MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman filed a P130 million forfeiture case and eight counts of perjury charges before the Sandiganbayan against former Chief Justice Renato Corona and his wife Cristina.
A resolution, signed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, which was made public, showed that sworn declarations in Corona’s statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) were false for his failure to include numerous peso and dollar bank accounts in his 2003-2010 SALNs, a condominium unit at The Columns in Makati in his 2004-2009 SALN and a condominium unit at Spanish Bay Tower in Taguig in his 2005-2009 SALN.
Corona, based on the resolution dated January 28, only declared P6.8 million as the acquisition cost of a condominium unit in Bellagio I in Taguig City in his 2010 SALN when the true acquisition cost is P14, 510,000. In his SALNs from 2003 to 2009, Corona, according to the Ombudsman, also undervalued the property at La Vista in Quezon City by P8 million.
Aside from forfeiture and perjury, the Ombudsman also ordered charging the Corona couple with violation of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees for not filing his true and detailed SALN from 2003 to 2010. (Inq.net)