SPECIAL COVERAGE Post-Corona: Reflections of 8 men BY CARMELA FONBUENA POSTED ON 05/30/2012 10:11 PM | UPDATED 06/02/2012 4:35 PM MANILA, Philippines – The telenovela-like impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona produced an interesting cast of characters. Who will forget prosecutor Reynaldo Umali’s “Little Lady,” who supposedly provided the prosecution panel Corona’s bank records? Or Kaya Natin convenor Harvey Keh, who got a tongue-lashing from senators for submitting unauthenticated documents of Corona’s foreign accounts? Rappler talked to some of them. What do they think of the verdict? And how do they look back at their moments in the spotlight? 1. NO REGRETS: Prosecutor Reynaldo Umali and the “Little Lady” DIVINE INTERVENTION: Prosecutor Reynaldo Umali thanks Little Lady for helping the prosecution DIVINE INTERVENTION: Prosecutor Reynaldo Umali thanks Little Lady for helping the prosecution The senators were furious. How did the prosecution panel get a copy of Corona’s specimen signature card? The prosecution pointed to the “Little Lady,” the anonymous source who supposedly gave the document to prosecutor Reynaldo Umali. But several senators did not believe him. Looking back, Umali said, he doesn’t regret what happened. “The little lady incident was probably what started it all. It’s sparked everything. If the little lady did not come out, I could not second-guess what would have been the outcome of this case. I would like to simply describe it as divine intervention,” Umali told Rappler. Written on the signature card were 10 account numbers that were later confirmed to be Corona’s. Based on the account numbers, the prosecution was able to show that the former Chief Justice had about P20-million deposited in Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank) as of Dec 31, 2010. In his 2010 Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth, Corona declared only P3.5-M worth of “cash and investments.” “I was made an instrument. I was not afraid. They can say whatever they want to say against me, I was used as an instrument. I’m unfazed by all these criticism,” he said. 2. HORRIFYING: Quezon City Rep Jorge ‘Bolet’ Banal The “Little Lady” story was further complicated when PSBank Katipunan manager Annabelle Tiongson revealed that another congressman—Quezon City Rep. Jorge “Bolet” Banal—went to her branch to verify Corona’s specimen signature card days before Umali even got them. The source of the document became even more suspicious. He volunteered to face the senators and explained that he also got the document anonymously. He said he didn’t share it with the prosecution panel because he was unable to authenticate it. For Banal, it was a “horrifying experience.” He said it was really difficult to face the senators. 3. LESSONS LEARNED: Harvey Keh THANKFUL: Harvey Keh thanks the Senate for accepting his apologyTHANKFUL: Harvey Keh thanks the Senate for accepting his apology Towards the end of the trial, an outsider—Kaya Natin convenor Harvey Keh—submitted to the office of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile purported records of Corona’s foreign accounts. Again, the source was anonymous. But Enrile did not appreciate Keh’s move. He got a tongue-lashing from senators for supposedly trying to influence the court. Keh submitted the documents before the defense panel called on Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales to testify. Looking back, Keh said it was a stressful day but he said he learned a lot from the experience. “One of the more important lessons there was, I should be more careful with the information I disclose to the public and the people I trust,” Keh said. “On hindsight, I would probably consult my lawyer first and Dean Tony La Viña to ask them the best way to deal with it. On hindsight, it would have been better if I forwarded it to the Ombudsman rather than the Senate President,” he said. “I really appreciate that the Senate accepted my apology. My intentions were very clear. I just wanted to help in ferreting out the truth,” he said. 4. CONTROVERSIAL: Defense lawyer Judd Roy III Defense lawyer Judd Roy III gave the most colorful sound bites from the defense panel. He is, arguably, the most hardworking defense lawyer and the most protective of Corona. In March, the impeachment court cited him for contempt of court for his claims in a February press conference that there are attempts to bribe the senator-judges. On a number of occasions during the trial, Enrile snapped at Roys snide remarks directed at Coronas critics. I was the first guy they saw...Im the one who always takes the heat, Roy told Rappler Natashya Gutierrez. Its kind of flattering that people have the misconception that I control everything or have a great degree of influence, he added. 5. THE OTHER SIDE: Erap lawyer turned Corona prosecutor Rep Raul Daza In 2000, Rep Raul Daza was a senior defense counsel for President Joseph Estrada. He took the other role -- prosecutor -- in the Corona trial. He said there was more due process in Coronas trial and he praises Enrile for it. Natatandaan ninyo nag-walk out ang prosecutors. Pinabayaan mag-walkout. Dito walang naka-walkout pati si Chief Justice mismo hindi naka-walkout. You have to credit the Senate President for being an able, impartial, and effective presiding officer, Daza said. 6. A JOB TO DO: Speaker Sonny Belmonte When he delivered the closing argument for the prosecution panel, it was a sort of reunion for Speaker Sonny Belmonte and some senators. He was the impeachment manager of the House panel that prosecuted former President Estrada in 2000. A third of the jurors in the Estrada trial are the same jurors in Coronas. They are Senators Franklin Drilon, Loren Legarda, Juan Flavier, Sergio Osmeña, Miriam Santiago, Juan Ponce Enrile, Vicente Tito Sotto, and Gregorio Honasan. Its just one of those things that we have to do once in a while, he said. 7. FULFILLED: Rep Joseph Emilio Abaya Media shy, Cavite Rep Joseph Emilio Abaya is the manager of the House prosecution panel. He said the Senate decision to convict Corona is not something they would celebrate over. Like Belmonte, Abaya said it was a mission they needed to do to advance judicial reform. 8. STILL MIRIAMS CRITIC: Vitaliano Aguirre Former private prosecutor Vitaliano Aguirre was the only one who really stood up to Sen Miriam Defensor-Santiago. He may have been cited for contempt of court, but he was never apologetic. The resigned private prosecutor got to hear Santiago’s “shrill voice” again on May 29. In explaining her vote, Santiago attacked the prosecution panel again for the questionable ways it used to present evidence against Corona. She again lashed out at them. Hindi lamang ako ang binastos niya kundi ang buong Senado na ngayon. She is incorrigible. Talagang ang puso niya ay full of hate doon sa mga prosecutors, Aguirre said. - Rappler Related topics you can follow: Chief Justice Renato Corona•cast of characters•impeachment trial Post a new comment Pedrito Nepomuceno (Logout)Follow replies to my comments Share to: More Post 2 Comments AntonioT592 days ago among the senators,,, i respect trillanes, estrada, and honasan,,,,, miriam is ok but she is too aggressive Reply 0 badconscience603 days ago and madam miriam never accepted the credibility of the ex-cj coronas testimony and only admonished the prosecutors for their lack of abilities. gee! what a one-sided judge. she should have resigned as a senator judge
Posted on: Wed, 29 Jan 2014 11:21:00 +0000
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