Sister Flory Basa willing to testify in Corona Trial

God willing, 90-year-old Sister Flory Basa on Thursday said she would testify in the impeachment trial of her nephew-in-law, Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona.

“I have to wait what the Lord tells me. I have to consider my health,” Sister Flory said in the interview at the convent of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary here. “I’m not your typical 60 or 70 year old nun. I am 90. I tremble when I’m under stress.”

At the convent, Sister Flory moves around slowly. She does not use a cane or a walker, and wears neither a hearing aid nor eyeglasses. She does not take maintenance medicines, but goes for regular medical checkups to monitor her health.

Sister Flory is the aunt of Corona’s wife, Cristina, and the only surviving original stockholder of Basa-Guidote Enterprise Inc. (BGEI), a family-owned company that Corona identified as the real owner of the funds [P32.6 million] he withdrew from three peso-time deposit accounts on Dec. 12, 2011, the day he was impeached.

The amount was said to be the proceeds of the sale of the BGEI property on Legarda Street in Manila to the city government.

Corona also pointed to BGEI as the source of an P11-million cash advance he listed as a liability in his statement of assets liabilities and net worth in 2003 and 2004.

‘It’s up to God’

Sister Flory and the other BGEI shareholders had accused Cristina of withholding the books of the BGEI since the 1980s. Cristina’s mother, Asuncion, now deceased, was among the five original shareholders. Cristina’s father, lawyer Vicente Roco, also deceased, was BGEI’s former administrator.

In statements to the media, Corona said the original shareholders had been compensated and had no more reason to demand their share. Sister Flory denied this categorically.

“We have not received anything. Wala, wala (Nothing, nothing),” she said.

“That’s why I was surprised when Cristina said she owns the company when that is the legacy of my mother. If they sell that, siguro naman they will compensate all of us. Since my other siblings are already dead, then their children should be compensated. I don’t think my mother will be happy. My mother told us to love each other.

“What we have is truth and justice, and between that is charity. We forgave them already (Coronas). I am praying for truth and justice. I always say truth and justice and charity. It is up to the Lord to speak to them, to do justice. Kinuha na nila (pera) (They got the money). What can we do? We cannot do anything. It is up to the Lord.”

But Sister Flory finds no need to demand an explanation from Cristina or her husband. “It is up to the Lord to speak to them,” she said.

“When he (Renato Corona) came into the family, we welcomed him. That’s why it’s painful for all of us,” the nun said. 

Source: inquirer.net

Renato Corona Impeachement Trial Video

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Renato Corona Impeachement Trial

Chief Justice Renato Corona on Monday said his detractors will have to kill him first if they want him removed as the country's top magistrate.

"Kamatayan lang. Kung gusto nilang tanggalin ako dito, patayin nila ako," Corona said when asked what it would take for him to resign his post.

He added that his own life is a small sacrifice to defend the institution that he serves.

Corona will go on trial at the Senate today after being accused of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution and graft and corruption.He is the first chief justice of the country to be impeached.

Former justice undersecretary Ramon Esguerra, a member of Corona's defense team, said the embattled chief justice is leaving the trial up to God but is determined to clear his name.

"He leaves it to God but he is determined to fight this out and clear his name and be able to tell our people that he is hiding nothing from them and he respects the process and the institution that will try him and he will meet all the allegations against him head on," he said.

Esguerra said public perception will play a major role in the impeachment trial, noting that Corona had been prejudged even before the trial.

He also said the defense panel wants Corona to appear in the trial so he could face his accusers. He said 12 defense lawyers will attend the trial.

Corona has enlisted the help of the country's legal luminaries to defend himself, including a retired Supreme Court justice, who will be pitted against an 11-member prosecution team backed by 59 volunteer private prosecutors. Esguerra said 12 of some 30 members of the defense team will attend the trial.

The prosecutors have said they would like to wrap up their case in three weeks, in an effort to achieve a quick ruling.

Presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte said the impeachment trial was evidence of "a vigorous democracy at work" and showed the government was prepared to use the law to hold public officials to account.

Corona Name 3 persons who want him out

Chief Justice Renato Corona on Monday admitted that he is a roadblock to 3 different people, whom he said are gunning for his removal as the country's top magistrate.

Hours before the historic impeachment trial at the Senate, Corona faced his supporters anew at the Supreme Court, saying he will stand firm against those who would want to bring down the independence of the judiciary.

He cited 3 who want him removed from office because of their alleged hidden agendas.

He said the first person wanted to stop the distribution of the Hacienda Luisita to landless farmers in Tarlac. He earlier accused Malacanang, especially the President’s allies at the Liberal Party, of planning his ouster from office after the Supreme Court decided to distribute to the farmers the sugar estate in Tarlac.

He said he is also a roadblock to a person "who really wants to be vice-president by 2016 but lost the election in 2010."

Finally, he said he is opposed to a person that "wants to be chief justice before 2018."

In his speech, Corona denied that he owns 45 real estate properties which were allegedly acquired when he joined the Supreme Court in 2002. He said he only owns 5 real estate properties.

He also criticized those who questioned his doctorate from the University of Santo Tomas, saying that his critics are just jealous.

The impeachment trial comes at a time when the 2013 election is nearing. Some quarters are saying that the odds are against Corona since some re-electionists would not want to go against popular votes.

If he is not acquitted, Corona may serve until 2018. This early, however, Malacanang already wants a shortlist of his replacement. Sources said the list includes the names of Senior Justice Antonio Carpio and Justice Lourdes Sereno.

source: ABS-CBNNews.com