'I only own 5 properties on LRA list'

MANILA, Philippines (2nd UPDATE) - Chief Justice Renato Corona on Monday said he is a roadblock to 3 different people who want him removed as the country's chief 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 allegedly want him removed from office because of their supposed 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 but lost in the election in 2010." He did not name the LP's vice-presidential bet, Mar Roxas, who lost in 2010 to Jejomar Binay.

Finally, he said he is opposed to a person whose ambition is to become chief justice.

"Sila pong tatlo ang nagsasabwatan para mapatalsik ako sa pwesto," he said.

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 acquitted, Corona may serve until 2018. This early, however, Malacañang already wants a shortlist of his replacement. Sources said the list includes the names of Senior Justice Antonio Carpio and Justice Lourdes Sereno.

Properties

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 said the list of 45 properties drawn up by the prosecution was bloated, having included parking lots, properties owned by his parents-in-law, and “Ismael Mathay Jr., who I don’t even look like.”

He said the prosecution also included titles from the original developers of the properties, including the Bellagio condominium, which had already been cancelled in his and wife’s favor.

Some of the properties were included even if these belong to his son-in-law, whom he said has the means to buy lots for being a successful doctor in Medical City. Another property, which is only 200 square meters, belongs to his daughter “who is a successful physical therapist in the United States. Why won’t she have the means to buy a 200-square-meter lot?”

He said the 5 properties in his name have been included in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN). He said all these were acquired through hard work and not through fraudulent means.

Psywar

He said the prosecution came out with a bloated list to give a false impression to the public.

Add to this the fact that the government is using its agencies, such as the Land Registration Authority from which the list was obtained, to force him to bow down to a “dictatorship,” he said. LRA is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Justice.

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

He also said the psychological war did not stop there. He also noted the circumstances of the issuance of the World Bank aide memoire, which supposedly said there was a misuse of a loan intended for the Judicial Reform Support Project.

He said the one-decade-old project has been in place before he even became chief magistrate. He said the concerned agency will answer the allegations in due time.

No resignation

Corona said he will face head-on the accusations against him, confident he did not do anything wrong.

He said he recognizes the attacks against his family. Nonetheless, “ito pong laban na ito ay hindi na para sa akin at sa aking pamilya. Kung para sa akin lang, marahil matagal na akong nagbitiw.”

He said it is his duty to protect the judiciary and the interest of the country. “Kung kayat itinataya ko na ang lahat, ang aking pamilya, ang aking pangalan, katauhan, karangalan at dignidad sa labang ito.”

Watch the video of CJ Corona in this link - www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/01/16/12/corona-ako-ay-hadlang