2012 – Page 23 – ellen tordesillas

Corona to prosecution: You did not have any iota of evidence against me when you filed the impeachment complaint.

Published by Ellen on February 13, 2012

Press statement of Chief Justice Renato C. Corona:

Throughout my public career, I have never been involved in any anomaly or scandal. Whatever assets my wife and I have acquired are products of 45 years of toil and honest work.

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.

I had a very successful career in the private sector where I was a top executive before I joined the government. That is public record.

VERA Files statement on Grace Lee

Published by Ellen on February 13, 2012

In a text message to Ellen Tordesillas, author of the report, Lee said, “The only points about your article I want to clarify is that I never uttered the words ‘altar’ or anything that might hint to desiring marriage.”

It was her co-anchor DJ Suzy, not Grace Lee, a Korean TV and radio personality President Benigno Aquino III is said to be dating, who said the relationship between the two was headed for the altar.

Lee made the clarification in reaction to a VERA Files story yesterday that said she saw herself tying the knot with the President.

Grace Lee sees herself marrying P-Noy

Published by Ellen on February 12, 2012

I did this story for VERA Files: The altar. That’s where Grace Lee says her relationship with President Benigno Aquino III is headed. In her…

Defense: Palace offered P100-M per senator to skirt TRO

Published by Ellen on February 12, 2012

Defense presscon — Prelude to withdrawal?

By Ira Pedrasa, ABS-CBNnews.com

Palace says claims are ‘unsubstantiated,’ a ‘desperate gimmick’

The defense on Sunday alleged that Malacanang offered P100 million for senators to skirt around the Supreme Court-issued temporary restraining order on the subpoena issued on Chief Justice Renato Corona’s alleged dollar accounts.

Citing a “very reliable” source, defense lawyer Dennis Manalo said Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. has been contacting senator-judges not to honor the halt order.

Grace Lee wants PNoy to stop smoking

Published by Ellen on February 12, 2012

Grace Lee with Pnoy — The meeting that ignited the 'sparks'

Anti-smoking advocates have a new ally and could yet be the most effective in the crusade to stop the habit that kills some 80,000 Filipinos every year.

In her radio program, “Good Times in the Morning”, with Mo Twister last Wednesday, the 29-year old Korean TV and radio host who has admitted dating 52-year old President Benigno Aquino III, said, “I can always convince the guy to quit smoking.”

Lee should have a good chance to succeed in convincing Pnoy to stop smoking because she said they always talk “animatedly for three to five hours. “

Lee’s self-imposed mission should warm the hearts of anti-smoking advocates in the country like Dr. Anthony Leachon, internist-cardiologist and consultant to the Department of Health on Non-communicable Disease and Dr. Cecilia Llave, gynecologist-oncologist, Initiative Coordinator of the national Cancer Institute.

Corona is finished

Published by Ellen on February 9, 2012

Corona emotional — Corona becomes emotional in front of supporters at the Supreme Court. Photo from ABS-CBN online.

As I was writing this piece, Supreme Court Spokesman Midas Marquez was having a press conference announcing the Temporary Restraining Order that the High Court issued against the Senate, seating as an impeachment court, to subpoena information on the foreign dollar account of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

The vote was 8-5-1. Corona inhibited.

As to the petition of Corona to stop the his impeachment trial, no action was done because when it was raffled Wednesday, it went to Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco, who inhibited because his son is a member of the House of Representatives from where the Corona impeachment emanated.

Whatever would be the final decision on the Chief Justice’s dollar account or accounts, Corona is finished.

Corona had P19.7M by end-2010: bank records

Published by Ellen on February 8, 2012

By David Dizon, ABS-CBNnews.com

Corona’s SALN (end-2010): P3.5M cash/investments

Chief Justice Renato Corona had a total bank balance of P19,728,555.39 from 2 bank accounts in Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank) as of end-December 2010, records from the bank showed Wednesday.

The bank balance is much higher than the P3.5 million cash and investments he declared in his statement of assets, liabilities and networth (SALN) for 2010.

Free-load syndrome

Published by Ellen on February 7, 2012

Corona with his defense team — Corona confers with his legal team at the opening of the impeachment trial.

All the lawyers in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, both of the prosecution and the defense, boast that they are participating in the most important legal event in the country today, pro bono.

Wikipedia says the term pro bono comes from Pro bono public which means for the public good. It is a Latin phrase generally used to describe professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment or at a reduced fee as a public service.

It’s human nature to want to get something for nothing. The trait cuts across economic classes. That’s why senior citizens in Makati, rich or poor, love former Mayor Jojo Binay for giving them a lot of freebies including free movies.

In fact in many cases, it has become a status symbol because it means you know somebody important who gave you a free ticket.

I remember a shipping company manager complaining of politicians and influential personalities who were fond of asking for free tickets when they can very well afford them.

Anong gagawin kapag may lindol?

Published by Ellen on February 7, 2012

Panic. Interphoto from Interaksyon — Interphoto from Interaksyon

Nakakapanghilakbot ang nangyari sa Negros Oriental at sa ibang parte ng Visayas na tinamaan ng Intensity 6.9 na lindol.

Makikita sa mga litrato na bumuka ang lupa. Ayon sa report kahapon, sobra 50 ang namatay at mukhang tataas pa dahil meron pang mga nadaganan na hindi naalis. Patuloy pa rin ang mga aftershocks na nakakatakot dahil ang mga gusali o lugar na nauga at mahina, maaring bumigay na.

Marami daw sa mga nasawi ay dahil sa landslide. Nadaganan ng mga bato at mga gusali. Meron ngang isang bata na namatay nang madaganan ng pader sa punerarya. Kawawa naman talaga.

Corona impeachment court resolution allowing subpoena of bank records

Published by Ellen on February 7, 2012

Senate Resolution on the Request for Subpoena of Corona’s Bank Accounts

Santiago’s motion for reconsideration of opening of bank accounts

FULL text of the Senate impeachment court’s Feb. 6 resolution granting the prosecution’s request to subpoena certain bank records of Chief Justice Renato Corona and summon bank officials.

Resolution

This resolves the twin Requests for Issuance of Subpoenae both dated January 31, 2012 filed by the House of Representatives.

On January 31, 2012, the House of Representatives, through its Prosecutors, filed a Request for Issuance of Subpoena seeking to require the President/Manager and/or other authorized officers of Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank) to testify and produce before the Court the original and certified true copies of the following documents:

a. Customer Identification and Specimen Signature Card of the bank account, under the name RENATO CORONA which won P1 Million in the PSBank Monthly Millions Raffle Promo as listed in the Official List of Winners as of March 13, 2008;

Year: 2012