina were born with a silver spoon in their mouths, attributing their affluence to their parents’ perseverance and their (Corona couple’s) hard work.

Corona disclosed that whatever wealth they have right now was a product of “45 years of honest work and toil.”

“My wife and I have been privileged to come from families of comfortable means. We grew up never lacking in anything and even enjoyed some luxuries. We earned our academic degrees in some of the best exclusive schools in the country. I went on to earn several postgraduate degrees, including a Master’s degree in Harvard Law School. Our parents provided well for our future. Family resources continue to be available to us anytime,” Corona said.

He stressed that before he joined the government, he was already earning handsomely in the private sector.

“For the past 40 years, my wife and I lived in a house which was inherited property, and for that reason never had to pay rent or amortization on our residence. This translated to significant savings over forty years,” he said.

“We have lived simple and frugal lives since we got married more than 40 years ago, to the point of thriftiness. This contributed to how we have been able to accumulate these assets. Other than our house, which we have lived in for almost 40 years, we have never had any other house,” he added.

Despite calls for his resignation, Corona vowed to pursue the impeachment  trial however it may end.

“But I am determined, with my Defense Team, to explain everything satisfactorily when our turn comes to present our evidence. If you look closely at the documents already marked, the explanations are all there,” he said.