March 13 Senate Impeachment Court Record

TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 2012
Republic of the Philippines
Senate
Pasay City
Record of the Senate

Sitting As An Impeachment Court
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
AT 2:14 P.M., THE PRESIDING OFFICER, SENATE PRESIDENT JUAN PONCE ENRILE, CALLED THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL OF SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE RENATO C. CORONA TO ORDER. The Presiding Officer. The continuation of the impeachment trial of the Hon. Chief Justice Renato C. Corona of the Supreme Court is hereby called to order. We shall be led in prayer by Sen. Franklin M. Drilon. Senator Drilon. Let us put ourselves in the presence of the Lord. Almighty God, we thank You for gathering us and giving us the chance today to be once more of service to You and Your people. Father, we seek Your light and wisdom as we continue to carry out our bounden duty to seek the truth and dispense justice. We need Your light to see beyond what we hear. We need Your wisdom to guide us in our task and enable us to discern and decide with honor. Finally, Father, we entrust to You our nation. Hear us and make us united despite our disagreements. All these we ask through Christ our Lord, Amen. The Presiding Officer. The Secretary will please call the roll. The Secretary, reading: Senator Edgardo J. Angara ............................................................... Present
Senator Joker P. Arroyo ................................................................... Present* Senator Alan Peter Compaero S. Cayetano ................................. Present* Senator Pia S. Cayetano ................................................................... Present Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago .................................................... Present Senator Franklin M. Drilon ................................................................ Present Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada ....................................................... Present Senator Francis G. Escudero ............................................................. Present Senator Teofisto L. Guingona III ....................................................... Present Senator Gregorio B. Honasan II ........................................................ Present Senator Panfilo M. Lacson ................................................................ Present Senator Manuel Lito M. Lapid ....................................................... Present Senator Loren Legarda ...................................................................... Present Senator Ferdinand Bongbong R. Marcos Jr. .................................. Present Senator Sergio R. Osmea III ........................................................... Present* Senator Francis N. Pangilinan ............................................................ Present Senator Aquilino L. Pimentel III ........................................................ Present Senator Ralph G. Recto .................................................................... Present Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. ..................................................... Present Senator Vicente C. Sotto III ............................................................. Present Senator Antonio Sonny F. Trillanes IV ........................................... Present Senator Manny Villar ......................................................................... Present* The President ..................................................................................... Present The Presiding Officer. With 19 Senator-Judges present, the Presiding Officer declares the presence of a quorum. The Floor Leader is recognized. Senator Honasan. Mr. President, may I ask the Sergeant-At-Arms to make the proclamation. The Presiding Officer. The Sergeant-At-Arms is directed to make the proclamation. The Sergeant-At-Arms. All persons are commanded to keep silent under pain of penalty while the Senate is sitting in trial on the Articles of Impeachment against Chief Justice Renato C. Corona. The Presiding Officer. The Floor Leader is recognized. Senator Honasan. Mr. President, I move that we dispense with the reading of the March 12, 2012 Journal of the Senate sitting as an Impeachment Court and consider it approved. The Presiding Officer. Is there any objection? [Silence] There being none, the March 12, 2012 Journal of the Senate sitting as an Impeachment Court is hereby approved. The Secretary may now please call the case. The Secretary. Case No. 002-2011 In the Matter of Impeachment Trial of Honorable Chief Justice Renato C. Corona. The Presiding Officer. Appearances, Floor Leader.
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*Arrived after the roll call
Senator Honasan. Mr. President, may we ask the parties and/or their respective Counsel to enter their appearances. Representative Agabas. Mr. Senate President, Your Honors, good afternoon. For the Prosecution panel of the House of Representatives, same appearance. We are ready, Your Honors. The Presiding Officer. Noted. The Defense. Mr. Cuevas. For the Defense, Your Honor, the same appearance. We are ready also, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Noted. The Floor Leader is recognized. Senator Honasan. Mr. President, in yesterdays session, the Counsel of Chief Justice Corona manifested on the floor that they are requesting that certain members of the House of Representatives be invited to testify as adverse witnesses for the Defense. Their request was opposed by the Prosecution invoking previous rulings of the Court on inter-departmental courtesies. Mr. President, I move that the matter be submitted to the Presiding Officer for proper disposition. The Presiding Officer. This Presiding Officer has gone over the provisions of Article XI of the Constitution again. And I reread the entire provision and, indeed, the sole power to impeach is lodged by the people through their Constitution in the House of Representatives. The wording is that The House of Representatives shall have the sole power to initiate all cases of impeachment. In view of this, it is the understanding of this Presiding Officer that any impeachment that is made against any impeachable officer is an act of the House of Representatives through its Representatives. And therefore, given that situation, this Presiding Officer has decided to rule that we cannot compel by compulsory process any member of the House to appear as a witness here or as an adverse party. In the same manner that we have accorded the same courtesy with the members of the Supreme Court when there was a request from the Prosecution to subpoena them, we shall accord the same consideration and inter-parliamentary courtesy to the members of the House. So ordered. Senator Honasan. Mr. President. The Presiding Officer. The Floor Leader is recognized. Senator Honasan. Yesterday, the Hon. Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago made a reservation that she be allowed to propound questions to the Defense witness, the Hon. Tobias Tiangco. May we request that Representative Tiangco be allowed to retake the witness stand. The Presiding Officer. Is the hon. Congressman here? Please take the witness stand and testify under the same oath and the gentle lady from Iloilo has the floor. Mr. Cuevas. He is here, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Proceed. Senator Defensor Santiago. Thank you, Mr. President.
I beg the indulgence of our colleagues and particularly of the President, in that I cannot be as succinct as I want to be this afternoon because I am feeling particularly unwell. But since I made the reservation, I had to come. Mr. Witness, your haircut alone indicates that you are an iconoclast. Representative Tiangco. Maam, can you please define iconoclast? I do not know. Senator Defensor Santiago. Yes, an iconoclast is a person who goes around in a sacred temple smashing all that he thinks are false idols. [Laughter] Representative Tiangco. Your Honor, should I comment or.... Senator Defensor Santiago. No. [Laughter] Representative Tiangco. Your Honor, before you proceed, if I may be allowed. Senator Defensor Santiago. Yes, please. Representative Tiangco. To the Honorable Court, I would like to make an apology because of what happened yesterday. There were pictures in the newspaper that showed me without my shoes on and with just my socks sitting down there. I did not mean to demean this Honorable Court or to show disrespect to this Honorable Court by removing my shoes, Your Honor. I was just tired. I wanted to relax a bit. So, during recess, I took off my shoes. So I apologize to the whole Impeachment Court, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. The Court understands. So you may proceed. Representative Tiangco. Mabuti na lang po hindi butas iyong medyas. Senator Defensor Santiago. If it were up to me, I would also accept your apology, considering that you probably wanted to preserve the quality of your leather wear. [Laughter] Maybe, that has to do with the fact that you have not received your PDAF. [Laughter] Representative Tiangco. Maam, I have received it but it was delayed, Your Honor. Senator Defensor Santiago. Yes. Mr. Witness, you are an adverse witness. Meaning to say, you should logically belong to the Prosecution panel, but you are testifying as a witness for the Defense panel. So, you are in a peculiar situation. There are two differences between an ordinary witness and an adverse or hostile witness. The first is procedural. On direct examination, an ordinary witness cannot be asked a leading question. But, by contrast, on direct examination, an adverse witness can be asked a leading question by the panel which is presenting him. That is the main difference. I was surprised to read and hear yesterday that someone said, Objection to the question. That is leading. There can be no leading question objected to in the case of an adverse witness. Precisely, he is adverse and so the lawyer presenting him is allowed to ask leading questions so that the lawyer can continue to control the proceedings. That is the procedural distinction. The second is the more important distinction. The distinction is this: The testimony of an adverse witness carries far more weight than the testimony of an ordinary witness. Why? Because an adverse witness testifies in a positive way. Normally, the Prosecution tells a story or makes allegations and the Defense counters with the negative reaction by saying, No, no, no. None of those happened. But,
in the case of an adverse witness, since the witness is adverse, what he says carries great weight. So, in effect, he is testifying against self-interest. Normally, you would not testify against your own colleagues unless you are a sociopath. There must, therefore, be a very strong motivation for you to testify. And if you cannot be impeached, then the Rules of Court will apply as interpreted by the Supreme Court. Our Supreme Court has ruled: Testimony is positive when the witness affirms to the fact, did or did not occur, and negative when he says that he did not see or know of the factual occurrence. I have already said your testimony is positive. Normally, they expect negative testimony from the Defense. That is why I now invoke the very classic rule. It is well-settled that an affirmative testimony is far stronger than negative testimony, especially so when it comes from the mouth of a credible witness. The Supreme Court has qualified that rule by saying, Evidence to be credible must not only proceed from the mouth of a credible witness but the evidence that he testifies to must conform to natural habits and natural occurrences and behavioral patterns. So, I have taken the trouble of requesting for your resum. You finished both elementary and high school in Xavier School presumably for.... Representative Tiangco. Yes, Your Honor. Senator Defensor Santiago. Yes. You confirmed that and you finished management in Ateneo. Representative Tiangco. Yes, Your Honor. Senator Defensor Santiago. And, in fact, you even went to management first before you went to public service. Representative Tiangco. Yes, Your Honor. Senator Defensor Santiago. And then what I am most impressed with is that you received the following awardsyou do not need to confirm this but if you wish to deny it then, of course, you should: Most Outstanding Vice Mayor in Metro Manila, 2000; Most Outstanding Mayor in Metro Manila, 2001; National Achievers for Young Professionals in the Field of Public Service; One of the Ten Most Outstanding Municipal Mayors in the Philippines, 2002; The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM). Now, we will now have to see whether, since you appear to be a credible witness, what you described is pursuant to natural patterns of behavior of an ordinary man, the so-called reasonable man in law. So, let me just raise a few points, very few points. The only way that the Prosecution can impeach you as a witness, meaning to say, can prove that you are lying under oath and, therefore, that your testimony should be completely disregarded, the only way that they can impeach you is, has already been pointed out by the Supreme Court. The Court said: It is well-settled that if the defense fails to prove any nefarious motive on the part of one who testifiesI should amend that by saying that it is well-settled that if the panel fails to prove any nefarious motive on the part of one who testifiesagainst the accused or against the prosecution, the presumption is that the witness has not been so moved and that his testimony should thereby be accorded faith and credit. In other words, what the Supreme Court means is, if he seems credible and what he is testifying to seems also credible, the only way you can prove that he is a liar is to show that he has a nefarious motive.
Therefore, I will ask you this question. Have you ever had a run-in with the Administration? In the political context, have you ever had any major disagreement? I understand that you resigned from the Majority; you delivered a privilege speech about the matter that you testified to yesterday. So, the question is: What makes you ticked? What is your motivation? Do you have any? Representative Tiangco. My only motivation, Your Honor, to appear before this Impeachment Court was precisely the privilege speech because doon po sa privilege speech may parliamentary immunity po tayo. So, gusto ko lamang siguraduhin, siyempre I have to move forward, Your Honor, na hindi po ito magamit sa akin later on na sabihin na nagsinungaling po ako sa privilege speech ko. So the best way for me to prove na kaya kong panindigan iyong privilege speech ko is, iyong manumpa po ako dito sa Korteng ito at sabihin na ang sinasabi ko po ay ang katotohanan at ang buong katotohanan. Kung ang tanong ninyo po sa akin is if I have had any.... Senator Defensor Santiago. Nefarious motive is the way the Supreme Court put it. Representative Tiangco. ...Hindi. Iyong hindi ayos na... Senator Defensor Santiago. Any disagreement. Representative Tiangco. ...Disagreement. Sa akin po, wala po akong alam. Ang ano lamang po, I do not know if you will call this a disagreement. Siguro naman we are free to vote whatever we think of. Noon pong Merceditas Gutierrez impeachment, hindi ho ako nakumbinsing may probable cause so, hindi ho ako bumoto doon. That was an administration measure. Doon ho sa ARMM postponement, hindi rin ho ako bumoto kahit iyon ay administration measure dahil may iba ho akongI am not a lawyer, Your Honor, but there were issues there that I did not believe na dapat ma-postpone iyong ARMM elections. Senator Defensor Santiago. All right. Let me think of some other motive because you sound too good to be true. You do not have any political disagreement with the Administration according to you? Representative Tiangco. No, Your Honor. Senator Defensor Santiago. That, of course, remains to be tested. Do you have any business relations with the leading members of the Administration or any of their families that could have soured your relationship? Representative Tiangco. With this Administration, Your Honor? Senator Defensor Santiago. Yes. Representative Tiangco. No, Your Honor. Senator Defensor Santiago. No. Do you intend to run for senator and therefore obtain publicity through these proceedings? Representative Tiangco. On record and in front of the whole Filipino people, I will say this: I have two more terms as congressman of Navotas. I will finish my term as congressman of Navotas. So, in 2013 and 2016, in front of the Filipino people, in front of all of you, I am saying, I will just run in my former post as congressman of Navotas. If I may explain, Your Honor? Senator Defensor Santiago. Yes, go ahead, please.
Representative Tiangco. Alam ninyo ho, noong kinalaban ko ho si GMA ng nine-and-a-half years, hindi ho ako iniwanan ng mga mamamayan ng Navotas. Kahit pinahirapan ho ako noong nine-and-a-half years dahil kalaban ko ho si GMA, ibinoto pa rin nila ako na mayor ng tatlong beses. So, iyan ho ay utang ko sa kanila. So, ganoon ho. So, ito ho ay pangako ko sa lahat ng nakikinig ngayon. Kung tumakbo ho ako ng senador before 2016, tawagin ho ninyo akong sinungaling. But after 2016 when I am termed out already, I will have to find an option for myself, Your Honor. Senator Defensor Santiago. Of course. So, you were an archenemy of Gloria Arroyo and one of the reasons alleged here in impeachment proceedings is that the Chief Justice should be removed because he is too close or too intimate with Gloria Arroyo, and yet, you are saying now that you were an archenemy politically of President Arroyo. Is that a fair summary? Representative Tiangco. That is very accurate, Your Honor. It is not personal. It started, Your Honor, when the impeachmentiyong hindi po natapos iyong impeachment, noong nag-walk out I do not want to offend anyone but I will state what Senator Defensor Santiago. Oh, feel free to offend me if you want to. [Laughter] Representative Tiangco. No, Your Honor. What I am trying to say is,ay huwag na ho kasi nandito ho iyong ibang nag-walk out noon, eh. Senator Defensor Santiago. All right. Well, my next question Representative Tiangco. Okay. I will apologize, no. This is a difference of opinion but I hope my opinion is respected. Senator Defensor Santiago. You notice, of course, that I am trying to test your credibility. Representative Tiangco. Yes, yes. Senator Defensor Santiago. You testified that you attended this all-majority caucus Representative Tiangco. Maam, can I finish the Senator Defensor Santiago. It is not really necessary; otherwise, the two of us will take too long; it will be unfair to others. Representative Tiangco. Okay. Senator Defensor Santiago. You said that you attended the Majority caucus and there, you were already suspicious that you might not be able to reach a conclusion that would enable you to sign the Impeachment Complaintyou gave several reasons. Representative Tiangco. Yes, Your Honor. Senator Defensor Santiago. Did you do or say anything in that caucus to indicate that you disagreed with what they were planning to do? Representative Tiangco. Maam, Your Honor, we were not allowed to ask questions. Only two persons were able to make singit their questions and that was Congressman Biazon and Congressman Rufus Rodriguez; after that, Congressman Mandanas stood up. Actually, I was reading the Rules because I wanted to stand up but no one was allowed to ask questions. Senator Defensor Santiago. Oh! so, you are prohibited.
Representative Tiangco. It was stated by the Speaker, sabi ho niya, Pagkatapos ng power point presentation, iyong mga gustong pumirma, pumirma. Iyong mga ayaw pumirma, bahala kayo, huwag kayong pumirma. Pero this is nondebatable, no questions will be entertained. Senator Defensor Santiago. I was trying to see whether the rule of admission by silence applies to you since under the Rules of Court, if you are present in something that you now denounce and you did not say or do anything, that is considered admission by silence. But now you are saying that that does not apply to you because there was a rule or a policy that no questions would be entertained. Is that so? Representative Tiangco. Yes, Your Honor. Senator Defensor Santiago. Yes. Now, you have, in effect....In fact, in the transcript that has just been distributed to us, you have, in effect, stated that you felt under threat to sign the Complaint. You said so categorically. Representative Tiangco. Yes, Your Honor. Senator Defensor Santiago. All right. Now, I will read to you excerpts from R.A. No. 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Section 3Corrupt Practices of Public Officers. The following shall constitute corrupt practices of any public officer and are hereby declared to be unlawful: a) Persuading, inducing or influencing another public officer to perform an act constituting a violation of rules and regulations duly promulgated by competent authority. I am referring, of course, to the Rules of the House of Representatives on Impeachment which requires you to read the Complaint and then sign it. So since you are claiming that you felt that you are being pressured or that you are being threatened by what was said or done to you in your testimony yesterday, I would like to know whether you feel or you believe that what I have just read from the law applies to that situation you described? Representative Tiangco. Yes, Your Honor. Senator Defensor Santiago. In that case, then you are alleging that your fellow colleagues in the House were guilty of the corrupt practices as described by the paragraph I just read. Representative Tiangco. Not my colleagues, Your Honor, but those who spoke during the allmajority caucus, Your Honor. Senator Defensor Santiago. All right. Not all of your colleagues but, at least, some of them. Representative Tiangco. Those who spoke, those who threatenedI will correct my statement those who threatened during the all-majority caucus. Senator Defensor Santiago. All right. One last question: As you said, you felt pressured and you resented it because in my reading, your personality has always been one of independencemay I say fiery independence. Now, I will read to you the Penal Code particularly on threats and coercion. Article 286Grave Coercions. A certain penalty shall be imposed upon any person who, without authority of law, shall, by means of threats or intimidation, prevent another from doing something not prohibited by law or compel him to do something against his will whether it be right or wrong.
In general terms, do you feel that this paragraph I have just read apply to that situation? Representative Tiangco. Not only to that situation, Your Honor, even to the situation yesterday when the Majority Leader, when interviewed on Sunday, came out with statements that I will be expelled from Congress. Senator Defensor Santiago. Mr. Witness, you will either end up a national hero in the eyes of the public or a heel or a traitor in the eyes of your colleagues in the House of Representatives. What your future status depends on subsequent developments and how the public take these developments. Thank you for answering these questions. I am done with this Witness, Mr. President. Thank you. The Presiding Officer. Thank you. Representative Tiangco. Thank you, Madam Senator-Judge Miriam Defensor Santiago. The Presiding Officer. The Floor Leader. Senator Honasan. Mr. President, there being no other Senator-Judges to propound questions, may we move to discharge the witness. The Presiding Officer. The witness is discharged and thank you, Toby, for coming here. Representative Tiangco. Thank you, Your Honor. Thank you to all the Senator-Judges. The Presiding Officer. The Defense may now proceed to present their witnesses. Mr. Cuevas. Yes, Your Honor. We are calling Ms. Bayuga. She is allegedly in the Holding Area, Your Honor. May we be allowed to call her? The Presiding Officer. Yes, will you please....Who is your witness? Mr. Cuevas. Mrs. Araceli Bayuga, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Will you call the witness of the Defense to the Chamber to take the stand and to be sworn in and testify? The Presiding Officer. One-minute suspension, to wait for the witness. The trial was suspended at 2:40 p.m. At 2:41 p.m., the trial was resumed. The Presiding Officer. The trial is resumed. By the way, Counsel, how many witnesses do you intend to present today? Mr. Cuevas. We have four (4) witnesses today, Your Honor, but some of them will only have a very short testimony. The Presiding Officer. Yes. All right, proceed. The Clerk of Court. Madam Witness, please stand up and raise your right hand. Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
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Ms. Bayuga. Yes. The Clerk of Court. So help you God.
The Presiding Officer. Now, before we proceed, may I suggest to the Prosecution to be watchful and raise your objections seasonably so that the Chair can make a ruling. Mr. Hernandez. Yes, Your Honor, we will do that. The Presiding Officer. The Defense also will grant time for the Prosecution to understand the question. Mr. Hernandez. Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Yes. Mr. Hernandez. May I make a comment before we start. Apparently, the witness called here to testify is an employee of the Supreme Court. I am reading the Compliance of the Defense and I am just wondering if she is covered by the same February 14, 2012 resolution that prohibited employees of the Supreme Court for testifying for the Prosecution. The Presiding Officer. Let the witness invoke any prohibitory rules promulgated by the Court. We cannot anticipate. Mr. Hernandez. Yes, Your Honor, thank you. Mr. Cuevas. Besides, Your Honor, the witness will be testifying on factual matters in connection with the discharge of her duties as an employee of the Supreme Court, never on privilege matters, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Proceed. Mr. Cuevas. Will you kindly state your name and other personal circumstances? Sabihin nga ninyo ang pangalan ninyo. Ms. Bayuga. Opo. My name is Araceli C. Bayuga of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, located at Padre Faura, Manila. Mr. Cuevas. Civil status? Ms. Bayuga. I am married. Mr. Cuevas. Your age? Edad po ninyo? Ms. Bayuga. I am 62 years old. Mr. Cuevas. Your occupation right now? Ms. Bayuga. My position is SSC Chief Division Staff Officer of the Cash, Collection and Disbursement Division of the Fiscal Management and Budget Office. Mr. Cuevas. If Your Honor please, the testimony of this Witness is being presented in connection with Impeachment Article No. II, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Article II? Mr. Cuevas. Yes, Your Honor.
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The Presiding Officer. The one that deals with SALN? Mr. Cuevas. That is correct, Your Honor, very correct. The Presiding Officer. All right, proceed. Mr. Cuevas. The purpose of the offer of this Witness deals with the nature of her job as Chief of Staff of the Cash, Collection and Disbursement Division of the Supreme Court, the fact that she had prepared a statement of the cash, collection and disbursements of the Hon. Chief Justice Corona, Your Honor, and further to authenticate the certification issued by her in the discharge of her duties in that capacity. The Presiding Officer. Proceed. Mr. Cuevas. Thank you, Your Honor. Now, sabihin nga ninyo kung ano ang inyong mga gampanin bilang Chief Judicial Staff officer ng Cash, Collection and Distribution Division of the Supreme Court? Naunawaan ba ninyo ang Tagalog? Gusto ba ninyo sa Tagalog o Ingles. Ms. Bayuga. Opo. May I read my duties and responsibilities dahil napakarami po ito. Mr. Cuevas. Sige po. Ms. Bayuga. Supervises and implements the policies, rules and regulations related to the operation of the Cash, Collection and Disbursement Division; Supervises the activities of the personnel; Custodian of all monies and other cash items, official receipts of the Court; Signs and encashes checks of cash advances for salaries, allowances and other benefits of the officials and employees of the Court, including the honorable Justices; Signs disbursement vouchers or cash advances, initial salaries, terminal leaves with pay, and other payments made to officials and employees of the Court; Signs all monthly report of disbursement and monthly report of collections to be submitted to the Accounting Division FMBO and COA; Supervises the counting and distribution of salaries, allowances and other emoluments of Supreme Court officials, honorable justices and officials of the Court; Signs certification for salaries, allowances and other benefits received by honorable justices, officials and employees of the Court; Signs and submits to the BIR the annual return of income tax withheld on compensation in the alphabetical listing of officials and employees of the Court from whom taxes are withheld; Signs all individual withholding tax statement of officials and employees for distribution to all concerned officials and employees; and Performs other duties that may be assigned from time to time, by my immediate chief. Mr. Cuevas. All right, thank you. With the nature of the function you have narrated a while ago, will you kindly tell the Honorable Court whether you have executed any certification relative to the allowances and benefits received by the Chief Justice in his capacity as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?
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Ms. Bayuga. Yes, Your Honor.
Mr. Cuevas. Now, I am showing to you a Certification of the Cash, Collection and Disbursement Division, consisting of four pages, Your Honor, which was earlier marked as Exhibit 114 for expediency. Will you kindly go over the same and tell us what relation has that with the certification you have issued in connection with the allowances, salaries, and disbursement made in favor of the Chief Justice? Ms. Bayuga. Yes, Sir. Mr. Cuevas. Iyan po ba? Ms. Bayuga. Opo. Mr. Hernandez. Your Honor, excuse me. May I just make a manifestation. Justice Cuevas manifested that the exhibit was marked. It was, in fact, not officially pre-marked, Your Honor. Ms. Cuevas. No, we made of record that we have earlier marked for convenience and expediency. We are now adopting the same marking. We will make a manifestation to that effect. Mr. Hernandez. The marking you made, Counsel, is.... The Presiding Officer. Counsel, there is no relevance of that. Let the Defense do that. Anyway, you are the Prosecution. If you will not mark this as exhibit, we will disregard it. Ms. Hernandez. Yes, Your Honor, just to set the record straight. The Presiding Officer. Do not interrupt, so that we will not be derailed by all of these details. Mr. Cuevas. May we request that the certification referred to by the Witness in her testimony, Your Honor, be marked as, first page as Exhibit 114, second page as Exhibit 115, the third page as Exhibit 116, and the last page, Your Honor, as Exhibit 117 for the Defense, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Mark the documents accordingly. Mr. Cuevas. May we be allowed to proceed, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Proceed, Counsel. Mr. Cuevas. Now, I noticed that appearing on the last page, more specifically Exhibit 117 for the Defense, Your Honor, is a signature over the typewritten name Araceli C. Bayuga, SS Chief, Judicial Staff Officer, Cash, Collection and Disbursement Division, FMBO. Kindly examine the same and tell us whose signature is that. Ms. Bayuga. This is mine. Sa akin po itong pirma. Mr. Cuevas. All right. Now, I also noticed that at the left-hand bottom portion of Exhibit 117 is a signature appearing over and above the typewritten name Corazon G. Ferrer Flores, Deputy Clerk of Court and Chief Fiscal Management and Budget Office. Will you kindly tell the Honorable Court whose signature is that? Ms. Bayuga. This is the signature of my chief, immediate chief, Your Honor. Mr. Cuevas. Namely? Ms. Bayuga. Her name is Corazon G. Ferrer Flores.
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Mr. Cuevas. Why do you know that that is the signature of Corazon G. Ferrer Flores? Ms. Bayuga. She is my boss for so many years. Mr. Cuevas. And how many times have you seen her affix her signature similar to this one? Ms. Bayuga. Daily, Your Honor. Mr. Cuevas. Daily. Now, kindly go over Exhibit 114 and tell us about the entries therein appearing more specially under the item Salaries. Ms. Bayuga. The salaries of the Chief Justice for 2002 is P353,000.45; for 2003, P485,100; for 2004, P485,100; for 2005, P485,100; for 2006, P485,100 for 2007, P508,248.72; for 2008, P627,763.20; for 2009, P625,653.90; for 2010, P650,447.23; and for 2011, P1,147,301.77 amounting to P5,872,859.82. Mr. Cuevas. Thank you. Kindly go to Exhibit 117 which is the fourth page of this certification. Now, in there, there is a total amount appearing under Calendar Year 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011. Now, there appears in here a total amount in the sum of P21,636,781.45. Is that right? Ms. Bayuga. Yes, Sir. Mr. Cuevas. Now, kindly tell the Honorable Court what is the source of these figures that you have stated in these exhibits, Exhibits 1 to 117. Saan po galing ito? Ms. Bayuga. The nature of payment are the following: salaries, longevity pay, PERA, ADCOM, representation allowance and transportation allowance, extraordinary and miscellaneous expense allowance, monthly special allowance under Republic Act No. 9227, additional cost of living allowancethat is the JDF, productivity incentive benefit, clothing allowance, year-end bonus and cash gift, loyalty cash award, extraordinary and miscellaneous expense allowance from Presidential Electoral Tribunal, monthly expense allowance from Presidential Electoral Tribunal, and fringe benefit and other allowances, such as emergency economic assistance, anniversary bonus, productivity enhancement benefit, Christmas cash gift, additional Christmas cash gift, year-end cash gift, fringe benefit, rice allowance, groceries as fringe benefit, additional fringe benefit, Christmas allowance and PET Christmas allowance. Mr. Cuevas. Now, I direct your attention to the figure reading P21,636,781.45 which I request, Your Honor, to be encircled and marked as Exhibit 117-A. The Presiding Officer. Mark it accordingly. Mr. Cuevas. Where did you get this total amount? Saan po ninyo kinuha o saan nanggaling iyon? Ms. Bayuga. I reviewed and evaluated all the paid payrolls pertaining to salaries, allowances and other benefits received by the honorable Chief Justice from 2002 up to 2011. Mr. Cuevas. Now, do you now swear under oath as to the correctness, accuracy and truth of the entries appearing in these Exhibits 114, 115, 116 up to 117? Ms. Bayuga. Yes, Your Honor. Mr. Cuevas. Do you also swear as to the truth of the correctness of the figure reading P21,636,781.45?
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Ms. Bayuga. Yes, Your Honor.
Mr. Cuevas. Now, a little earlier or a couple of weeks before, we requested for the production of payrolls in your possession, more specifically those covering that of the honorable Chief Justice Corona. Do you have them with you now? Ms. Bayuga. I do not have them with me. Mr. Cuevas. Why? Kindly tell the Court. Ms. Bayuga. It is too voluminous. Napakarami po ng paid payrolls para po madala namin sa ngayon. Mr. Cuevas. In other words, if that is so, what do these figures appearing in Exhibits 114, 115, 116 and 117 represent or cover? Ms. Bayuga. I reviewed and evaluated all the paid payrolls, Your Honor, to certify as to correctness of the amount stated in the Certification. Mr. Cuevas. But the payrolls that you mentioned which are rather voluminous and too cumbersome to be brought before this Court, in whose possession are they? Ms. Bayuga. In my possession, Your Honor. Mr. Cuevas. And your possession dates back from when up to when? Ms. Bayuga. From the time I joined the Court up to present. Mr. Cuevas. Meaning, from what year up to what year? Ms. Bayuga. From 1973 up to present. Mr. Cuevas. Now, in your examination of entries appearing in these payrolls which you mentioned a while ago, were you at any time assisted by any of your employee in your division? Ms. Bayuga. No, Your Honor. Mr. Cuevas. Meaning you did it alone? Ms. Bayuga. Yes, Your Honor. Mr. Cuevas. Now, during the introduction of the evidence for the Prosecution, mention had been made that there had been no alpha list covering the Chief Justice from the year 2002, 2003, 2004 up to 2005. My question to you now is, do you have this claimed alpha list in your possession now? Mr. Hernandez. Objection, Your Honor. The Witness will be incompetent. She enumerated all her duties and functions and the taking care of the alpha lists or supervising the reporting of such alpha list was not one of the duties which she mentioned. The Presiding Officer. Are you in possession of the alpha list, Madam, of the Supreme Court? Ms. Bayuga. Yes, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Do you have anything to do with this preparation? Ms. Bayuga. Yes, Your Honor.
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The Presiding Officer. All right. Let the witness answer. Mr. Cuevas. In fact, it is mentioned as one of her functions, Your Honor. Do you have them with you now? I am sorry. Ms. Bayuga. Yes, Your Honor. Mr. Cuevas. Will you kindly bring it out for the information and examination by the Honorable Court? Witness handing to this representation, Your Honor, the alleged filed copies. Alin po ba, ito? Ms. Bayuga. Yes, Your Honor. Mr. Cuevas. Sige po. Ms. Bayuga. The certified xerox copies of the alpha list from 2002 up to 2005. Mr. Cuevas. Can you dispense with this? Ms. Bayuga. No, Your Honor. Mr. Cuevas. We will just request, Your Honor, that we be permitted to have them marked and make the substitution later because these are copies which formed part of the official records of the Supreme Court. But in the meanwhile, to gain time, we will just mark them. The Presiding Officer. Would there be any objection on the part of the Prosecution to have those copies copied? Mr. Hernandez. We have no objection to having those documents reproduced. We would like a copy for purposes of our cross-examination. Mr. Cuevas. We will give you a copy as of today, Your Honor. Our only purpose is to preserve this as part of the official records of the honorable Supreme Court. The Presiding Officer. So, proceed. Mr. Cuevas. Now, how about for 2003, do you have it with you? Ms. Bayuga. Yes, Your Honor. Mr. Cuevas. Witness handing over to this representation, Your Honor, the 2003 BIR year-end report on compensation. How about for 2004? Witness handing, Your Honor, to this representation the 2004 BIR year-end report. The Presiding Officer. Para malinaw, Ginang Witness, sabihin mo lamang kapag sinabi iyong taon kung meron o wala para makumpleto ang record natin. Mr. Cuevas. Iyon pong 2005, meron po ba o wala? Ms. Bayuga. Meron po. Mr. Cuevas. Meron po. All right.
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Ms. Bayuga. 2005.
Mr. Cuevas. Witness handing to this representation, Your Honor, the 2005 BIR year-end report on compensation. Now, we request, Your Honor, that these documents identified by the Witness in todays proceedings be marked as follows: First, the 2002 BIR year-end report be marked as Exhibit 118, Your Honor The Presiding Officer. Mark it accordingly. Mr. Cuevas. which is made up of five (5) pages. The BIR year-end report, Your Honor, dated 2003 on compensation, consisting likewise of six (6) pages be marked as Exhibit 119. The Presiding Officer. Mark it accordingly. Mr. Cuevas. The 2004 year-end report on compensation, consisting likewise of several pages, Your Honor, be marked as Exhibit 120. The Presiding Officer. Mark it accordingly. Mr. Cuevas. And the BIR 2005 year-end report identified by the Witness, consisting of five (5) pages be marked as Exhibit.... Now, will you kindly tell the.... The Presiding Officer. Mark as what? What exhibit is that? Mr. Cuevas. These are from Exhibits 118 up to 120, Your Honor. We have taken the liberty of earlier marking them for convenience, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. All right. Mark them accordingly. Mr. Cuevas. And we are adopting the same markings, Your Honor, for identification purposes Exhibits 118 to 121. Now, kindly go over this stamp mark appearing at the right-hand margin on page 2 of Exhibit 118, which is accompanied by a signature appearing over a typewritten name Araceli C. Bayuga, January 31, 2003, and tell the Honorable Court what is that stamp mark there? Ms. Bayuga. It was duly received by the Bureau of Internal Revenue. Mr. Cuevas. Witness referring to the stamp markpakibasa po ninyo, for the record. Ms. Bayuga. Revenue Region No. VI, Revenue District No. 33, Intramuros, Malate, Ermita Area, received January 31, 2003. Mr. Cuevas. Thank you. Now, likewise, may I be allowed to direct your attention to a rubber stamp impression appearing on the second page of this Exhibit 119, bearing the date January 30, 2004. Kindly go over it and tell us how that happened to be there, if you know. Ms. Bayuga. For 2003, our alpha list was received by the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Revenue Region No. VI, Revenue District No. 33, Intramuros, Manila, received on January 30, 2004.
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Mr. Cuevas. Thank you. Likewise, may I be allowed to direct your attention to a rubber stamp impression appearing on the second page of Exhibit 120, bearing the date January 28, 2005. Kindly go over the same, examine it, and tell the Honorable Court how that rubber stamp impression happened to be there, if you know. Ms. Bayuga. For 2004, our alpha list was received by the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Revenue Region No. VI, Revenue District No. 33, Intramuros, Malate, Ermita, Port Area, dated January 28, 2005. Mr. Cuevas. Thank you. Now, likewise may I be permitted to direct your attention to another rubber stamp impression appearing on the second page of Exhibit 121, dated January 30, 2006. Kindly go over the same and tell the Honorable Court, if you know, how that rubber stamp impression happened to be there. Ms. Bayuga. For 2005 alpha list of the Supreme Court, it was received by the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Revenue Region No. VI, Revenue District No. 33, Intramuros, Malate, Ermita, Port Area, dated January 30, 2006. Mr. Cuevas. Now, you mentioned that all these rubber stamp impressions belong to the BIR. Ms. Bayuga. Yes, Your Honor. Mr. Cuevas. How do you know that? Ms. Bayuga. I was the one who... Mr. Cuevas. Sabihin po ninyo nang malakas, hindi kayo madinig.
Ms. Bayuga. I was the one who brought the alpha list to the Bureau of Internal Revenue. Mr. Cuevas. Why is it necessary that they be brought to the BIR? Bakit po kinailangang dalhin iyan sa BIR? Ms. Bayuga. Under revenue regulations, we have to submit the annual alpha list wherein the names of the officials and employees of the court from whom taxes were withheld were stated. The Presiding Officer. Ginang Witness, iyan bang alpha list ang withholding tax ng mga empleyado ng Korte Suprema? Ms. Bayuga. Yes, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Pati ang mga Mahistrado? Ms. Bayuga. Including the honorable Justices and officials of the Court. The Presiding Officer. Lahat ng opisyales at empleyado ng Korte Suprema? Ms. Bayuga. Yes, Your Honor. Mr. Cuevas. That will be all with the witness, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Okay, Prosecution, cross-examination? Mr. Hernandez. Your Honor, may we request that we be allowed to go over the documents and conduct our cross-examination tomorrow? This is the first time that we are seeing these documents and they are fine lines, Sir.
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The Presiding Officer. Motion granted. Mr. Cuevas. No objection, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Granted.
Mr. Cuevas. We will just request that we have this xerox-copied, so we can retain the original, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Yes. Mr. Cuevas. Thank you, Your Honor. Representative Barzaga. manifestation. May the Prosecution, Your Honor, be permitted to make a
The Presiding Officer. Proceed. Representative Barzaga. Actually, Your Honor, this is already day 28 of the trial. And along the days that we have been conducting hearings certain procedures have already been set up. And insofar as the marking of the documentary evidence is concerned, it has been the order of the Presiding Officer that the pre-marking should be made in the morning in order not to waste the time of the Honorable Court. And therefore, we appeal to the Defense that insofar as the other documentary evidence to be presented by them, we suggest that what has been the mandate of this Court be observed. After all, that was the procedure which we followed and we expect also that the Defense would comply in the same manner that we did in the course of the presentation of our documentary evidence. The Presiding Officer. All right. Mr. Cuevas. May we be allowed to make a comment? The Presiding Officer. Do you have any further statement? Representative Barzaga. Well, actually, this rule is actually embodied in the records of the proceedings, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Yes, we understand that. Mr. Cuevas. Your Honor please, we were made to understand that the purpose behind this rule is to expedite. So, notwithstanding the fact that the witness was seen by us only this afternoon, we have arrogated unto ourselves the marking so that we can move on expeditiously. And there is no diminution of the time allowed to the Prosecution, Your Honor. I do not see any reason how they could have been prejudiced. The Presiding Officer. That is correct. Mr. Cuevas. But we will do that if we have time. Representative Barzaga. Just a brief rejoinder, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Yes, please. Representative Barzaga. Well, aside from the employee of the Supreme Court, the Defense also requested for the issuance of subpoena insofar as the City Assessor of Taguig is concerned.
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The City Assessor was present as early as ten oclock in the morning. The Counsel for the Prosecution was also present. Unfortunately, no marking of the documentary evidence subpoenaed was made on account of the absence or non-presence of the Defense Counsel. Mr. Cuevas. What is your point? I do not understand. Representative Barzaga. Well, my manifestation is very simple. The request for.... The Presiding Officer. Wait a minute. The City Assessor of Taguig was subpoenaed upon the request of the Prosecution? Representative Barzaga. Upon the request of the Defense, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Well, we do not know whether they want to present him, this city assessor or not. So, let us wait until they present the city assessor. Representative Barzaga. The presumption of the Prosecution, Your Honor, is that as long as a request for subpoena was made by the Defense, our presumption is that the person subpoenaed, together with the documents will be presented.... The Presiding Officer. That is correct. But we cannot control their presentation of their evidence. They may change their mind not to present him. Representative Barzaga. We submit, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Okay. Let us not quibble about these minor details. This will not affect your case either way. So, proceed. Mr. Cuevas. Your Honor please, they are requesting for a deferment of the cross-examination allegedly to be able to examine the documents identified. We have no objection. The Presiding Officer. We already ruled. We allow them to make their cross-examination tomorrow. Do you have another witness, Counsel? Mr. Cuevas. Okay then, Your Honor, may we request that the Witness on this stand, Mrs. Bayuga, be temporarily excused. The Presiding Officer. Madam Witness, you are temporarily discharge. Please come back to this Court tomorrow at two oclock in the afternoon. Mr. Cuevas. Thank you, Your Honor. Ms. Bayuga. Thank you, Your Honor. Mr. Cuevas. If it will not be asking too much, Your Honor, may we request only one minute suspension. The Presiding Officer. One long minute suspension. The trial was suspended at 3:15 p.m. At 3:21 p.m., the trial was resumed. The Presiding Officer. Trial resumed. Proceed. Mr. Cuevas. Mr. Demetrio.
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The Presiding Officer. Who is your next witness? Please put him on the witness stand and swear him. Senator Pangilinan. Mr. President. The Presiding Officer. The gentleman from Pampanga. Senator Pangilinan. Yes, Mr. President, just a clarification. Would there be other Supreme Court employees who will be testifying today? The Presiding Officer. I do not know. Senator Pangilinan. May the Defense Counsel... Mr. Cuevas. As of today, none, Your Honor. Senator Pangilinan. So this next witness is not from the Supreme Court? Mr. Cuevas. He is not from the Supreme Court, Your Honor. Senator Pangilinan. Mr. President, may I just make a manifestation before we proceed with the next witness? The Presiding Officer. Yes. Senator Pangilinan. Mr. President, earlier it was a witness from the Supreme Court that came before us. I would like to stress I have no issue with the Defense. My issue is with the Supreme Court. I was told that the previous witness was subpoenaed and, therefore, Attorney Bayuga was here on the strength of a subpoena. Previously, a court process server was likewise subpoenaed by this Court. Yet, the Supreme Court refused to honor the subpoena, and, therefore, the witness did not appear. Mr. President, my concern here is, we now have a situation wherein the Supreme Court decides when it will honor our subpoena and when it will ignore our subpoena. Again, this is not an issue between whether it is for the Defense or the Prosecution, Mr. President. This is an issue between this Impeachment Court which has the sole power to try and decide impeachment cases and the Supreme Court which is an institution that is held accountable by this Impeachment Court. The only check on the possible excesses of the Supreme Court is in this Impeachment Court. My fear is, now, the only check is now being checked by the entity that is supposed to be checked. I do not wish for any ruling, Mr. President. At this point, I am just making this manifestation and, hopefully, we may be able to find a solution. Because again, we will be calling the Supreme Court employee or she will return tomorrow, Mr. President, if the Supreme Court allows. The Presiding Officer. Well, I guess when the time comes for a rebuttal evidence that the Prosecution would want to ask any of the employees of the Supreme Court to appear, then we will equally issue a subpoena and thresh out that problem at the proper time. Mr. Cuevas. In this connection, along this line, Your Honor, may we be permitted only one minute. The Presiding Officer. Yes, please proceed.
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Mr. Cuevas. We have here a copy of the Resolution referred to February 14, 2012, Your Honor. And it provides, among other things, last portion, In sum, Philippine law, rules and regulations prohibit the disclosure of confidential or privileged information under well-defined rules. At the most basic level and subject to the principle of committee, members of the court, the court officials, employees may not be compelled to testify on matters that are part of internal deliberation and actions of the court in the exercise of their adjudicatory functions and duties while testimony on matters external to their adjudicatory functions and duties may be compelled by compulsory processes, Your Honor. I am just reading from the The Presiding Officer. At any rate, I was informed by the Office of the Legal Counsel that Ms. Bayuga was also subpoenaed on February 1st upon the request of the Prosecution. And she complied. She appeared here on February 1st in response to the subpoena issued to her. Maybe the matter that was the subject of her examination today, as well as then, are not considered confidential by the Supreme Court. So, proceed. The Clerk of Court. Mr. Witness, pakitaas po ang kanang kamay. Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth in these impeachment proceedings? Witness. Yes. The Clerk of Court. So help you God. Mr. Cuevas. With the kind permission of the Honorable Court. Pakisabi po ninyo ang inyong pangalan, edad. Mr. Vicente. I am Demetrio C. Vicente. I am 70 years old. Mr. Cuevas. Binata pa ho kayo o may asawa? Mr. Vicente. Meron na ho, isa lang.
The Presiding Officer. What is the purpose of this witness? Mr. Cuevas. This Witness, Your Honor, is being presented to prove the existence of the sale in his favor by seven (7) parcels of land formerly in the name of Mrs. Ma. Cristina Roco Corona. With the kind permission of the Honorable Court. Kilala ho ba ninyo si Ginang Ma. Cristina Roco-Corona? Mr. Vicente. Oho, kilala ko ho dahil siya ang unang binilhan ko ng lupa.
Mr. Cuevas. Ito ho ba iyong maybahay ng kagalang-galang na Unang Hukom ng Kataastaasang Hukuman ng ating Republika? Mr. Vicente. Oho, iyan, siya ho.
Mr. Cuevas. Siya si Chief Justice Corona. Mr. Vicente. Oho.
Mr. Cuevas. Now, sinabi po ninyo sa Kagalang-galang na Hukuman na kaya ninyo siya nakilala sapagkat nakabili kayo ng lupa sa kanya, tama ho ba iyon?
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Mr. Vicente. Oho.
Mr. Cuevas. All right. Ano po itong lupa na nabili ninyo sa kanya? Mr. Vicente. Sa Marikina Heights. Mrs. Cristina Roco-Corona. Doon ho ako nakabili ng lupa na pag-aari ni
Mr. Cuevas. Kelan po iyang pagkakabili ninyo ng lupa na ang nagmamay-ari ay si Ma. Cristina Roco-Corona, kelan po iyon? Mr. Vicente. Ang tanda ko mga 1990, maybe July 1990.
Mr. Cuevas. Iyon ho bang binilhan ninyo ng lupa ni Mrs. Corona ay naka-dokumento o may papel? Mr. Vicente. Meron ho akong Absolute Deed of Sale. Mr. Cuevas. Now, ilan pong parcel ng lupa ang nabili niyo kay Mrs. Corona? Mr. Vicente. Pito ho, pito.
Mr. Cuevas. Pito. The Presiding Officer. Pitong ano po, pitong? Mr. Vicente. Parcel of land. The Presiding Officer. Pitong ektarya? Mr. Vicente. Pitong metro kuwadrado. Pitong titulo. Mr. Cuevas. Pitong titulo? Mr. Vicente. Opo. The Presiding Officer. Pitong titulo? Mr. Vicente. Opo. The Presiding Officer. Ah. Mr. Cuevas. May we be allowed to proceed, Your Honor? The Presiding Officer. Proceed, Counsel. Mr. Cuevas. Thank you, Your Honor. Now, I am showing to youipinakikita ko po sa inyo ang kopya ng Deed of Sale which had earlier been marked as Exhibit 54 for the Defense, consisting of six (6) pages including the various certifications appearing therein. Will you kindly go over the same, examine it and tell the Honorable Court what connection or relation? The Witness is going over the document. Pakitingnan niyo nga po iyan. The Witness going over the same. Ipinakikita ko po sa inyo ang dokumento na iyan na binubuo ng anim na pahina, paki-tingnan ninyo, sabihin ninyo sa Kagalang-galang na Hukuman na ito kung ano ang relasyon niyan doon sa dokumento ng bilihan ninyo ni Mrs. Corona.
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Mr. Vicente. Ito ho ang Absolute Deed of Sale of property na binili ko kay Mrs. Corona. Mr. Cuevas. Salamat po. The Presiding Officer. Ano bang petsa iyang dokumento na iyan? Mr. Cuevas. Ano raw po ang petsa? Mr. Vicente. July 20, 1990 po. The Presiding Officer. July 20, 1990, notaryado? Mr. Vicente. Opo. The Presiding Officer. O sige. Mr. Cuevas. Now, I noticed that on page 1 of this document is a signature which apparently reads D. Vicente, kindly go over the same and tell us whose signature is that? Pakitingnan po ninyo. Mr. Vicente. This is my signature. Mr. Cuevas. We request, Your Honor, that the signature referred to by the Witness be underlined or encircled and marked as Exhibit 54-A. The Presiding Officer. Mark it accordingly. The document has already been marked? Mr. Cuevas. Yes, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. All right. Mr. Cuevas. It had been earlier marked as Exhibit 54 for the Defense, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Okay. Noted. Mr. Cuevas. May I stand corrected, Your Honor. This should be 54-B, Your Honor, because we already have 54-A. The Presiding Officer. All right. Correct the records and place the correct marking. Mr. Cuevas. Now, kindly go over the other pages of this document of sale and examine the signature therein reading D. Vicente. Kanino pong pirma po ito? Mr. Vicente. That is my signature. Mr. Cuevas. Witness, referring to a signature appearing on the left hand margin of page 3, Your Honor, which we request to be marked as Exhibit 54-C. Likewise, on page 4 is another signature reading D. Vicente, kanino pong signature? Mr. Vicente. Akin hong signature iyan. Mr. Cuevas. All right. We request, Your Honor, that the said signature identified by the Witness be marked as Exhibit 54-D. Thank you. The Presiding Officer. Mark them accordingly.
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Mr. Cuevas. Now, likewise, on page 5 is a signature appearing over and above the typewritten name Demetrio C. Vicente, Vendee, will you kindly tell the Honorable Court whose signature is that? Mr. Vicente. This is my signature. Mr. Cuevas. All right. We request, Your Honor, that the signature identified by the Witness to be his be marked as Exhibit 54-E. Thank you. Now, may I also direct your attention The Presiding Officer. Mark it accordingly. Mr. Cuevas. to a signature appearing over a typewritten name Cristina R. Corona, Vendor. Whose signature is that? Kanino pong signature iyon? Mr. Vicente. Signature ho nung seller, ni Ma. Cristina Roco Corona. Mr. Cuevas. Yung sinasabi niyo kanina na maybahay ng kagalang-galang na Chief Justice Corona? Mr. Vicente. Totoo po yon.
Mr. Cuevas. Thank you. Now, will you kindly examine the entries appearing under one TCT No. N97119 which is Lot 13-A PSD-13-189. Napansin ho ba ninyo yan? Mr. Vicente. Opo, opo. Yes, Sir.
Mr. Cuevas. Now, likewise, under TCT No. 97120 is a statement or entry reading, A portion of Lot 13-A, napansin ho ba ninyo iyon? Mr. Vicente. Mr. Cuevas. Opo. Alin po yung Lot-13? Alin po iyon, kung alam ninyo?
Mr. Vicente. Yung second lot po Mr. Cuevas. Ilakas po ninyo, hindi kayo nadidinig.
Mr. Vicente. Second lot from the whole seven lots. Mr. Cuevas. All right. Now, yun pong under TCT No. 97122 is another parcel which is Lot No. 13-A-3. Yun ho ba ayano po iyon? Mr. Vicente. Yun po yung isa pang titulo na referring to. Mr. Cuevas. Mr. Vicente. Lot No. 3? Lot No. 3.
Mr. Cuevas. Okay, thank you. Likewise, appearing under TCT No. N97122 is a parcel described as Lot 13-A-4. Alin po yang lote na yan? Mr. Vicente. That pertains to No. 4 lot.
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Mr. Cuevas. Likewise, under No. 5, TCT No. N97123 is a parcel of land described as Lot 13-A-5. Alin po yang lote na yan? Mr. Vicente. Yan ang No. 5 na lote.
Mr. Cuevas. Again, may I call your attention to No. 6 which is covered by TCT No. 97124, a parcel of land denominated as Lot No. 13-A-6. Alin po yan? Mr. Vicente. Yan yung No. 6 na lote.
Mr. Cuevas. Doon po sa susunod, yung ika-pito, TCT No. 97125 is a parcel of land denominated as Lot 13-A-7. Alin po yun? Mr. Vicente. Iyan po ang pang-pitong lote.
Mr. Cuevas. Now, sinasabi ninyo na itong mga lote na ito, Lote No. A-1 up to A-6 are portion of a bigger lot. What is that? Alin po yung bigger lot na yan na tinutukoy ninyo? Mr. Vicente. Yan yung mother Mr. Cuevas. Pakilakas ninyo.
Mr. Vicente. Yan yung mother title nung buong lote na nabili ko. Mr. Cuevas. Ibig ninyong sabihinliwanagin ninyo, hindi po kayo maintindihan ni
Mr. Vicente. Isang lote ho yan na binili ko, mother title, kasama na ho iyon doon, yung loteng iyan, subdivided nung ibinigay sa akin. Mr. Cuevas. Isang buong lote na subdivided into seven lots. Mr. Vicente. Seven lots, opo. Mr. Cuevas. Sino po ang nag-subdivide niyan into different lots, Lots A, 13-A, so on and so on down the line. Mr. Vicente. Noong makuha ko yan, si Cristina Roco ang nag-subdivide niyan into seven (7) lots. Mr. Cuevas. Siya po. Siya po ang nag-subdivide? Ganoon ho ba ang ibig ninyong sabihin? Mr. Vicente. No, ang ibig sabihin, noong ibigay sa akin yung title, pito. But as far as the Marikina City Assessors Office is concerned, isa lang ho ang title diyan pero hindi pa naita-transfer sa kanila yung pito. Yung mother title lang ang nandoon. Mr. Cuevas. Ano po ang ibig ninyong sabihin na mother title lang ang nandoon? Paliwanag nga ninyo sa kagalang-galang na Hukuman. Mr. Vicente. Yung pinanggalingan ho nung pitong maliliit na lote. The Presiding Officer. Yun bang kabuuan... Mr. Cuevas. Pakinggan ninyo. Mr. Vicente. Kabuuan ho noong mother title. The Presiding Officer. Sandali lang po, sandali lang.
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Mr. Cuevas. Pakinggan ninyo. Pakinggan ninyo.
The Presiding Officer. Yuon pong kabuuan nung lupa na sumasakop nung pitong lote ay may titulo iyon? Mr. Cuevas. Sa pito ho. Mr. Vicente. Opo. The Presiding Officer. At sa kaninong pangalan yung titulo? Mr. Vicente. Kay Mrs. Cristina Roco-Corona. The Presiding Officer. Ngayon, yung titulo na iyon ay pina-subdivide yung lupa na sinasakop nung titulo na iyon. Mr. Vicente. Opo. The Presiding Officer. Sino ang nagpa-subdivide? Mr. Vicente. Si Mrs. Corona ho. The Presiding Officer. At dahil nga doon sa subdivision na ginawa, naging pitong lote. Mr. Vicente. Tama po iyon.
The Presiding Officer. At iyong dating titulo, nakansela at binigyan ng ibat-ibang titulo yung mga lote na bumubuo doon sa dating titulo. Mr. Vicente. Tama po iyon. The Presiding Officer. Gng. Cristina Corona. Mr. Vicente. Opo. The Presiding Officer. O sige. Mr. Cuevas. All right. Now, again I go back to Lot 13-A-1 which is covered by TCT No. N97119 and it states, 200 squares meters, tama ho bais that correct? Mr. Vicente. Tama ho iyon, tama ho iyon. At iyan ang pitong parsela ng lupa na ipinagbili sa inyo ni
Mr. Cuevas. Now, Lot No. 13-A-2, which is TCT No.covered by TCT No. 97120 consists of 200 square meters, tama po ba iyon? Mr. Vicente. Tama po iyon. Mr. Cuevas. All right. Now, again may I direct your attention to TCT No. 97121 and it states it contains an areathe lot therein described contain an area of 280 square meters, tama po iyon? Mr. Vicente. Tama po iyon. Mr. Cuevas. All right. Now, TCT No. 97122, which covers Lot No. 13-A-4 consists of 225 square meters, tama po iyon? Mr. Vicente. Tama po iyon.
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Mr. Cuevas. Thank you. Iyon pong Lot No. 13-A-5, which is covered by TCT No. 97123 consists of 232 square meters, tama ho ba iyon? Mr. Vicente. Tama ho iyon. Mr. Cuevas. All right. Now, on the other hand, Lot No. 13-A-6, which is covered by TCT No. 97124 consists of 255 square meters, pakitingnan nga po ninyo. Tingnan ninyo kung tama iyon. Mr. Vicente. Tama ho iyon, tama. Mr. Cuevas. Tama po. Thank you. Now, on the other hand, Lot No. 13-A-7, which is covered by TCT No. 97125, consists of 327 andno, no, I am sorry, 327 and 95 square metersand 95 square decimeters, is that correct? Mr. Vicente. Tama ho iyon. Mr. Cuevas. All right. Now, this contract refers to a sale of seven (7) parcels of properties. Mr. Vicente. Oho. Mr. Cuevas. Teka muna, wala pa hong tanong. How much was paid by you for the purchase of the seven parcels from Mrs. Corona? Mr. Vicente. I paid P509,900 something. Mr. Cuevas. Sige po. Hindi kayo nadidinig. Nine hundredMr. Vicente. Nine hundred eighty-nine something. Mr. Cuevas. For the entire seven parcels. Mr. Vicente. For the entire property. Oo. Mr. Cuevas. All right. Now The Presiding Officer. pitong titulo? Sandali lang. Ilang metro kuadrado iyong kabuuan nung
Mr. Vicente. It has a total area of 1,700. The Presiding Officer. Five thousand? Mr. Vicente. 1,700 square meters po. The Presiding Officer. 1,700 square meters. Magkano per square meter ang presyo sa inyo? Mr. Vicente. Nakalimutan ko na po, pero iyon ho ang binayaran ko. The Presiding Officer. Pero ang total purchase price niyan P900.... Mr. Vicente. P509,989. The Presiding Officer. Sige. Thank you. Mr. Cuevas. Sa likod po ng document of sale na ito are several entries referring to payment of capital gains, confirmation receipt and amount of documentary stamp tax. Kindly go over the same, examine it and tell the Honorable Court what does that represent. Ano po ang sinasaklaw niyan?
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Mr. Vicente. Ang sinasaklaw po dito nabayaran na ang capital gains, documentary stamp at.... Mr. Cuevas. Sino po ang nagbayad niyan? Mr. Vicente. Si Mrs. Cristina Roco-Corona. Mr. Cuevas. Lahat-lahat. Mr. Vicente. Lahat na ho iyan. Mr. Cuevas. Kanino po itong mga titulo na nakalagay dito? The Presiding Officer. Sandali lamang. Doon sa P509,000 na gross price noong pitong parsela, inawas doon ang capital gains tax, ganoon ba? Mr. Vicente. Hindi ho. Siya ho ang nagbayad noon. The Presiding Officer. Kaya nga. Pero saan niya kinuha iyong ibinayad, doon sa ibinayad sa iyo o.... Mr. Vicente. Binayaran ko na ho iyong lahat na halaga noong lote. The Presiding Officer. Iyong ibinayad mo sa kanya, doon inawas iyong buwis? Mr. Vicente. Opo. The Presiding Officer. Iyon. Mr. Cuevas. Since these are real properties, will you kindly tell the Honorable Court who has been paying the real estate tax? Iyon pong amilyar, sino po ang nagbabayad? Mr. Vicente. Ako ang nagbabayad ng amilyar dahil akin na po iyong property. Mr. Cuevas. Kailan pa po kayo simulang nagbayad ng amilyar covering these properties? Mr. Vicente. From the time I got these properties, 1990. Mr. Cuevas. All right. What documents can you show to this Honorable Court attesting to the fact that you have been paying the real estate tax? Ano po ang dokumento ninyo? Mr. Vicente. Mayroon po akong mga resibo dito. Mr. Cuevas. The Witness is going over his envelope containing the said receipts. The Presiding Officer. Just a minute, Counsel. What is the purpose of this line of examination? Anyway, that was property sold already by Mrs. Corona. Mr. Cuevas. The purpose, Your Honor, is to show that the sale is a genuine deed of sale between the seller and the buyer. So that any and all obligations which should be shouldered by the buyer is being shouldered by this Witness, Your Honor. In other words, it is not merely a make-believe transaction. It is an honest-to-goodness transaction. The Presiding Officer. I do not think there is an issue about that. So, anyway, go ahead. Mr. Cuevas. The Witness, Your Honor, is presenting to this representation the latest payment covered by Official Real Property Tax Receipt No. 070134, received from/paid by Demetrio Vicente.
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Mr. Vicente. That is the latest payment for the year. Mr. Cuevas. We will request, Your Honor, that this document identified by the Witness be marked as Exhibit 122. Thank you. The Presiding Officer. Mark it accordingly. By the way, may I ask this question from the Prosecution. Are you disputing the validity of this transaction, where seven (7) parcels of land were sold by Cristina Corona to Mr. Vicente? Mr. Justiniano. Yes, Your Honor, there is an issue with respect to this transaction. And that will be pointed out during our cross-examination. The Presiding Officer. All right. Go ahead. Mr. Cuevas. Thank you. Sa ngayon po kanino naka-rehistro sa Register of Deeds itong pitong parsela na ito na sinasabi ninyo sa Kagalang-galang na Hukuman na binili ninyo kay Ma. Cristina Roco-Corona? The Presiding Officer. I think the title would show Counsel that fact, is it not? Mr. Justiniano. The best evidence, Your Honor, is the title. The Presiding Officer. Well, anyway, the Witness may answer in order not to delay the proceedings. Mr. Cuevas. May we now proceed, Your Honor? The Presiding Officer. Proceed. Mr. Cuevas. Now, I have here seven (7) xerox copies of Transfer Certificate of Title, more specially TCT No. 9719; TCT No. N-97120; TCT No. 97121 which had been marked as Exhibit JJ. May I go back. TCT No. 97120 which had been marked as Exhibit II and TCT No. 9719 as Exhibit HH, Your Honor. TCT No. 97121 which had earlier been marked as Exhibit JJ. Likewise, TCT No. 97122 which had earlier been marked as Exhibit KK; TCT No. 97123 which had been marked as LL; TCT No. 97124 which has been marked earlier as Exhibit MM and Exhibit NN which is TCT No. 97125. I notice that the name of the registered owner as appearing in here is still Ma. Cristina M. Corona married to Renato C. Corona, in all these titles. Teka muna, sabihin nga ninyo sa Husgado kung bakit nabili na ninyo itong properties na ito eh ang titulo nasa pangalan pa ni Mrs. Corona? Mr. Vicente. Hindi ko po naitra-transfer sa pangalan ko iyong mga titulo. Mr. Cuevas. Bakit nga po ninyo hindi pa nililipat sa pangalan ninyo ang titulo? Mr. Vicente. Eh kasi po iyong mismong lote na iyan nagpatayo po ako ng bahay. Naubos po doon iyong pera hindi pa nga po tapos hanggang ngayon. Mr. Cuevas. Hindi kayo madinig, liwanagan po ninyo. Mr. Vicente. Pagpasensiyahan ninyo na po ako dahil nai-stroke po ako kaya medyo bulol po ang pagsasalita ko.
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Mr. Cuevas. O sige dahan-dahan po lang. Huwag kayong magalit. [Laughter] Mr. Vicente. Ay hindi po. Mr. Cuevas. Sige po. Mr. Vicente. Kaya po hindi ko nai-rehistro sa pangalan ko gawa ng nawalan ako ng pera na mai-transfer sa pangalan ko dahil nagpagawa po ako ng bahay doon kaya doon na ako nakatira ngayon. Mr. Cuevas. Doon po sa pitong lote na iyon? Mr. Vicente. Doon sa dulo po. Mr. Cuevas. Eh iyon pong ibang lote? Mr. Vicente. Nandoon bakante po. Mr. Cuevas. Sa ngayon? Mr. Vicente. Opo. Mr. Cuevas. Wala pong nakatirik doon? Walang nakatira? Mr. Vicente. Wala po, wala. Mr. Cuevas. Sino po ang nangangasiwa ng pitong lote na iyan ngayon o namamahala? Mr. Vicente. May bakod po iyon. Ako mismo ang nangangasiwa nung lote. Mr. Cuevas. Ano po ang pakialam, kung mayroon, si Mrs. Corona diyan sa pitong lote na iyan na ipinagbili sa inyo? Mr. Vicente. Wala na po siyang pakialam dahil hindi na po sa kanya iyon. Akin na iyon dahil mayroon akong Deed of Sale. Mr. Cuevas. Salamat po. That will be all with the Witness, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. All right. Cross-examination? Mr. Justiniano. With the permission of the Honorable Court. The Presiding Officer. Proceed. Mr. Justiniano. Mr. Vicente, ang sabi po dito sa Deed of Sale ay binili ninyo ng halagang P509,985.00. Papaano po ba ito binayaran, cash or tseke? Mr. Vicente. Binayaran ko po iyan ng managers check. Mr. Justiniano. Managers check. Saan po kayo nagkabayaran? Saang lugar? Mr. Vicente. Doon po sa bahay niya sa may Loyola. Mr. Justiniano. Sa may Loyola. Mr. Vicente. Opo. Mr. Justiniano. Sino po ang kaharap noong kayo ay nagkabayaran?
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Mr. Vicente. Wala na po, bastat inabot ko sa kanya iyong tseke in the name of Cristina Roco-Corona. Mr. Justiniano. Ito pong Deed of Sale na ito na prinisenta sa inyo ni Justice Cuevas, sino po ba ang gumawa nito? Ah, sorry. I stand corrected. Sino po ba ang gumawa nitong Deed of Sale na ito? Mr. Vicente. Iyan po ay naka-prepare na iyang Deed of Sale na iyan noong mabayaran ko. Mr. Justiniano. Hindi po ninyo alam kung sino ang nag-prepare nito, sino ang nag-draft? Mr. Vicente. Ang abogado po. Mr. Justiniano. Hindi ninyo kilala? Mr. Vicente. Hindi ko kilala pero humarap po ako, nag-oath-taking ako roon sa abogado. Mr. Justiniano. A, nag-oath-taking po kayo. Mr. Vicente. Pirma ko po iyon. Mr. Justiniano. Opo. Hindi ko po sinasabing hindi ninyo pirma iyan. Napuna ko po dito, Mr. Vicente, na kayo, bilang buyer, at si Mrs. Cristina Corona, ay parehong taga Quezon City? Hindi po ba tama iyan? Mr. Vicente. Opo. Mr. Justiniano. Napuna ko rin po dito na itong dokumentong ito ay ninotaryo sa Makati. Mr. Vicente. Opo. Mr. Justiniano. Ano po ba ang dahilan? Wala po bang notaryo doon sa Quezon City? Mr. Vicente. Hindi po. Nagpunta po kami doon sa Makati. Hindi ko nga po matandaan ngayon. Mr. Vicente. Oo nga po. Ano po ang dahilan at kayo ay nagpunta doon? Mr. Vicente. Para i-notaryo po iyong pirma ko at saka iyong pirma ni Mrs. Corona. Mr. Justiniano. Ang tanong ko po, wala po bang notaryo sa Quezon City? Mr. Vicente. Hindi ko po alam. Wala po akong kilalang abogado roon, eh. Mr. Justiniano. Napuna ko po dito sa Deed of Sale na ito, dito sa page 5, doon sa inyong cedula. Ang cedula ni Mrs. Corona ay kinuha sa Quezon City noong March 7, 1990. Ang cedula ninyo ay kinuha rin sa Quezon City noong March 7, 1990. Mr. Vicente. Opo. Mr. Justiniano. Sabay po ba kayong kumuha ng cedula? Mr. Vicente. Hindi po. It so happened na pareho po ang date, eh. Mr. Justiniano. Ibig po ba ninyong sabihin bago itong Deed of Sale na ito wala pa kayong cedula noon? Mr. Vicente. Wala pa po, eh.
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Mr. Justiniano. Kaya po ba kayo kumuha ng cedula para mapirmahan itong Deed of Sale na ito? Mr. Vicente. Opo. Mr. Justiniano. Ngayon po, Mr. Witness, sabi po ninyo kayo ay nagpunta sa Makati. Mr. Vicente. Opo. Mr. Justiniano. Saan po bang lugar doon sa Makati kayo nagpunta? Mr. Vicente. Hindi ko na po matandaan dahil 22 years ago. Mr. Justiniano. Siguro naman po bata pa kayo noon? Mr. Vicente. Hindi. Ngayon po ay hindi ako napupunta ng Makati. Mr. Justiniano. A, hindi po. Kailan po kayo huling napunta roon? Mr. Vicente. Two years ago. Mr. Justiniano. Two years ago. Saan pong lugar kayo sa Makati nagpunta? Mr. Vicente. Madalas po kami roon, nagba-bike po ako, eh. Mr. Justiniano. Oo nga po. Saan po roon sa Makati? Mr. Vicente. Ayala po. Hindi ko na po.... Mr. Justiniano. Akala ko po ba madalas kayo roon? Ano po ba ang tama? Mr. Vicente. Madalas po ako diyan sa Makati noong araw. Mr. Justiniano. Hindi po ba sabi ninyo kanina two years ago nagpunta kayo roon? Ano po ba talaga ang totoo dito? Mr. Vicente. Ang huli ko pong punta roon two years ago. Mr. Justiniano. Iyon nga po, two years ago. Noong two years ago, saan po kayo sa Makati nagpunta? Mr. Vicente. Ang ibig mo pong sabihin iyong saan kami nagpanotaryo? Mr. Justiniano. Hindi po. Hindi ko po sinasabing.... Huwag po natin pag-usapan iyong notaryo kasi sabi nga po ninyo hindi ninyo matandaan, eh. Mr. Vicente. Kaya nga po, eh. Mr. Justiniano. Saang lugar kayo sa Makati nagpunta noong two years ago po? Iyon po ang pinag-uusapan natin. Mr. Vicente. Ayala-Buendia. Iyon ang mga alam ko. Mr. Justiniano. Ayala-Buendia. Ayala-Buendia? Iyon po bang opisina ng notaryo ay doon din sa
Mr. Vicente. Hindi ko na po matandaan.
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Mr. Justiniano. Ano po ba iyong opisina? Ito po ba ay building, bahay? Mr. Vicente. Building po. Mr. Justiniano. Building. Mga ilang palapag po? Mr. Vicente. Ang Makati po noong araw kaunti lamang ang tao. Araw-araw po akong nagdadaan diyan. Mr. Justiniano. Ang tanong ko po sa inyo, iyong building, mga ilan pong palapag? Mr. Vicente. Hindi ko na rin po matandaan, eh. Mr. Justiniano. Matatandaan ba ninyo kung anoground floor, second floor, third floor? Mr. Vicente. Ground floor ho siguro iyon. Mr. Justiniano. Ah, ground floor. Ano po iyongito bang opisina ng abogado, may katabi po ba ito? Mr. Vicente. Mukhang hindi ko matandaan. Mr. Justiniano. Napuna ko din dito, dito sa Deed of Sale na ito, may dalawang testigo. Ito pong unang testigo kilala ho ba ninyo siya? Ito pong nasa bandang kaliwa. Eh kung gusto po ninyo, tingnan po muna ninyo para hindi kayo malito. Mr. Vicente. Hindi ko ho kilala iyon, eh. Mr. Justiniano. Ah, hindi ninyo kilala. Mr. Vicente. Hindi ko kilala iyon eh. Iyong isa kilala ko. Mr. Justiniano. Ang isa po. Di ba ang isang testigo mismong si Chief Justice Renato Corona? Mr. Vicente. Kilala ko ho iyan. Mr. Justiniano. Yan, tama. Pero iyong isa hindi ninyo kilala? Hindi ba puwedehindi rin kayo kilala noong isang testigo na iyon na hindi ninyo kilala? Mr. Vicente. Aywan ko ho. Mr. Justiniano. Mr. Vicente, napuna ko po iyong middle initial ninyo ay letter C, ano po ang ibig sabihin niyan? Mr. Vicente. Coronado. Mr. Justiniano. Ah, Coronado. Abay kayo ba ay kamag-anak ni Chief Justice Corona kasi po ang kanyang ina ay Coronado ang apelyido? Mr. Vicente. First cousin ho ng Nanay ko iyan. Mr. Justiniano. Ayon, iyon pala. Kayo ay may relasyon, ganoon po. Sabi po ninyo kaninainamin ninyoiyong titulo noong bahay ay nasa pangalan pa rin ni Mrs. Corona, totoo po ba iyon? Mr. Vicente. Tama po iyon.
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Mr. Justiniano. Sabi po ninyo kaya hindi ninyo naipalipat ay dahil nagpagawa kayo ng bahay? Mr. Vicente. Opo. Mr. Justiniano. Magkano po ba ang nagastos ninyo doon sa pagpapagawa ninyo ng bahay? Mr. Vicente. At that time ho iyong sobra noong pinagbilhan ng bahay sa Quezon City, nailagay ko sa lote at saka sa improvement ng bahay. Mr. Justiniano. Kayo po badoon sa pagpapalipat ng titulo nagtanong po ba kayo kahit kayo, Magkano ba ang estimate na magagastos kung ipalilipat sa inyo ang titulo? Mr. Vicente. Eh, ang alam ko ho babayad ako ng transfer tax at saka documentary stamp. Mr. Justiniano. Oo nga po. May idea po ba kayo kung magkano inyo ibabayad at hindi ninyo naipalipat sa pangalan ninyo ang titulo? Mr. Vicente. namin, eh. Hindi dahil trusted ko ho iyong pinagbilhan ko dahil kamag-anak ho
Mr. Justiniano. Ah, kamag-anak. Kaya hindi ninyo pinalipat dahil kamag-anak ninyo si Chief Justice Corona, ganoon po ba ang dahilan? Mr. Vicente. Opo. Actually, second cousin ko ho iyan, eh. Mr. Justiniano. Ah, ganoon po. Iyon pong tax declaration, kanino po bang pangalan ito naroroon ngayon? Mr. Vicente. Iyan po ay nasa pangalan ni Cristina Corona. Mr. Justiniano. Hindi rin po ninyo pinalipat ang tax declaration sa pangalan ninyo ito, hindi po ba totoo iyon? Mr. Vicente. Hindi, iyong mga later part. Sinabi ko sa Assessors Office, ipinakita ko iyong Deed of Sale, Akin yan. Mr. Justiniano. Hindi nga po, ang tanong sa inyo iyong tax declaration. Sa ngayon po, na kaninong pangalan ang tax declaration? Mr. Vicente. Ang tax declaration ho na kay ano pa, na kay Mrs. Corona. Mr. Justiniano. Eh bakit naman po hindi ninyo ipinalipat sa pangalan ninyo, hindi na nga ninyo napalipat ang titulo at pati tax declaration hindi pa rin ipalilipat? Mr. Vicente. Iyong mga ibang mga titulo since 2010 ay sabi ko nga doon noong ipinakita ko ang Deed of Sale na, Sa akin na yan. Mr. Justiniano. Ang tanong ko po sa inyo, bakit hindi ninyo ipinalipat ang tax declaration sa pangalan ninyo? Iyon po ang tanong. Mr. Vicente. E, hindi ko na ho naisip iyon palipat wala pa naman sa akin iyong ano, e. Mr. Justiniano. Hindi po ba bilang pagmamay-ari, hindi po ba ninyo naisip na ang katibayan ng pagmamay-ari ng isang lupain ay ang titulo? Mr. Vicente. Opo.
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Mr. Justiniano. Alam po ninyo iyan? Mr. Vicente. Opo. The Presiding Officer. Just a minute, Counsel. Let the Witness finish the answer so that the record will not be garbled. Mr. Justiniano. I am sorry po, Your Honor, medyo na napapabilis po tayo ng salita. The Presiding Officer. Do not be excited. Mr. Justiniano. Ngayon, wala na nga po sa pangalan ninyo iyong titulo, hindi rin po ba ninyo naisip na wala na nga sa pangalan ko ang titulo ay dito man lang sa tax declaration, mailagay sa pangalan ko. Hindi po ba ninyo naisip iyon? Mr. Vicente. Marunong ho akong mag-isip pero nasa akin ang Absolute Deed of Sale, eh tama na ho iyon. Mr. Justiniano. Ganoon po. Dahil na sa inyo ang Absolute Deed of Sale sa tingin ninyo, tama na po iyon? Mr. Vicente. Sa aking palagay ho, ganoon. The Presiding Officer. Mr. Vicente. Mr. Vicente. Yes, Sir. The Presiding Officer. Kayo po ba ay may mga anak? Mr. Vicente. Isa lang ho. The Presiding Officer. Wala? Mr. Vicente. Sa asawa ko, isa lang. The Presiding Officer. Hindi, tinatanong ko kung may mga anak kayo. Mayroon ba kayong mga anak? Mr. Vicente. Isa lang ho. The Presiding Officer. Isa. Buhay pa? Mr. Vicente. Oho, nagtatrabaho ho. The Presiding Officer. O sige. Mr. Justiniano. Puwede na po ba akong magpatuloy, Mr. President? The Presiding Officer. Patuloy, patuloy. Mr. Justiniano. Ito pong sa likod ng Deed of Sale, mayroon po ditong nakalagay na bayad naman po iyong documentary stamp, ito po puwede po bang pakibasa ninyo? Mr. Vicente. Opo. Mr. Justiniano. Eh wala po sigurong dahilan para hindi ninyo maipalipat sa pangalan ninyo ang titulo. Bayad na po pala naman. Sabi ninyo kanina hindi, wala kayong pera, iyan po bayad eh.
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Mr. Vicente. Hindi ho, pag sa transfer niyan, babayaran ko pa uli, saka iyong documentary stamp, babayaran ko pa rin. Mr. Justiniano. Ito nga po, bayad na nga daw sinasabi dito. Ayan po, puwede po bang pakibasa ninyo? Mr. Cuevas. Your Honor, please, I hate to object, Your Honor, but the Counsel now is arguing with the Witness? The Presiding Officer. What is the ground of the objection? Mr. Cuevas. Argumentative, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. No, he is testing the credibility of the Witness. May answer. Mr. Justiniano. Puwede po bang pakibasa lang ninyo, ito po iyon... Mr. Vicente. Documentary stamp, paid. Mr. Justiniano. Ayun nga po, paid. Di po ba ibig sabihin niyan bayad? Mr. Vicente. Capital gains, paid. Mr. Justiniano. O bayad din po. Mr. Vicente. Hindi ko makita iyong kwan eh. Mr. Justiniano. Ganoon nga po, ang sabi po ninyo kanina, kaya ninyo hindi... The Presiding Officer. Ano ang sagot ng Witness? Mr. Justiniano. Ano po ba ang sagot, bayad din? Mr. Vicente. Bayad na rin ho. Mr. Justiniano. Bayad na rin iyon. So maliwanag po, documentary stamp, bayad, capital gains, bayad. Ngayon ang sinasabi ninyo kanina ay kaya hindi ninyo maipalipat, wala kayong pera dahil nagpagawa kayo ng bahay. Ngayon po, kung bayad na, hindi po ba wala nang dahilan para mailipat sa inyo ang titulo ng lupa? Mr. Vicente. Hindi, mayroon pa ho akong babayaran diyan eh. Mr. Justiniano. Ano po iyong... Mr. Vicente. Iyong transfer tax. Mr. Justiniano. Alam po ba ninyo kung magkano iyong transfer tax? Mr. Vicente. Hindi nga ho alam pero nagtanong ako malaki rin daw ho iyon. Mr. Justiniano. Magkano po ang sinabi sa inyo? Mr. Vicente. Hindi ko na ho matandaan. Mr. Justiniano. Mr. Witness, hawak ko po ang isang sertipikasyon, na ito po ay may selyo ng Regional Trial Court, National Capital Judicial Region, City of Makati na issued po ito ni Atty. Ma.
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Corazon Cecilia H. Pineda, Clerk of Court VI, at ito po ay sertipikasyon. Binayaran po namin ito as shown by Official Receipt No. 1408567, dated February 21, 2012. Ang sinasabi po dito sa sertipikasyon na ito at babasahin ko pa sa inyo: This is to certify that in accordance with the records of this office, a certain Ma. Beatriz S. Montoya has never been commissioned by this court as notary public for and in the City of Makati. Ang tanong ko po sa inyo: Hindi po ba iyong nakalagay sa dokumento na inyong pinirmahan ang nag-notaryo ay si Atty. Ma. Beatriz S. Montoya, ah Mantoya. Pakitingnan po ninyo. Eh ano po ang masasabi ninyo? Sabi po ng sertipikasyon na ito ay fake daw namang notaryo ito eh, hindi daw nagingnever pong na-komisyong notaryo. Mr. Cuevas. It is not binding on the Witness, Your Honor. He is not a signatory to the said document. The Presiding Officer. Well, that is a certification certifying that the notary public appearing on the document is not a licensed notary public of Makati. Mr. Justiniano. Has never been, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. So, the Witness may answer. Mr. Vicente. Hindi ko ho alam iyon. Mr. Justiniano. Ah, hindi po ninyo alam. Eh ngayon pong nalaman ninyo, hindi po ba kayo nagpa-plano na imbestigahin kung ito ba ay tunay na notaryo o hindi? Mr. Vicente. Ngayon ko lamang ho nalaman iyon. Mr. Justiniano. Ngayon, ano pong plano ninyo na alam na po ninyo ngayon? Mr. Vicente. Puwede ko hong idemanda iyan. [Laughter]
Mr. Justiniano. Heto po, balikan natin iyong pagkaka-notaryo. Sino ho ba ang nagdala sa inyo doon sa tao, kay Attorney Montoya na iyan, kung totoo man na siya ay notaryo? Sino po ang nagdala sa inyo doon? Mr. Vicente. Kasama ko ho diyan iyong seller, si Mrs. Corona. Mr. Justiniano. Si Mrs. Corona. Eh, si Chief Justice po, kasama din? Mr. Vicente. Hindi ho. Mr. Justiniano. Ah, hindi po kasama? Mr. Vicente. Kasama ho kasi siya ang pumirma. Mr. Justiniano. Ah, hindi ko naman ho kayo lilituhin. Your Honor, may I request that this certification datedthe certification issued on February 21, 2012 be marked as our Exhibit 0000000000. And may I request, Your Honor, that the Official Receipt dated February 21.... The Presiding Officer. What did you mark, the previous document? Mr. Justiniano. This is the certification, Your Honor.
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The Presiding Officer. You want it marked what? Mr. Justiniano. Ten O, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Mark it accordingly for the Prosecution. Mr. Justiniano. Can I continue, Your Honor?
Mr. Vicente, natatandaan po ba ninyo kung kailan kayo nagpunta dito sa sinasabing notaryo? Ano pong petsa? Mr. Vicente. 1990, July. Mr. Justiniano. July? Anong oras po kayo nagpunta sa kaniya? Umaga, tanghali? Mr. Vicente. Umaga ho, umaga. Mr. Justiniano. I have no more cross, Your Honor. May I just request that the Official Receipt dated February 21, 2012 be marked as our.... The Presiding Officer. What is the date of the notary? Mr. Justiniano. The notarization is July 26, 1990, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Can you check whether that date is a business day or a holiday? Mr. Justiniano. Thursday, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Thursday. Mr. Cuevas. May we state for the record, Your Honor, that the certification is to the effect that: This is to certify that in accordance with the records of this office, a certain Ma. Beatriz S. Montoya has never been commissioned by this Court as Notary Public for the City of Manila... Makati. I am sorry. The Presiding Officer. Proceed. Mr. Justiniano. Mr. Witness, I am showing to you a certified xerox copy issued by Ricardo L. Castro, City Treasurer of Marikina, for the year March 18, 2010, showing that the official real property tax receipt was paid by Corona, Maria Cristina R. Ang ibig sabihin po ba nito ay hanggang March 18, 2010, ang nagbabayad ng amilyar ay si Mrs. Cristina Corona? Mr. Vicente. Ako po ang nagbabayad niyan since 1990. Mr. Justiniano. Since 1990. Mr. Vicente. Opo, noong makuha ko na yung property. Mr. Justiniano. Mayroon po ba kayong mga resibo na katunayan kayo ay nagbabayad? Sige po, kayo na po ang pumili ng ano. Inyo pong records yan, eh. Mr. Vicente. Eto po. Mr. Justiniano. Eto po. Witness handing to this representation Official Real Property Tax, dated September 14, 2001.
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Mr. Witness, ang sinasabi po dito doon sa received from Maria R. Corona, hindi po ba ibig sabihin noon ang nagbayad ay si Maria Cristina R. Corona? Kasi sabi nga, received from. Mr. Vicente. Hindi po. Abay hindi ko pa po naitra-transfer sa pangalan ko yan, kaya nandoon pa rin sa pangalan niya. Mr. Justiniano. Ah, ang ibig po ninyong sabihin yong pera sa inyong bulsa nanggagaling Mr. Vicente. Opo, opo. Mr. Justiniano. pero ang resibo ay sa pangalan ni Mrs. Corona. Mr. Vicente. Tama po iyon. Mr. Justiniano. Ah, ganun po ba yon. No more cross, Your Honor. Iyan ay hindi na po kailangan. Sinagot na po ninyo. Salamat po. The Presiding Officer. Are you through, Counsel? Mr. Justiniano. Yes, Your Honor. No more question on cross-examination. The Presiding Officer. Any redirect? Counsel for the Defense, any redirect? Mr. Cuevas. Yes, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Proceed. Mr. Cuevas. A while ago, you identified this Official Real Property Tax Receipt No. 0770134, and it states; Received from, paid by Demetrio Vicente. Kindly go over the same and tell us who is that Demetrio Vicente mentioned in this. Sino po yang Demetrio Vicente mentioned in this? Mr. Vicente. Ako po iyan. Mr. Cuevas. All right. Sinasabi ninyo kanina na kayo ang nagbabayad....Now, may we request, Your Honor, that this tax receipt carrying the entry paid by Demetrio Vicente, OR No. 0770134 be marked as Exhibit.... The Presiding Officer. What date is that? For what year was that receipt? Mr. Cuevas. March 12, Your Honor, 1-2, 2012. The Presiding Officer. Mark it accordingly. Mr. Cuevas. Exhibit 122, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. March 12, 2012. Mr. Cuevas. Correct, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Only recently. Mr. Cuevas. Yes, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. All right, mark it accordingly. Mr. Cuevas. Now, likewise, I am showing to you an Official Real Property Tax Receipt No. 0770133 which states, Received from Demetrio Vicente. Now kindly go over the same and tell us who made the payment stated therein.
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Mr. Vicente. I made the payment. Mr. Cuevas. Demetrio? Mr. Vicente. Demetrio C. Vicente. Mr. Cuevas. Sino po iyong Demetrio C. Vicente? Mr. Vicente. That is me, Your Honor. Mr. Cuevas. Okay. The Presiding Officer. For what year is that? Mr. Cuevas. March 12, 2012, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Also this year? Mr. Cuevas. Yes, Your Honor.
The Presiding Officer. All right, mark it. Is that the same document as the previous one? Mr. Cuevas. No, Your Honor, that is what I was about to ask the Witness. What is this tax payment here? What does it cover? Ano po ang sinasaklaw ng pagbabayad ng tax na iyan? Mr. Vicente. This pertains to the property I bought from Cristina Mr. Cuevas. Hindi. Alin po dito, dahil dalawa ho iyan, eh. Iyong isa. Mr. Vicente. Iyong isa ho, iyong una kay Miriam Roco. Akin din ho iyan, eh. [Pause] Mr. Cuevas. Now, you mentioned about Miriam Roco. Ano po ang kinalaman ng Miriam Roco na iyan sa property na binabayaran ninyo ng real estate tax? Mr. Vicente. Iyong lote ko ho 1,700 ang nabili ko kay Mrs. Roco. Ngayon iyong kapatid niya Miriam, binili ko rin iyong 1,700 property. Kaya I am staying on a 3,400-square meter property. Kaya ho nawalan ako ng pera. Mr. Cuevas. Now, kindly go over this Statement of Account in the name of Miriam Roco but paid by Demetrio Vicente in the total amount of P12,749.60. Kindly go over the same and tell the Honorable Court what relation has this with the alleged payment you made covering the property you purchased from Miriam Roco. Mr. Vicente. This particular property which I paid pertains to another 1,700-square meter property beside the other property which I bought from Cristina Roco. This is from Miriam Roco. Mr. Cuevas. Now, we request, Your Honor, that this document identified by the Witness be marked as Exhibit 123, Your Honor, for the Defense. The Presiding Officer. Mark it accordingly. Mr. Cuevas. Kindly go over this Statement of Account which is Account No. 55816 carrying the name Demetrio Vicente and tell us what relation has this with the alleged payment of real estate tax you have made to the City of Marikina. Mr. Vicente. Ito po iyong 1,700 square meter na binili ko kay Mrs. Cristina Roco.
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Mr. Cuevas. Sino po iyong Maria Cristina Roco na iyon? Ano ang relasyon niya kay CristinaMiriam? .... Mr. Vicente. Kapatid po iyan ni Miriam Roco. Mr. Cuevas. Ano po ito ni Chief Justice Corona? Mr. Vicente. Iyan po ang sister-in-law. Mr. Cuevas. Okay. Again, I am showing to you a document you handed to me which is Official Receipt No. 0750707 dated January 13, 2012 which states Received from Vicente, Demetrio. Kindly go over the same and tell us who is the Vicente, Demetrio referred to? Sino po iyan? Mr. Vicente. Ako po si Demetrio Vicente. This pertains to the property, the improvement where I am staying now. Mr. Cuevas. Likewise in the lot you bought from Mrs. Corona? Mr. Vicente. Yes. Yes, Sir. Mr. Cuevas. All right. Thank you. We request, Your Honor, that this document identified by the Witness be marked as Exhibit 125 for the Defense. The Presiding Officer. Mark it accordingly. Is that for the seven (7) lots? Is that for the seven (7) parcels? Mr. Vicente. Yes, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Is that for the seven (7) parcels? Mr. Vicente. Sir, this is for the eight (8) parcels of land. The Presiding Officer. Hindi, seven parcels ang binili mo kay.... Mr. Vicente. Iyong binili ko kay Mrs. Corona, seven. The Presiding Officer. Kaya nga. Mr. Vicente. Iyong isa binili ko rin kay Miriam na one (1) lot. The Presiding Officer. Oo, pero dalawang resibo. Mr. Vicente. Dalawa ho. The Presiding Officer. Iyong isang resibo para doon sa pitong lote. Mr. Vicente. Opo. The Presiding Officer. Iyong isang resibo para doon kay Miriam. Mr. Vicente. Opo. The Presiding Officer. Itong pitong lote nagbayad ka ng amilyar noong 2012. Mr. Vicente. Opo, for the whole year. The Presiding Officer. For the full year.
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Mr. Vicente. Yes, Sir. The Presiding Officer. What year? Mr. Vicente. 2012. The Presiding Officer. Iyong 2011? Mr. Vicente. Bayad na ho. The Presiding Officer. Sino ang nagbayad? Mr. Vicente. Ako po. The Presiding Officer. 2010, sino ang nagbayad? Mr. Vicente. Ako rin po. The Presiding Officer. 2009? Mr. Vicente. Ako rin po. The Presiding Officer. 2008? Mr. Vicente. Ako rin po. The Presiding Officer. 2007? Mr. Vicente. Ako rin. The Presiding Officer. 2006? Mr. Vicente. Ako rin po. The Presiding Officer. 2005? Mr. Vicente. Ako rin po. The Presiding Officer. 1990 mo binili hanggang sa.... Mr. Vicente. Sa second quarter ako na po ang nagbayad. The Presiding Officer. Second quarter ng anong taon? Mr. Vicente. 1990....third and fourth quarter of 1990.
The Presiding Officer. Kailan inilipat ng City Assessors Office? Ito ba ay sa Marikina? Mr. Vicente. Opo. The Presiding Officer. Ang tax declaration from Mrs. Roco sa inyo? Mr. Vicente. Hindi pa po na-i-transfer. The Presiding Officer. Hindi, dahil dati-rati si Mrs. Cristina Roco-Corona ang nagbabayad noong amilyar nung pitong lote. Mr. Vicente. Opo, noong sa kaniya po ang lote. Nung ibinigay na sa akin iyong Absolute Deed of Sale ako na po ang nagbayad noon.
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The Presiding Officer. Inilipat sa iyo iyong tax declaration? Mr. Vicente. Hindi pa po eh as far as the Assessors Office.... The Presiding Officer. Hindi ka puwedeng magbayad ng amilyar kung hindi ilipat sa iyo iyong tax declaration. Mr. Vicente. Nagbabayad po ako pero sa pangalan niya. The Presiding Officer. Ah, sa pangalan niya. Ikaw ang nagbabayad sa pangalan niya? Mr. Vicente. Opo, nakalagay po dito sa resibo: Paid by Demetrio Vicente. The Presiding Officer. O, sige. Pero ang resibo na kay Cristina Corona? Mr. Vicente. Opo. The Presiding Officer. Ang tax declaration na kay Cristina Corona? Mr. Vicente. Opo. The Presiding Officer. Okay. Mr. Cuevas. May we proceed, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Proceed. Mr. Cuevas. All right. Now, allow me to show you another official real property tax receipt dated....covered Official Receipt No. 0682010 and under Account No. 1238007. Kindly go over the same and tell us who is this Vicente, Demetrio. Mr. Vicente. Ako po iyan, ako po iyan. Mr. Cuevas. What does that represent? Ano po iyang resibo na iyan? Anong date iyan? Mr. Vicente. Ito po iyong lote na binili ko kay Mrs. Corona, because at that time P41,000 po ang ibinayad ko diyan because wala pa po diyan ang 15% deduction because of the Ondoy tragedy. Mr. Cuevas. We will request, Your Honor, that this document identified by the Witness be marked as Exhibit 126 for the Defense. The Presiding Officer. Mark it accordingly. Mr. Cuevas. We request, Your Honor, that this document identified by the witness which is O.R. No. 062010 be marked as Exhibit 126 for the Defense, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Mark it accordingly. Mr. Cuevas. Again, I am showing to you another document labeled statement of account in the name of Vicente, Demetrio C., Account No. 123807, period covered January 2001 to December 2010. Kindly go over the same and tell us whether you know that document. Tingnan po ninyo iyan at sabihin ninyo kung kilala ninyo ang dokumentong iyan. Mr. Vicente. Ito po ay iyong nasa pangalan kong statement of account dated March 20, 2010. Mr. Cuevas. Covering the period January 2001 to December 2010. All right. Now, ano pong kinalaman nito sa sinasabi ninyong pagbabayad ninyo ng buwis?
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Mr. Vicente. Iyan po iyong binabayaran kong buwis for that particular period. Mr. Cuevas. Alin po iyong property na binabayaran ninyo dito? Witness going over the same, Your Honor. Mr. Vicente. Ito po iyong lupa na binili ko kay Mrs. Corona. Mr. Cuevas. I see. Now,.... The Presiding Officer. Kaninong tax declaration iyong lupa? Mr. Cuevas. Kanino raw pong tax declaration iyong lupa? Tinatanong kayo ng Husgado. Mr. Vicente. Sa akin pong pangalan iyong statement of account. The Presiding Officer. Oo, pero iyong tax declaration, kanino? Mr. Vicente. Nasa pangalan pa rin noon ni Mrs. Corona. The Presiding Officer. Sino ang nag-i-issue nung statement of account sa inyo na pagbayaran ninyo iyong....? Mr. Vicente. Office of the City Treasurer of Marikina. The Presiding Officer. Office of the City Treasurer? Mr. Vicente. Opo. The Presiding Officer. Hindi City Assessor? Mr. Vicente. Hindi po. Mr. Cuevas. If we are allowed to intervene, I will just read for the record, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Go ahead. Mr. Cuevas. It states, Your Honor, Statement of account, bill date March 18, 2010, period covered January 1 to December 2010, Office of the City Treasurer, Real Property Tax Division. That is the entry contained in here, Your Honor. Now, what is this amount due which appears to be P65,268.34? Anong dokumento ito? Anong exhibit ito? We will request, Your Honor, that this document identified by the Witness be marked as Exhibit 127. The Presiding Officer. You know, there is some confusion here, and the Court would like to understand. Why is it that the City Treasurers Office consider Mr. Vicente as the one responsible for taxes on properties that are declared for tax purposes by Mrs. Cristina Corona? Mr. Cuevas. In the document identified by the Witness, no mention about Cristina Corona, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Okay, proceed.
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Mr. Cuevas. Iyan pong nakalagay diyan, P65,268.34, sino po ang nagbayad niyan? Mr. Vicente. Mr. Cuevas. Binayaran ko po iyan. Kanino ninyo binayaran iyang halaga na iyan?
Mr. Vicente. Sa City Treasurers Office. Mr. Cuevas. Bakit kayo nagbayad ng halagang P65,268.34?
Mr. Vicente. Akin na po iyang lote na iyan, eh. Mr. Cuevas. Sinasabi ninyong inyo na pero wala sa inyo ang titulo, wala sa inyo ang tax declaration, ano ang ibig ninyong sabihin? Mr. Vicente. Nasa akin ho ang titulo niyan at saka Absolute Deed of Sale. Mr. Cuevas. Ito ba iyong galing kay Mrs. Corona?
Mr. Vicente. Opo. The Presiding Officer. Naka-rehistro na ba iyang titulo na iyan sa pangalan ninyo?
Mr. Vicente. Hindi po. Hindi po naka-rehistro sa pangalan ko iyan. Mr. Cuevas. May we be allowed to continue, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Continue, continue. I am just asking for coffee. Mr. Cuevas. May I direct your attention or call your attention to an Official Receipt No. 0628338 dated March 24, 2009. Now, the declared owner here is one Vicente, Demetrio and the account number is 123807. Kindly examine it and tell us whether you know the Demetrio Vicente, declared owner mentioned in here. Pakitingnan po ninyo. Mr. Vicente. Sa akin po iyan, pangalan ko iyan, and this is a receipt. Mr. Cuevas. Receipt in the amount of? Mr. Vicente. P6,238.68. Mr. Cuevas. This appears to be or this is labelled Official Real Property Tax receipt. How did it happen that the receipt is in you name when, according to you, this is not yet declared in your name? Paano po nangyari na kayo ang nagbabayad, nasa pangalan ninyo iyong pagbabayad, samantalang hindi naman declared... Mr. Vicente. Ipinakita ko iyong Absolute Deed of Sale ng property nasa pangalan ko. Kaya as far as the Treasurers Office is concerned, doon nila nilalagay ang pangalan ko. Mr. Cuevas. Hindi kayo madinig, hindi po kayo nadidinig. Ulitin po ninyo.
Mr. Vicente. Sa akin ho ang pangalan na iyan kasi ipinakita ko ho iyong Absolute Deed of Sale na nasa pangalan ko, na ako ang buyer ng property. Mr. Cuevas. Was there any instance where you have appeared before the City Assessors Office for purposes of declaring this property in your name? Mayroon na ho bang ganoon? Mr. Vicente. Opo. Nakausap ko po iyong Assessors Office na chief na sinabi ko, ipinakita ko iyong Deed of Sale ko, kaya nai-transfer sa pangalan ko.
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Mr. Cuevas. Kailan po iyon?
Mr. Vicente. During this time, 2009. Mr. Cuevas. 2009.
Mr. Vicente. Opo. Mr. Cuevas. Again, may we request, Your Honor, that the document identified by the Witness be marked as Exhibit 128 for the Defense. The Presiding Officer. Mark it accordingly. Mr. Cuevas. Again, I show you.... The Presiding Officer. Sandali lamang, Mr. Vicente. Will you kindly fix the sound system? [Addressed to the Secretariat] Senator Honasan. Mr. President. The Presiding Officer. The Majority Leader is recognized. Senator Honasan. Mr. President, in order to fix the sound system, may we move for a 15- minute suspension. The Presiding Officer. All right, trial suspended. The trial was suspended at 4:41 p.m. At 5:16 p.m., the trial was resumed. The Presiding Officer. The impeachment trial is resumed. Continue with the examination of the Witness. Mr. Cuevas. With the permission of the Honorable Court, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Proceed. Mr. Cuevas. Now, I am showing to you a bunch of receipts for your examination and perusal. Kindly tell the Honorable Court whether you know these receipts. Ipinakikita ko sa inyo ang maraming resibo, pakitingnan ninyo at sabihin ninyo sa Husgado, sa Kagalang-galang na Hukuman, kung kilala ninyo o alam ninyo ang mga resibo na iyan. The Witness is examining the same. Mr. Vicente. Kilala ko po. Iyan ang mga resibo na nabayaran ko sa Treasurers Office ng Marikina. The Presiding Officer. For what years are those? Mr. Vicente. For the year 2010, Sir. March 18, 2010. 2001 for Cristina Roco. [Long Pause] Mr. Cuevas. We will request, Your Honor, that the receipts, Official Real Property Tax Receipt, dated 9/14/2001 0192713 in the name of Corona, Ma. Cristina R., in the amount of P8,075, which
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bears a rubber stamp impression paid, be marked Exhibit 129, Your Honor. Likewise, Official Receipt No. 0192712 dated 9/14/2001, under Account No. 55816. The Presiding Officer. Mark them accordingly. And all of these receipts are in the name of Corona, Ma. Cristina? Mr. Cuevas. Ma. Cristina, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. And the payment is for the account of Mr. Vicente? Mr. Vicente. Yes, Your Honor. Mr. Justiniano. Your Honor, may I make a manifestation. The receipt states that Received from Ma. Cristina R. Corona, not from Mr. Vicente. The Presiding Officer. Yes, precisely. So, it is a receipt from Ma. Cristina Roco Corona. Mr. Justiniano. That is correct, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Not for the account of Mr. Vicente. Mr. Justiniano. That is correct, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Okay. And the title of the property still remains in the name of Ma. Cristina Roco Corona. Mr. Justiniano. The receipts, Your Honor, if I may make this manifestation... The Presiding Officer. No, no, I am talking of the title of the property. They are unregistered in the name of Mr. Vicente until now. Mr. Cuevas. That is correct, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Okay. Mr. Justiniano. It is registered under the name of Ma. Cristina Corona, Your Honor, the title. Mr. Cuevas. Where is that statement? The receipt appears to be in the name of Ma. Cristina. But there is no mention of what you have been trying to tell the Court. Mr. Justiniano. That was the question of the Presiding Officer. The Presiding Officer. No, no, let me.... Mr. Cuevas. But there is nothing in here which shows that the title is in the name...we are referring to the receipt. The Presiding Officer. Let me clarify so that there will be no wrangling. All these receipts, real state tax receipts, are from Ma. Cristina C. Roco Corona. Mr. Cuevas. Yes, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. All right. For the account of Mr. Vicente Corona. Mr. Cuevas. No, Your Honor. It states, Account No. 55816 declared owner Corona, Ma. Cristina R., received from Ma. Cristina Corona, Your Honor.
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The Presiding Officer. All right. And until now the titles of these seven (7) parcels are still unregistered in the name of this Witness. Mr. Cuevas. The question is directed to the Witness or to me, Your Honor? The Presiding Officer. Yes, I want a clarification. The title, the TCTs, covering these seven (7) parcels of land. Mr. Cuevas. Lahat daw po ng titulo dito sa pitong lote na ito nasa pangalan ni Mrs. Corona? Mr. Vicente. Opo, up to now. Mr. Cuevas. Yes, Sir. The Presiding Officer. Hanggang ngayon? Mr. Vicente. Hanggang ngayon. The Presiding Officer. Hindi pa nare-rehistro sa pangalan ninyo? Mr. Vicente. Hindi pa po. The Presiding Officer. O sige. All right. It is understood. Mr. Cuevas. I heard you state a while ago that you are a relative of the Coronas, is that right? Mr. Vicente. Yes, Sir. Mr. Cuevas. Who is your relative, the Chief Justice or Mrs. Corona? Mr. Vicente. The Chief Justice. Mr. Cuevas. How did you happen to be the purchaser of this property? Mr. Vicente. Through a broker. Mr. Cuevas. What do you mean broker? Mr. Vicente. A real estate broker because I have a lot of friends in Marikina Heights. I have a lot of friends in Marikina Heights who stay beside this property and they said that that lot is open for sale and they pointed to a broker. Mr. Cuevas. Do you recall the name of the broker? Mr. Vicente. Mrs.... I have forgotten the name of that broker. Mr. Cuevas. But he is a broker of.... Mr. Vicente. Of real estate property. Mr. Cuevas. Who made the offer to you actually? Mr. Vicente. It was the broker who made the offer that this particular lot is for sale. Mr. Cuevas. You are referring to the seven (7) parcels? Mr. Vicente. The whole parcel of land, the one that belongs to Miriam and Cristina Roco.
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Mr. Cuevas. So, you mean, you wanted to tell the Court that this purchase that you made covered two parcels, one belonging to Marina and the other one belonging to Regina? For clarification only. Mr. Vicente. Yes. When I came to know that one parcel is the one that belongs to Miriam, the sister of Cristina, and the other one with seven titles belong to Cristina Corona. Mr. Cuevas. Now, if, as you said, you....By the way, how often have you seen Mrs. Corona prior to the sale? Mr. Vicente. I only saw her twice when I bought the property and paid them in managers check way back in 1990 and the second time I saw her was last January 19 when she called me up and said, Can I borrow the original Deed of Sale of that particular property since it is still under my name? Mr. Cuevas. How about Chief Justice Corona? How often do you meet him? Mr. Vicente. I have not seen him for the past 22 years except last January 19, nor even talked to him on phone. Mr. Cuevas. When was the last time you met him? Mr. Vicente. I met him last January 19. Mr. Cuevas. What year? Mr. Vicente. In 2012 when they went to my place and asked for the original Deed of Sale. Mr. Cuevas. Per the document of sale that you identified, the consideration is something P509,000. Now, how were you able to pay that big amount? What was your source of income at that time? Mr. Vicente. I was able to pay that amount, not only P509,000 but P1.18 million because I bought the two lots. Mr. Cuevas. How were you able to produce that amount which you.... Mr. Vicente. Because I sold my house in Tandang Sora prior to that year, prior to that.... Mr. Cuevas. House only or house and lot? Mr. Vicente. House and lot. Mr. Ceuvas. Now, where in Tandang Sora is that located or situated that house and lot that you sold? Mr. Vicente. In Philand Subdivision. Mr. Cuevas. In? Mr. Vicente. Philand Subdivision. Mr. Cuevas. Magkano po nabili iyon o magkano ninyo naipagbili? Mr. Vicente. I was able to sell it at P3.5 million. Mr. Cuevas. I see. And how were you paid? Papaano po kayo nabayaran?
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Mr. Vicente. I was paid in cash.
Mr. Cuevas. And how did you dispose of that P3 million proceeds of the sale of your Tandang Sora property? Mr. Vicente. That is the time I started looking for a place where I can buy a land and I found out that there is available one in Marikina Heights. So, when I paid the land I started constructing the house and rented a place near that place in Marikina where I stayed for four months. And then after four months, I transferred to that house and see this. Mr. Cuevas. Now, I also recall you having stated that you paid this P509,000.00 purchase price in check, did I get you right? Mr. Vicente. Yes, Sir. Mr. Cuevas. You recall what check was that or which bank? Natatandaan po ba ninyo kung anong bangko iyong tseke na iyon? Mr. Vicente. Hindi ko na po maalaala, eh. Mr. Cuevas. Examining these receipts that you identified which we will ask to be marked later for expediency, Your Honor, why are these parcels still in the name of Ma. Cristina Corona when according to you you are already the owner of this property having purchased the same? Mr. Vicente. For lack of fund dahil nagpapagawa ho ako ng bahay, hindi na honagkaroon ng pagkakataon para mai-transfer sa pangalan ko. Mr. Cuevas. Yes, but that was almost 22 years ago? Mr. Vicente. Kaya nga ho, eh, hindi pa nga tapos iyong bahay ko e nakalipat na ako roon, eh. Mr. Cuevas. Hindi ho, ibig sabihin mayroon ng kulang-kulang mahigit 20 taon ninyo nabili hanggang ngayon hindi pa ninyo naitra-transfer? Mr. Vicente. Hindi. Mr. Justiniano. Objection, Your Honor. I am just wondering if Counsel is impeaching his own witness. Mr. Cuevas. Why impeaching? Mr. Justiniano. With the line of questioning? Mr. Cuevas. We submit, Your Honor. How could it be impeaching? The Presiding Officer. The Counsel is just getting an explanation. Mr. Cuevas. It is a redirect. The Presiding Officer. Come on, proceed. Mr. Cuevas. Now, you stated that you paid in check only you cannot remember which bank check is it? Mr. Vicente. Opo.
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Mr. Cuevas. Likewise, I heard you stated it was a managers check? Mr. Vicente. Yes, Sir. Mr. Cuevas. Going over your records, would you be able to present before this Court any scintilla of evidence covering the said check? Maaari po bang check up-in ninyo iyong record ninyo at tell me if mayroon bakas, halimbawa, xerox copy o kung ano pa man? Mr. Vicente. Wala po dahil ang ano ko ibinigay ko lamang iyong managers check doon sa pinsan ko dahil tiwala ho ako, e. You know why? Because the mother of the Justice is my Ninang in my wedding and then his Ninong is my father during his baptismal. I trust this Justice Rene Corona because he is my kinakapatid. Because his Ninong is my father and his mother is my Ninang in my wedding. Mr. Cuevas. We have here these photocopies of the real property tax receipts, Your Honor, the original of which we are showing to Counsel for the Prosecution for the purpose of giving them the opportunity to determine whether the xerox copies which we ask to be marked are the genuine reproduction of their respective original. We, therefore, request, Your Honor, most respectfully that O.R. No. 067947 be marked as Exhibit 134. The Presiding Officer. Mark it accordingly. Mr. Cuevas. O.R. Receipt No. 4712627 be marked as Exhibit 135. The Presiding Officer. Mark it accordingly. Mr. Cuevas. O.R. Receipt No. 4695440 be marked as Exhibit 136. The Presiding Officer. Mark it accordingly. Mr. Cuevas. O.R. No. 0628337 be marked as Exhibit 137. The Presiding Officer. Mark it accordingly. Mr. Cuevas. O.R. No. 0546929 be marked as Exhibit 138. The Presiding Officer. Mark it accordingly. Mr. Cuevas. Exhibit 140. O.R. No. 0521695 as Exhibit 139. Official Receipt No. 0499523 as
The Presiding Officer. Mark them accordingly. Mr. Cuevas. O.R. Receipt No. 0467344, Your Honor, as Exhibit 141. The Presiding Officer. Mark it accordingly. Mr. Cuevas. O.R. No. 036224 as Exhibit 142, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Mark them accordingly. Mr. Cuevas. O.R. No. 0352886 as Exhibit 143. The Presiding Officer. Mark it accordingly. Mr. Cuevas. O.R. No. 289572 as Exhibit 144, Your Honor.
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The Presiding Officer. Mark it accordingly. Mr. Cuevas. O.R. No. 0289571 as Exhibit 145. The Presiding Officer. Mark it accordingly.
Mr. Cuevas. These are receipts of payment covering which lot, the lot you acquired from Mrs. Corona or from Miriam Roco? Mr. Vicente. From Miriam Roco, Sir. Mr. Cuevas. Iyan, tingnan muna ninyo. The Presiding Officer. Iyan bang lupa na binili mo kay Miriam Roco ay nasa pangalan mo na? Mr. Vicente. Wala pa, Sir, wala pa ho. The Presiding Officer. Iyong titulo, nasa iyo? Mr. Vicente. Nasa akin ho. The Presiding Officer. Pero hindi mo pa rin inililipat sa pangalan mo? Hindi mo pa rin inililipat sa pangalan mo? Mr. Vicente. Hindi pa rin ho. The Presiding Officer. O sige. Mr. Cuevas. May ipinakikita po kayong isang sketch. Ano ho ba ang tinutukoy nito? Ipaliwanag po ninyo sa Kagalang-galang na Hukuman. Mr. Vicente. Ito hong dalawang loteng ito bale with eight (8) titles, doon ko po inilagay ang bahay ko sa dulo. Mr. Cuevas. Ano po itong Lot 13-B? Mr. Vicente. Lot 13-B belongs to Miriam Roco. Mr. Cuevas. I see, opo. Mr. Vicente. And then the seven (7) titles belong to.... Mr. Cuevas. The properties of.... Mr. Vicente. Of Mrs. Cristina Corona. Mr. Cuevas. We will request, Your Honor, that this sketch or graphical representation be marked as Exhibit 146 for the Defense. The Presiding Officer. Mark it accordingly. Mr. Cuevas. With the permission of the Honorable Court, I am showing you again a bunch of xerox copies or photocopies of real estate tax payments. Kindly go over the same and tell us.... The Presiding Officer. I just want to make a clarification, if I may, with the permission of Counsel.
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Iyon bang si Miriam Roco, may asawa? Mr. Vicente. Hindi ko alam, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. May anak? Mr. Vicente. Hindi ko rin alam kung may anak. The reason I bought it is because there is a power of attorney given to the sister, Cristina, empowering her to sell the property. The Presiding Officer. So, it was Cristina Corona who sold that land of Miriam Roco to you? Ganoon ba? Mr. Cuevas. No, he is going over the same. My question is:kindly go over the same. The Presiding Officer. Kaya nga tinatanong ko Mr. Cuevas. I am sorry, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. ang nagbenta sa iyo nung lupa ni Miriam Roco ay si Mrs. Cristina Roco Corona? Mr. Vicente. Yes, Sir. Yes, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Under a power of attorney? Mr. Vicente. Yes, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Ano iyon? Special Power of Attorney? Mr. Vicente. Special Power of Attorney. I can show you the Special Power of Attorney. Mr. Cuevas. Go ahead. Do you have it with you now? Mr. Vicente. I have it with me. Mr. Justiniano. Your Honor, may we know the materiality of this line of questioning because the Deed of Sale only shows that the seller was Ma. Cristina Roco Corona. Nothing was mentioned about Miriam when we are only talking here of the seven (7) lots. Mr. Cuevas. What is the legal basis of the objection? Mr. Justiniano. Immaterial. Mr. Cuevas. If Your Honor please, this is to show the genuineness and The Presiding Officer. Let the Witness answer and you can make a recross. Mr. Cuevas. The Witness, Your Honor, is going over his documents. The Witness, Your Honor, handed to this representation a Special Power of Attorney dated August 10, 1984 purportedly executed by one Miriam B. Roco in favor of Ma. Cristina Roco Corona, which we request to be marked as Exhibit 147. Thank you. The Presiding Officer. Mark it accordingly. Mr. Cuevas. Now, what is this certification dated July 17, 1980? Ano po iyan?
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Mr. Vicente. Ibinigay ho sa akin ito ni Mrs. Cristina Roco to show me that she has the power of attorney for the sale of that particular property of her sister. Mr. Cuevas. I see. We will request, Your Honor, that we be allowed to mark the document identified by the Witness as Exhibit 148 for the Defense, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Mark it accordingly. Mr. Justiniano. Your Honor, may I make this manifestation. When we were presenting our evidence, the Defense was very technical in their objection. This is a document executed in 1984. It has nothing to do whatsoever with the alleged sale of the property, the Marikina property in 1990. I cannot see the relevance, Your Honor. Mr. Cuevas. So, what is your objection? Mr. Justiniano. Irrelevant, immaterial and impertinent. Mr. Cuevas. We submit, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Counsel Mr. Justiniano. That I am not even covered by my cross-examination, Your Honor. I cannot understand when we were presenting, they were objecting left and right. Mr. Cuevas. Because all your questions are objectionable. Mr. Justiniano. No, your questions are also objectionable. The Presiding Officer. (Banging his gavel). Let the Witness answer. I told you already, Counsel for the Prosecution, that is proper for recross. You can ask him additional cross-examination questions, and then you bring all of these things out. For heavens sake. Proceed. Mr. Cuevas. May we request, Your Honor, that the Special Power of Attorney identified by the Witness be marked as Exhibit 147 and the Certification dated July 17, 1990 be marked as Exhibit 148. We will have them xeroxed, Your Honor, and we will request that we be allowed to substitute the same. The Presiding Officer. Mark it accordingly. Wala na? Mr. Cuevas. We are through with the Witness, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. All right, recross. Now, you ask all your questions to clarify all those things that you wanted to object, you are objecting to. Mr. Justiniano. Yes, Your Honor. Mr. Witness, hindi po ba ang pinag-uusapan natin dito ay iyong Deed of Sale. Di umano ang Deed of Sale na di umano ay ibenenta ni Maria Cristina Corona ang kanyang lupa sa Marikina sa inyo noong 1990. Hindi po ba iyon? Mr. Vicente. Opo.
Mr. Justiniano. Eh, paano po nasama itong si Miriam Roco? Mr. Vicente. Kasi, nabili ko nga ho yong lupa, kasi ang inilagay ho....Can I show you this map? Mr. Justiniano. Sige po, sige po.
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Mr. Vicente. Dito ko inilagay ang aking bahay, occupying the Miriam and Cristina property. Mr. Justiniano. So, iyon pong bentahan na iyon ay magkaiba ng dokumento. Ganoon po ba? Mr. Vicente. Magkaiba hong dokumento. Mr. Justiniano. Ngayon po, Mr. Witness, kanina po doon sa redirect examination, may narinig ako sa inyo noong 1990 daw, may isang milyon kayo dahil nagbenta kayo ng property, isang milyon, sa Quezon City. Totoo po ba iyon? Mr. Vicente. Hindi lang isang milyon, tatlot kalahati. Mr. Justiniano. Ah, tatlot kalahating milyon po. Ganon po ba? Mr. Vicente. Opo. Mr. Justiniano. Tatlo at kalahating milyon. Mr. Witness, kanina po noong tinanong ko kayo, sabi ninyo ay, kaya hindi ninyo napalipat sa pangalan ninyo dahil wala kayong pambayad ng transfer tax. Tama po ba yon? Mr. Vicente. Opo. Mr. Justiniano. Eh, may tatlong milyon po kayo noong 1990. Kino-compute po namin ang transfer tax noong 1990, lumalabas po na P2,592.92. Abay paano po ba nangyari yun? May tatlong milyon kayo. Iyong halagang wala pang limang libo ay hindi ninyo mabayaran? Mr. Cuevas. No basis, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. That is proper. Let the Witness answer. Mr. Vicente. Kasi ho, kaya ako naubusan ng pera, nagpatayo ho ako ng bahay. And it cost me so much. Eh, yung gastos ko, yung renta ko sa bahay na inuupahan ko during the construction of my house, hindi ho sumapat. Kaya naubusan ho ako ng pera, pambayad ng transfer. Mr. Justiniano. Hindi po ba totoo noong 1990, nagbayad kayo ng real estate tax na nagkakahalaga din ng P2,000,594.88. Hindi ba totoo yon? Ha? Ano? P2,594.88. Nagbayad kayo ng real estate tax noong taong iyon? Mr. Vicente. Opo. Mr. Justiniano. Ibig po ba niyong sabihin mas una ninyong binayaran yong real estate tax kaysa ipinalipat ninyo sa pangalan ninyo yong titulo ng lupa? Ganoon po ba? Mr. Vicente. Ganoon po ang nangyari dahil I was so busy constructing my house at that time. Mr. Justiniano. Hindi po ba ibig sabihin ay busy din kayo sa pagpapagawa, busy din kayo sa pagbabayad ng real estate tax. Hindi po ba ganun din? Mr. Vicente. Opo.
Mr. Justiniano. Pero nabayaran ninyo ang real estate tax, hindi po ba ganon? Mr. Vicente. Opo. The Presiding Officer. Go ahead.
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Mr. Justiniano. Sabi po ninyo, kayo ay nagpatayo ng building noong 1990, totoo po ba iyon? Mr. Vicente. Mayo itinayo ang building. Mr. Justiniano. Itong building na ito, hindi po ba totoo ay idineklara ninyo for tax purposes? Mr. Vicente. Opo. Mr. Justiniano. Ideneklara ninyo. Ito po meron po akong kopya ng Certified Copy ng Tax Declaration of Real Property Account No. 123807; Tax Declaration No. E-0017-136042, at nakalagay po dito, dito sa bandang baba, may box po diyan, doon sa printed word na building mayroong X, ito po ba ang Tax Declaration ng building ninyo? Mr. Vicente. Opo. Bahay po iyan, bahay. Mr. Justiniano. Ah, bahay. Mr. Vicente. Hindi building. The Presiding Officer. I-clarify ko lang po, Ginoong Witness. Alin ang naunang bentahan? Iyong pitong parcela na lupa ni Maria Cristina Roco Corona o iyong kay Miriam Roco? Mr. Vicente. Sinabay ko po, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Magkasabay? Mr. Vicente. Opo.
The Presiding Officer. Sino ang notaryo doon sa pagbebenta ng lupa ni Miriam Roco? Mr. Vicente. Bale isa lang ho iyong dokumento ko, eh. Iyong kay Miriam through a Power of Attorneyiyong kay Miriam with Power of Attorney kay Cristina, and the other one iyong kay Cristina. The Presiding Officer. Magkasama sa isang kontrata sa pagbebenta? Mr. Vicente. Hindi ho. Dalawa ho iyong aking Deed of Sale. The Presiding Officer. Kaya nga, iyong pagbebenta ni Maria Cristina Roco Corona ng pitong parcel ng lupa ang notaryo publiko ay Montoya? Mr. Vicente. Opo. The Presiding Officer. Sino ang notaryo publiko doon sa kontrata sa pagbebenta ng lupa ni Miriam Roco sa iyo? Mr. Vicente. Can I get my records, Sir? The Presiding Officer. O, sige. [Long Pause] Mr. Vicente. Your Honor, it is also Attorney Montoya. The Presiding Officer. Kasama mo rin si Mrs. Corona nang magpunta kayo kay Montoya? Mr. Vicente. Opo.
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The Presiding Officer. Magkaibang araw ba iyong pagpunta ninyo noon ibenenta iyong pitong (7) parsela at noong ibenenta iyan kay Miriam Corona? Mr. Vicente. I will check it. The Presiding Officer. Magkaibang araw? Mr. Vicente. Hindi ko po matandaan, eh. The Presiding Officer. Anong petsa noong bentahan ninyo ni Miriam Corona? Mr. Vicente. July. The Presiding Officer. July ano? Mr. Vicente. 26, 1990. The Presiding Officer. Iyan ang kay Miriam Corona? Mr. Vicente. Opo. The Presiding Officer. Ang kay Maria Cristina Roco Corona? Mr. Vicente. The same date ho. The Presiding Officer. Ah, parehong date? Mr. Vicente. Opo. The Presiding Officer. So, pinagsabay iyong benta sa iyo? Mr. Vicente. Opo. The Presiding Officer. Bale walong (8) parsela ang ibinenta sa inyo Mr. Vicente. Opo. The Presiding Officer. O, sige. Samakatuwid, magkakasabay na ibinenta ni Ma. Cristina Roco-Corona iyong pitong parsela ng lupa na nasa pangalan niya at iyong lupa ni Miriam Corona? Mr. Vicente. Opo. The Presiding Officer. O, sige. Mr. Cuevas. We will request, Your Honor, that the Deed of Absolute Sale.... The Presiding Officer. Sandali lang para makumpleto ko iyong kuwan para sa Husgado. Mr. Cuevas. Sige po. The Presiding Officer. At iyong bayad nung lupa ni Miriam Corona ay iba bang managers check iyon? Mr. Vicente. Hindi ho, isa lang ho. The Presiding Officer. Isa lang? Ang kabuuan ay magkano? Mr. Vicente. One million eighteen thousand.
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The Presiding Officer. One million eighteen thousand. Ano ba ang area nung kay Miriam Corona? Mr. Vicente. One thousand seven hundred square meters. The Presiding Officer. Ganoon din iyong area na ipinagbili ni Mrs. Corona? Mr. Vicente. Opo. The Presiding Officer. Okay. Miriam Roco pala. Iyong kay Miriam Roco 1,700? Mr. Vicente. Opo. The Presiding Officer. At iyong kay Mrs. Corona, si Ma. Cristina Roco-Corona 1,700 din? Mr. Vicente. Opo. The Presiding Officer. Samakatuwid, ang presyo ng lupa ay pareho? Mr. Vicente. Opo. The Presiding Officer. Five hundred nine thousand iyong kay Miriam Roco, at P509,000 din iyong kay Cristina pero iisang managers check? Mr. Vicente. Opo. The Presiding Officer. Hindi ka pumirma ng resibo in favor of Miriam Roco? Mr. Vicente. Hindi na po dahil mayroon siyang Special Power of Attorney. The Presiding Officer. Ang tumanggap ng kabuuan ng presyo ng walong parsela ng lupa ay si Mrs. Ma. Cristina Roco-Corona? Mr. Vicente. Opo. The Presiding Officer. Okay. Mr. Cuevas. With the kind permission of the Honorable Court. The Presiding Officer. Proceed. Mr. Cuevas. Then, Your Honor, we will request that the Deed of Absolute Sale identified by the Witness covering the property of Miriam Roco, consisting of two pages, be marked as Exhibit 149. Thank you. The Presiding Officer. Mark it accordingly. Mr. Justiniano. May I proceed, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Proceed. Mr. Justiniano. Mr. Vicente, kailan po ba ninyo unang nalaman na te-testigo kayo sa kaso na ito? Mr. Vicente. Noong January 19 tumawag sa akin si Mrs. Corona na kung puwede raw niyang mahiram iyong kopya ng Deed of Absolute Sale.
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Mr. Justiniano. Ipinaliwanag po ba niya kung ano itong kasong naka-pending dito sa Impeachment Court? Mr. Vicente. Kailangan niya raw ho dahil meron daw kaso sa impeachment si Justice. Mr. Justiniano. Iyon po ay January 19. Mr. Vicente. Opo, January 19. Can I add something? Ito po iyong resibo noong January 19 na tinanggap niya sa akin iyong original copy of the Deed of Sale. Mr. Justiniano. Ito pong si Mrs. Corona dati na po ba kayong nagtatawagan nito? Mr. Vicente. Hindi ko nakakausap iyan for the past 20 years since I bought the property. Mr. Justiniano. Saan po kayo tinawagan, sa landline o sa cell phone? Mr. Vicente. Wala ho akong cell phone eh, sa landline. Mr. Justiniano. Pero sa loob po ng 20 taon hindi po kayo nagkaka-hi kahit sa telepono? Mr. Vicente. Hindi po. Hindi ko nakakausap iyong mag-asawa. Mr. Justiniano. Napuna ko po, Mr. Vicente, na doon sa mga resibong inyong ipinakita ay ang lumalabas na nagbabayad ay si Mrs. Cristina Corona maliban na lamang sa isang resibo. Ipinapakita ko po sa inyo ito, Exhibit 123 ng Defense na lumalabas po dito kahapon, March 12, ay may binayaran dito na nagkakahalaga ng P12,749.60 at for the first time po ay lumabas ang pangalan ninyo, Received from Demetrio Vicente. Puwede po bang ipaliwanag ninyo ito? Mr. Cuevas. What is the question now? There are several questions. May we request.... Mr. Justiniano. Puwede bang ipaliwanag ninyo kung bakit kahapon nagbayad kayo nitong real property tax? Ito po, ito, para huwag kayong malito. Mr. Vicente. Ito po, nakalagay ang pangalan ko diyan, 2008, received from Demetrio Vicente in the amount....2008. Mr. Justiniano. Sige po. So, dalawa po. Meron pa po bang iba na resibo na nagsasabing Received from Demetrio Vicente? Mr. Vicente. Ito pa po. Mr. Justiniano. hindi po kayo? Hindi po ba ang nakalagay dito ay Received from Roco, Miriam,
Mr. Vicente. Ayun ang pangalan ko, nandoon sa ilalim. [Laughter] Mr. Justiniano. Ah, kayong dalawa. Mr. Vicente. Ayun. Mr. Justiniano. Kayong dalawa ang lumalabas na nagbayad. Ano pa pong ibang resibo na naroroon ang pangalan ninyo? Mr. Vicente. Ito po, 2010. Mr. Justiniano. Kanina po ay may ipinakita ako sa inyong tax declaration.
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Mr. Vicente. Opo.
Mr. Justiniano. Iyong sa building ninyo, Account No. 123807. Doon po sa ipinakita ninyong resibo na ang sabi ninyo ang pangalan din ninyo ang lumabas, naroroon din ang Account No. 123807. Ang ibig sabihin ba nito ay iyong building ang inyong binabayaran ng tax at hindi iyong lote? Mr. Vicente. Hindi po, lote po at saka building. Mr. Justiniano. Ito nga po para hindi kayo malito, basahin po muna ninyo itong tax declaration of real property na nakalagay po diyan building. Mr. Vicente. Opo. Mr. Justiniano. Wala po doon X iyong land. Mr. Vicente. Iba po iyong receipt ng land. Mr. Justiniano. Oo nga po, pinagbabasehan po natin iyong account number. Kasi po magkapareho po iyong account number na nakalagay diyan sa tax declaration na sinasabing building at pareho din dito sa resibo na sinasabing Account No. 123807. Kung inyo pong susundin iyan, lumalabas building ang binabayaran ninyo. Mr. Cuevas. The question, Your Honor, appears to be misleading because there are two payments in there, one for the land; one for the building, improvement, Your Honor. They cover two different subjects. The Presiding Officer. Let the Witness answer. Mr. Justiniano. May tanong nga po ako sa inyo na kung ito po ang pagbabatayan, itong tax declaration of real property under Account No. 123807 at ihahambing ito, pagtatabihin dito sa inyong resibo, lumalabas po na iyong binabayaran ang cover ng resibo na ito ay iyong tax doon sa building. Hindi po ba? Puwede po ba ninyong ipaliwanag iyan? Mr. Cuevas. The question appears to be predicated on a different tax declaration. The Presiding Officer. He is trying to ask the Witness to explain why there are two receipts. The understanding also of the Presiding Officer is, when you have a land plus a building, then they are covered by one tax declaration. Mr. Cuevas. From our experience, Your Honor, humility aside, we have quite separate receipts for the improvement and for the building. The Presiding Officer. Well, anyway, let the Witness answer. Mr. Cuevas. Sige po. Sagot kayo.
Mr. Vicente. May I answer? Mr. Cuevas. Mr. Vicente. ang resibo. Sige po. Iyong building ho, ibang resibo iyon. Iyong real estate or land, iba pa rin
Mr. Justiniano. Puwede po ba ninyong ipakita iyong resibo doon sa building?
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Mr. Vicente. Ito po. Mr. Justiniano. Ito nga po. Itong inyong pinirisinta na sinasabi ninyong resibo para sa building. Mr. Vicente. Opo. Mr. Justiniano. Ito nga po. Iyon pong numerong 123807, iyan din po ang lumalabas dito sa tax declaration para sa building. Mr. Vicente. Opo. Mr. Justiniano. Kaya itong....
The Presiding Officer. Sandali lamang, para ma-klaro. Iyong account number ng real estate tax para sa bahay ay kapareho noong account number para doon sa lupa, hindi ba? Iyon ang ibig mong sabihin? Mr. Vicente. Opo.
The Presiding Officer. Hindi ba, Mr. Counsel? Mr. Justiniano. Magkaiba po iyon. The Presiding Officer. Magkaiba. Mr. Justiniano. Ang sa lupa po ay account number 55816. The Presiding Officer. Iyon ang kinatatayuan ng bahay ni Mr. Vicente. Mr. Vicente. Hindi po. Dalawa iyon, eh, 55815 and 5816. Iyon ang land... The Presiding Officer. Mr. Vicente, lilinawin ko lamang. Mr. Vicente. Okay. The Presiding Officer. Iyong bahay mo ay nakatirik sa isang lote.
Mr. Vicente. Dalawang lote ho ang tinayuan ko. The Presiding Officer. Dalawang lote? Mr. Vicente. Opo. The Presiding Officer. Okay. Ngayon, ano ang account number noong mga lote na kung saan ay nakatirik iyong bahay mo? Mr. Vicente. Account? Hahanapin ko. Ang alam ko lang ho ay Lot No. 13.
The Presiding Officer. Iyong Lot No. 13, may tax declaration iyon? Mr. Vicente. Opo. The Presiding Officer. Anong tax declaration nuon? Iyong Lot 13. Lot 13 sabi niya. O sige, ano ang tax declaration niyan? Mr. Cuevas. May we request most respectfully, Your Honor, for a repetition of the question.
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The Presiding Officer. Will you please use your microphone?
Mr. Cuevas. May we request for a repetition of the question, Your Honor. Apparently, the Witness did not understand it or did not get it. [Addressed the Witness] Pakinggan ninyo. The Presiding Officer. Iyon bang Lot 13 na lupa, doon mo itinayo iyong bahay mo? Mr. Vicente. Iyong kalahati ho doon. Tapos iyong iba...
The Presiding Officer. Hindi. Anong lote mo ang... Mr. Cuevas. Saan nakatirik iyong bahay ninyo? The Presiding Officer. Mr. Cuevas. Anong lote? Mr. Vicente. Lot 13 and Lot 13-B. The Presiding Officer. Lot 13-B at Lot 13. Mr. Vicente. Lot 13-A-1. The Presiding Officer. Sandali lamang. Lot.... Mr. Cuevas. Ulitin po ninyo. Mr. Vicente. Lot 13-A-1 and Lot 13-B. Ang pinagtayuan mo ng bahay mo? Saan nakatayo iyong bahay mo? Anong lote?
The Presiding Officer. Mr. Vicente. Opo.
The Presiding Officer. Ngayon, ano ang tax declaration noong Lot 13-A-1 at Lot 13-B? Mr. Cuevas. Nadinig ninyo? Mr. Vicente. Opo, nadinig ko, pero hindi ko alam.
The Presiding Officer. Sabihin mo, ano ang tax declaration number? Senator Honasan. Mr. President. The Presiding Officer. Yes. Senator Honasan. Senator-Judge Ralph Recto would like to intervene to clarify. The Presiding Officer. Yes, I just want to finish this. I will recognize Senator Recto. Senator Honasan. Thank you, Mr. President, we submit. The Presiding Officer. Ano ang tax declaration number? Mr. Vicente. Hindi ko po alam. Hindi ko po makita rito. The Presiding Officer. Ano ang tax declaration number nung bahay mo? Dahil sinabi ng abogado mo na magkaiba iyong tax declaration nung improvementimprovement ng bahay mo iyong kinatatayuang lupa ay magkaiba raw ang tax declaration, kaya itinatanong ko iyan.
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Mr. Vicente. Ang nandito lamang po ay iyong tax account number. The Presiding Officer. Kaya nga ang itinatanong ko ay iyong tax declaration. Sapagkat ang alam ko, iyong tax declaration ng lupa at ng improvement ay magkasama. Mr. Vicente. Hindi nga po, iba nga ito. The Presiding Officer. Iba iyong account number kaysa sa tax declaration. Mr. Vicente. Can I have somebody to help me? The Presiding Officer. Well, all right. I will recognize the gentleman from Batangas to help the Witness. Senator Recto. Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, baka siguro dahil may kinalaman ito sa real property taxes at ito ay araw-araw trabaho ng asawa ko bilang governor sa lalawigan ng Batangas. Sa pagkakaintindi ko, dalawa ang loteng pinag-uusapan niya at may isang improvement na bahay. The Presiding Officer. Oo. Senator Recto. Posible po na dalawa o tatlo iyong tax declaration niyan. Ang isa ay doon sa isang lote; iyong isa naman ay sa pangalawang lote. Mr. Vicente. Opo. Senator Recto. At posible, may isa pa iyan para sa bahay. Mr. Vicente. Opo. Senator Recto. So, posibleng tatlo ang tax declaration po ninyo o di kaya ay dalawa. The Presiding Officer. Eh, di sabihin niya kung tatlo o dalawa. Senator Recto. Kaya nga tatanungin ko. Tama ba iyon, sa dami ng mga dokumentong pinamarkahan ninyo kanina, ang binabayaran ninyo, may tax declaration kayo para sa dalawang lote? Mr. Vicente. Opo. Senator Recto. At mayroon din kayong binabayaran na isa pang real property tax para sa improvement o bahay o building? Mr. Vicente. Opo. Senator Recto. Samakatuwid, tatlo iyon. Mr. Vicente. Opo. Senator Recto. Sa isang taon, tatlo ang binabayaran? Mr. Vicente. Opo. The Presiding Officer. Sabihin mo para maintindihan ng Husgado. Ano iyong mga tax declaration for the house?
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Mr. Vicente. Hindi ko nga po alam kung saan iyon dito, eh. Ito nga, nandito po iyong resibo, wala po akong tax declaration number na alam, eh. Senator Recto. Puwede ko po bang lapitan para tingnan ko iyong resibo? Mr. Vicente. ...Opo. Ayan po ang resibo, resibo po iyan. Mr. Cuevas. Your Honor please, I was about to propose, if it will not be asking too much, that the Witness be given up to tomorrow so that he can examine. This is a 20-year old transaction, Your Honor. He may have in his possession tax declarations that are being touched in the question of the Honorable Court, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. He is under cross by the Prosecution. If they agree, I have no objection. Mr. Cuevas. Because wala pong....The way I recall, Your Honor, there is no tax declaration that he had testified to but tax receipt. The Presiding Officer. Alam mo, Mr. Counsel, paano ka magbabayad ng real estate tax na walang tax declaration? Iyong owner of the property will make a declaration for real estate purposes of his land and the value of that land, the assessed value. Mr. Cuevas. That is correct, Your Honor, but some... The Presiding Officer. Per lot. Kaya nga tinatanong ko kung anong tax declaration iyan. Mr. Cuevas. Meron ba? The Presiding Officer. The gentleman from Batangas. Senator Recto. Mr. President, iyong hawak po niya ay resibo. The Presiding Officer. Kaya nga. Senator Recto. So, hindi iyong tax declaration mismo. Pero tama po iyon, nakita ko iyong drawing niya doon at doon sa mga nakita kong resibo, lumalabas na tatlo nga ang binabayaran niya. Iyong dalawang lote, isang lote, malamang base doon sa drawing niya ay kay Miriam, iyong isa kay Cristina at iyong isa naman iyong improvement of building o bahay niya. The Presiding Officer. So, lahat ba iyong parsela ni Miriam ay isang tax declaration iyon? Senator Recto. Isang tax declaration iyon dahil iba ang may-ari ng titulo. The Presiding Officer. Iyong pitong parsela ni Ma. Cristina Roco Corona, isang tax declaration din iyon? Senator Recto. Isang tax declaration din po iyon. The Presiding Officer. Ngayon, iyong bahay, isang tax declaration? Senator Recto. Posibleng isang tax declaration din iyon, base sa mga resibong nakita ko. The Presiding Officer. Pero, magkaiba ang mga account number? Senator Recto. Magkakaiba kaya magulo. The Presiding Officer. Kaya nga. Iba iyong account number noong mga parsela sa pangalan
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ni Ma. Cristina Roco Corona at iba rin ang account number sa tresurera nung lupa na ipinagbili na pag-aari ni Miriam Roco? Senator Recto. It appears that way, Mr. President. The Presiding Officer. At iyong bahay iba rin ang account number? Senator Recto. Iba naman din iyon. Tama po iyon. The Presiding Officer. Pero hindi. Alam mo, ang alam ko, kung may bahay ka, idi-declare mo iyong value ng lupa, assessed value, plus the improvement sa tax declaration. Senator Recto. Minsan po depende iyan sa local government unit. Minsan po naiiba. Minsan naman kung tama ang computerization mo, nasa isang tax declaration iyan. The Presiding Officer. Anyway, go ahead. Senator Recto. Mr. President, sa dahilan na nandito na rin ako, baka pwede akong magtanong ng dalawa o tatlong tanong lamang. The Presiding Officer. Go ahead. Senator Recto. Just a clarification. The Presiding Officer. Subject to the pending recross of the Prosecution. Senator Recto. Of the Prosecution, yes. Thank you, Mr. President. Isang katanungan para sa ating lead ng Defense Counsel. Ang dahilan kung bakit pinaharap ninyo ang testigo ninyo sa araw na ito ay para patunayan na ang lupang ito ay ibinenta noong taong 1990, tama ho ba iyon? Mr. Cuevas. Tama po. Senator Recto. At kung ibinenta noong 1990, hindi na dapat ilagay sa SALN ni Chief Justice Corona after 1990, halimbawa, 2010-11, hindi ba? Mr. Cuevas. It should be that way. Senator Recto. It should be that way. Ngunit doon sa SALN ng Chief Justice, noong 1992, bakit nandoon pa rin nakalagay iyong property ng Marikina? Mr. Cuevas. Eh, kasi nga hindi niya....Because the purchase, they have not declared it in his name. So, the records of whether the Register of Deeds or the Assessors Office will show Senator Recto. Correct. Mr. Cuevas. that they are still in the name of the original owner. Senator Recto. Bakit noong 1993, tinanggal na, kung iyon po ang paliwanag ninyo? Mr. Cuevas. Again, again? I did not get you, please. Senator Recto. So, ulitin natin. Nabanggit ninyo na ibinenta ito at mukha namang totoo na binenta noong 1990. Ang tanong ko bakit sa SALN ng Chief Justice noong una siyang pumasok sa pamahalaan, July 1992, base sa mga dokumento naroon pa rin in July of 1992?
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Mr. Cuevas. I am not privy as yet to the contents of the ...
Senator Recto. Yes. And, therefore, that is why I support the call of the Senate President na ang makakasagot lamang ng mga katanungang ito ay ang Chief Justice lamang. Kasi nandoon pa rin sa 1992 SALN form. Hinihintay ko kaninang tanungin ng Prosecution iyan pero hindi tinanong. Ngayon naman tatanungin ko ang Prosecution. Mr. Prosecutor, you cross-examined the Witness earlier, trying to proveit appeared to me, it appeared, I suppose to many of the Senator-Judges as wellna parang pinapalabas ninyo, hindi totoo at simulated iyong sale noong 1990, tama ho ba iyon? Mr. Justiniano. Tama po iyon. Senator Recto. Iyan ang linya ninyo, para magkaintindihan tayo what is the purpose of your cross-examination. Mr. Justiniano. Yes. Senator Recto. The purpose is to show na hindi totoo iyong bentahan. Mr. Justiniano. Tama po iyon. Senator Recto. Okay. Base sa mga dokumentong meron kami dito na galing na rin sa inyo, may mga buwis na binayaran noong 1990. Mahirap sabihin na hindi totoo iyon. Mr. Justiniano. Ang pagkakaalam ko po, kung ako po ay hindi nagkakamali, iyong mga binabayad na iyon ay sa pangalan lahat ni Ma. Cristina Corona, sa mga resibo. Senator Recto. I am talking about the Deed of Absolute Sale. Meron doon sa likod na exhibit somethingI can get to my table and read it to you. Iyong binanggit ninyo kaninacapital gains, documentary stamp tax lahat nabayaran puwera lamang iyong transfer tax, di ho ba? Mr. Justiniano. Naroon nga po iyon, nakatatak doon sa likod. Senator Recto. Naroon iyon, tama. So, mahirap namanmay mga pangalan diyan sa BIR, may mga halagang binayaran doon. Mahirap naman i-simulate iyan way back in 1990. Ngayon lang ang impeachment. I mean, mahirap naman paniwalaan na sinimulate (simulated) iyan ngayon lang dahil nagkaroon ng impeachment kung iyong mga dokumento nakalagay diyan 1990 pa. Mr. Justiniano. Ayaw ko naman pong mag-speculate, pero ang alam ko po iyong Certificate Authorizing Registration wala pa po silang naipi-prisinta hanggang sa ngayon. Senator Recto. Hindi. Noong 1990, maaaring wala pang computerized CAR. Wala pa noong panahong iyon, eh. Mr. Justiniano. Kaya nga po. Siguro naman po ngayon puwede ng makakuha kung... Senator Recto. Kung ililipat iyan sa pangalan niya. Mr. Justiniano. Ganoon nga po kung talagang ililipat. Senator Recto. Tama. Mr. Justiniano. Kaso nga po, hindi nga po inililipat, eh.
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Senator Recto. Oo. Pero hindi naman mali dahil 90 percent sa buong Pilipinas ay mga tax declaration at hindi titulo. Sa katunayan, marami doon sa aming lalawigan sa Batangas, hindi talaga inililipat mula sa pangalan ng lolo hanggang sa kanilang mga apo. Nangyayari talaga iyan, hindi ho ba? Mr. Justiniano. Tama po iyon, Batangueo din po ako, talaga pong ganoon sa probinsiya natin. Senator Recto. Tama po iyan. Mr. Justiniano. Ang ipinagtataka ko lamang po dito ay mukhang lumalabas hindi na nga inilipat, pati iyong Deed of Sale ay hindi na-annotate sa title. Hindi ba puwede naman po? Kung ayaw po nilang ipalipat, puwede po iyon, pero at least man lamang iyong Deed of Sale ita-tap doon sa titulo. Senator Recto. At least, maliwanag iyong pinapatunayan ninyona you are claiming, in effect, it is a simulated sale. Mr. Justiniano. Tama po iyon. Senator Recto. Sa Depensa naman, ang ipinapakita ninyo, talagang nagkabentahan way back in 1990. Mr. Cuevas. That is correct. Senator Recto. Ang isang tanong ko lamang nga na nabibitin din ay: Bakit nandoon pa rin sa SALN noong 1992? At dahil sa nabanggit ninyo, kanina hindi ninyo masasagot iyon, siguro nga ang pinakamaganda para sumagot sa mga ibang katanungan na katulad niyan ay walang iba kundi si Chief Justice Renato Corona. Mr. Cuevas. Hindi naman siguro sapagkat these are official transactions duly recorded and so on. But here is my observation1992 wala pa po sa Supreme Court si Chief Justice Corona. Senator Recto. Correct. Mr. Cuevas. So, wala itongitong SALN will not come into force, Your Honor. Senator Recto. Hindi. Meron kaming kopya dito, eh. 1992, first time he entered government. Mr. Cuevas. 1992? Senator Recto. 1992 July. Nakalagay din dito. Nakalagay Marikina, Donation 1980. So, I suppose this is the same property we are talking about. I just wanted to put that on record. Sana nakatulong ako. The Presiding Officer. Thank you. Nakatulong po kayo. Senator Recto. Doon sa tatlong tax declarations. Maraming salamat po. The Presiding Officer. Hindi ko maintindihan iyong sistema ng Senator Recto. Ng Marikina. The Presiding Officer. declaration. So, all right, Counsel for the Prosecution, continue with your recross.
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Mr. Justiniano. Wala na po akong tanong sa recross kasi nasabi na po kay Senator Recto iyong gusto kong sabihin na hindi in-annotate doon sa titulo iyong Deed of Sale. Hindi ko na po itatanong iyon. Wala na po akong tanong. The Presiding Officer. Hindi mo na itatanong iyon sa testigo?
Mr. Justiniano. Hindi na po, hindi na po. The Presiding Officer. Hindi mo na tatapusin iyong recross mo? Mr. Justiniano. Hindi na po. Tama na po iyon. The Presiding Officer. O, sige. All right. Any re-direct? Mr. Cuevas. We are through, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. All right. Ang ating testigo ay discharged. Senator Honasan. Mr. President, Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada wishes to be recognized. The Presiding Officer. Yes, the gentleman from San Juan is recognized. Senator Ejercito Estrada. Isang katanungan lang po, Ginoong Vicente. Noong 1990, ano ba ang trabaho ninyo? Mr. Vicente. Noong 1990, marami po akong heavy equipment, meron akong mga payloader before, prior to that date. Kaya ibinenta ko nga ho iyong aking ano, iyong aking mga bahay doon eh wala na ho akong income. Senator Ejercito Estrada. Nasa construction business ba ho kayo noong 1990? Mr. Vicente. Hindi. Rental. Senator Ejercito Estrada. Ah, rental ng mga Mr. Vicente. Rental of heavy equipment, payloader, in particular. Senator Ejercito Estrada. Hanggang kelan ho ang negosyo ninyo, rental ng mga heavy equipment? Mr. Vicente. I started that business from 1975-76. Senator Ejercito Estrada. Up to? Mr. Vicente. With one unit, medyo dumami ng dumami because of some contracts, and then I put up a house in Tandang Sora. After that, in 1990, naubos na nga iyong mga units, naibenta ko na. Senator Ejercito Estrada. Kumita na po kayo? Mr. Vicente. Eh, siyempre, nakapagpatayo nga ho ako ng bahay, eh. Senator Ejercito Estrada. Magkano naman po ang kinita ninyo? Mr. Vicente. Naku, hindi ko na matandaan dahil siyempre Senator Ejercito Estrada. Magkano po inabot iyong bahay ninyo?
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Mr. Vicente. Sa Tandang Sora, siguro mga dalawa. Senator Ejercito Estrada. Dalawang milyon? Mr. Vicente. Opo. Senator Ejercito Estrada. Okay. Mr. Vicente. Nakuha ko iyong lote in exchange for my car and some cash. Senator Ejercito Estrada. All right. Is your business still existing? Mr. Vicente. Wala na nga ho, eh. Senator Ejercito Estrada. Ano na ho ang trabaho, hindi na ho kayo nagta-trabaho ngayon? Mr. Vicente. Meron ho akong share doon sa apartment ng pamilya. Iyon ho ang aking income and then some amount from my daughter from Kuwait. Senator Ejercito Estrada. From Kuwait. Ah, meron kayong daughter from Kuwait. Mr. Vicente. Yes. Senator Ejercito Estrada. So, magkano ho ang kinikita ninyo buwan-buwan ngayon? Mr. Vicente. Roughly, with my wifes earning from her apartment, about 25. Senator Ejercito Estrada. Twenty-five thousand. Mr. Vicente. Plus my daughtersiyong abot ng anak, siguro may mga . Senator Ejercito Estrada. Wala pa rin ho kayong balak na ilipat iyong titulo, iyong pinagbilhan niyo kay Mrs. Corona at saka kay Mrs. Miriam Roco, wala pa rin ho kayong balak ilipat sa pangalan ninyo? Mr. Vicente. Pag nagkaroon po ako ng pera dahil Senator Ejercito Estrada. Magkano lang ba ho, ang sinabi ni Attorney Justiniano, na ang transfer tax lang ay P2,500 lang. Mr. Vicente. Hindi ho ganoon dahil nagkaroon ho ako ng penalty for that. Senator Ejercito Estrada. magkano ho ang aabutin? So, magkano kung babayaran niyo lahat ang transfer tax,
Mr. Vicente. Roughly P200,000 yata. Senator Ejercito Estrada. Two hundred thousand. So, ngayon you still cannot afford to pay the transfer tax because you are only receiving P25,000 monthly. Mr. Vicente. At saka nagkaroon ho ako ng sakit, eh. Na-stroke ako twice. Kaya medyo bulol ho iyong pagsasalita ko. Senator Ejercito Estrada. Iyon lang po at maraming salamat ho. Senator Honasan. Mr. President.
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The Presiding Officer. Yes. Senator Honasan. Sen. Frank Drilon wishes to be recognized. The Presiding Officer. Senator Drilon has the floor.
Senator Drilon. Ilang katanungan po. Sabi niyo binenta niyo ang bahay niyo sa Tandang Sora ng dalawang milyong piso? Mr. Vicente. Three-and-a-half po. Senator Drilon. Ah, three-and-a-half million? Mr. Vicente. Opo. Senator Drilon. Kailan po ninyo binenta ito? Mr. Vicente. Early 1990. Senator Drilon. Early 1990, hindi po prior to 1990? Mr. Vicente. bibilhing bahay. Hindi po. Kaya noong mabenta ko naghanap po ako ng lilipatan na
Senator Drilon. So, kailan niyo po ibenenta ulit ito iyung sa Tandang Sora, early 1990? Mr. Vicente. Early 1990. Senator Drilon. Mga Enero kaya? Mr. Vicente. Enero, Pebrero somewhere. Senator Drilon. Okay. Eh bakit po noong sa Deed of Sale na may petsang 26 July 1990, iyung inyong address ay Tandang Sora pa rin? Mr. Vicente. Opo. Senator Drilon. Bakit po? Mr. Vicente. Eh doon pa po ako eh nakatira. Senator Drilon. Sabi niyo ibinenta niyo na? Mr. Vicente. Eh hindi, medyo natagalan ho ako na nabayaran noon eh. Unti-unti binayaran sa akin eh. Senator Drilon. Unti-unti binayaran? Mr. Vicente. Noong ma-fully paid na doon na ho ako umalis. Senator Drilon. Installment ang bayad sa inyo? Mr. Vicente. Hindi naman ho siguro from February up to July. Hanggang hindi pa ako nabibigyan ng full payment hindi pa ako umaalis doon sa bahay na iyon. Senator Drilon. Hindi ka pa umaalis habang hindi pa buo iyung bayad?
Mr. Vicente. Opo.
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Senator Drilon. Ngayon, kayo po nakatira, noong ginawa po itong Deed of Sale, sa 22 Philand Homes, Tandang Sora. Mr. Vicente. Opo, Philand Homes, Tandang Sora. Senator Drilon. Tandang Sora. Si Mrs. Corona ay taga Xavierville Loyola Heights? Mr. Vicente. Opo. Senator Drilon. Iyung residence certificate niyo po ay Quezon City? Mr. Vicente. Opo. Senator Drilon. ng Makati? Ngunit, noong binili niyo po itong lupang ito lahat kayo nagpunta
Mr. Vicente. Opo. Senator Drilon. Bakit kaya? Mr. Vicente. Kumuha po ako ng sedula and at the same time nagpa-notaryo ho ako ng Deed of Sale. Senator Drilon. Paano po?
Mr. Vicente. Nagpa-notarized ho kami ng Deed of Sale. Senator Drilon. Nagpa-notarized kayo ng Deed of Sale? Teka, noong ibinenta niyo po iyung Tandang Sora, may sedula na po kayo noon? Mr. Vicente. Mayroon ho. Senator Drilon. Ha? Mr. Vicente. Mayroon ho. Senator Drilon. Mayroon. Iyung sedula niyo iba doon sa sedulang ginamit.
Mr. Vicente. Eh nawala nga ho iyung sedula ko kaya kumuha ulit ako eh. Senator Drilon. Nawala iyung sedula niyo? Mr. Vicente. Opo. Senator Drilon. Okay. Ngayon, dito sa Deed of Sale, sino ang testigo po dito? Sina Renato C. Corona? Mr. Vicente. Opo. Senator Drilon. Sino pa itong isang testigo? Mr. Vicente. Hindi ko na matandaan kung sino iyan. Senator Drilon. Mayroon ba kayong Regina na kilala? Hindi ko mabasa ang kanyang family name pero Regina, hindi mo kilala?
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Ito po bang kayo, si Mrs. Cristina Corona, si Renato Corona at isa pang testigo na may pangalang Regina, kayo po ba lahat nagpunta ng notaryo publiko sa Makati? Mr. Vicente. Opo. Senator Drilon. Lahat kayo apat? Mr. Vicente. Opo. Ah, hindi kasama iyung babae. Senator Drilon. Ha? Mr. Vicente. Hindi po kasama iyun babae, iyung Regina siguro hindi ko nakita iyun. Senator Drilon. Pero ang sabi dito pinirmahan at nilagdahan sa presensiya nitong Regina? Mr. Vicente. Abogado ho ba iyan o iyung witness? Senator Drilon. Testigo po, ito po. Mr. Vicente. Witness po iyan? Senator Drilon. Opo. Mr. Vicente. Eh hindi ko ho nakita iyan eh. Senator Drilon. Sige, hindi na po ako magtatanong at lalo akong nahihirapan. [Laughter] Senator Honasan. Mr. President. The Presiding Officer. The gentleman from Senator Honasan. Mr. President, Sen. Alan Cayetano wishes to be recognized. The Presiding Officer. The Minority Floor Leader. Senator Cayetano (A). Magandang hapon, Mr. President, Ginoong Witness. Magtatanong lang po ako para medyo mai-clarify ko rin po. Ginoong Witness, magandang hapon po. Mr. Vicente. Good afternoon, sir. Senator Cayetano (A). Ayoko ko po kasi, Mr. Witness, magkamali dito at kung anuman ang magiging paghuhusga namin kung guilty o innocent, gusto ko makasiguro kami kaya hindi ko kinu-question ang integridad niyo. Pagpasensiyahan niyo po magtatanong po ako at bumubusina lang po ako. Mawalang-galang sa ibang tanong. It seems that I am questioning iyung ibang niyong statement mamaya but hindi po iyun ang intention para lang po tayo hindi magkamali mamaya. Narinig nyo po yung sinabi nung Prosecution po na ang tiyorya (theory) nila o ang lumalabas po sa kanila ay nagtatago ng property ang Chief Justice sa inyo. Parang iyan gusto nilang palabasin. Pero ang sinasabi ng Depensa at sinasabi niyo, hindi totoo yon. Talagang binili niyo, tama po ba? Mr. Vicente. Binili ko ho yan, diyan ho ako nakatira ngayon.
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Senator Cayetano (A). Sige po. So yun po ang mgaso parang ang gusto nilang palabasin ay nagtatago ang Chief Justice ng property sa inyo pero lumalabas ngayon, eh, sa inyo yonbaka kayo pa ang nagtatago ng property sa pangalan niya Mr. Vicente. Ah, hindi ho. dahil nasa pangalan pa niya.
Senator Cayetano (A).
Ito po ang tanong ko: Noong 1990 po, noong binili ninyo, pakiulit po, bukod po sa pagbenta niyo ng lupa ninyo, ano pong trabaho ang pinagkakakitaan ninyo noong panahon po na iyon? Mr. Vicente. During that time, meron ho akong payloader for rent. Senator Cayetano (A). Payloader. Mr. Vicente. Nag-umpisa ho ako 1975, ngayonng isang unit and then nadagdagan nang nadagdagan iyon. Senator Cayetano (A). So gaano po kalaki yung bahay niyo sa Tandang Sora noong panahon na yon? More or less lang po, yung lote at saka yung Mr. Vicente. Yung lote is about 1,900 square meters and then yung bahay ho mga nasa 200 square meters. Senator Cayetano (A). So mga monthly po, magkanong pumapasok sa inyongkinikita ninyo noon sa payloader po? Mr. Vicente. During that time when I had five units, kasi ang diesel noong araw is only P1, eh, ngayon kuwarentay-siete na ho eh. Something like P30,000-P40,000. Senator Cayetano (A). So sa madaling sabi, gainfully employed o may pambili kayo noong panahon na iyon. Mr. Vicente. Meron ho.
Senator Cayetano (A). Tapos noong binenta niyo po yung lupa, nagpagawa naman kayo doon sa bagong binili niyo kay Mrs. Corona, tama ho ba? Mr. Vicente. Yes, Sir. Yes, Sir. Senator Cayetano (A). Saan po kayo tumira habang ginagawa po yung bahay?
Mr. Vicente. Doon sa tabi ng Marikinanag-renta ho ako ng four months. Apat na buwan ho akong nag-rerenta roon tapospara lang mabantayan ko ang construction. Senator Cayetano (A). So mga apat na buwan po kinonstrak (construct) yung bahay nyo. Mr. Vicente. Oho, oho. Mabilis po kasi pag binabantayan talaga ng may-ari ho, ano.
Mr. Vicente. Hindi lang ho apat na buwan. Matagal ho na nabuo dahil kinulang na nga ho ako ng pera, ng funds. Senator Cayetano (A). Mrs. Corona? More or less po, magkano ulit ang bili nyo doon sa lupa kay
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Mr. Vicente. One million ho, doon sa dokumento, one million. Senator Cayetano (A).
Anong ibig nyong sabihing sa dokumento?
Mr. Vicente. Yung Absolute Deed of Sale. Senator Cayetano (A). Iba ba ho yung actual ninyong bili at saka yung nasa dokumento? Pareho lang? Mr. Vicente. Pareho lang ho.
Senator Cayetano (A). So one million Mr. Vicente. Eighteen. Senator Cayetano (A). Mr. Vicente. Tapos magkano po ang pagawa nyo ng bahay nyo?
Inabot ho yon ng mga two, almost two eh. Okay. So halos naubos niyo po yung pinagbenta nyo ng bahay
Senator Cayetano (A). niyo? Mr. Vicente.
Opo. Hindi pa ho tapos. Malaki ho ba ipon niyo noong panahon na yon?
Senator Cayetano (A). Mr. Vicente.
Wala na ho akong naipon dahil yung perang napagbilhan ko ng bahay Yun na rin po ang ano
yun na rin ang ginamit ko. So yung kinikita niyo, halos yung pangkabuhayan
Wala na ho akong kinikita noon, naibenta ko na ang mga units ko.
Senator Cayetano (A). Okay. Yung pitong titulo ho, it refers to two lots? Gaano kalaki po yung pitong titulo? Mr. Vicente. Walo ho.
Senator Cayetano (A). Walong titulo. Mr. Vicente. Refers to two. Senator Cayetano (A). Two lots. Mr. Vicente. Two properties. Senator Cayetano (A). Na one thousand Mr. Vicente. One property is seven titles and the other one, one title. Senator Cayetano (A). And then kinunsolidate (consolidate) niyo lang po yun. Mr. Vicente. Opo, opo. Gaano kalaki po yung buong lugar na yon?
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Mr. Vicente. Three thousand four hundred square meters. Senator Cayetano (A). Mr. Vicente. Simula po noon, doon na kayo tumira?
Doon na ho ako nakatira, hanggang ngayon.
Senator Cayetano (A). Simula noon hanggang ngayon, meron ho bang tumutulong sa inyo yung pag nagbabayad kayo ng buwis o kayo na ho mismo? Kayo ho ba ang pumupunta sa Marikina o may inuutusan lang po kayo? Mr. Vicente. Ako mismo ang nagpupunta roon kasi meron ho akong income doon sa apartment ng pamilya which is yung misis komeron din ho siyang apartment and then my daughter. Senator Cayetano (A). May kasambahay po kayo? May katulong po o driver?
Mr. Vicente. Wala. Dalawang lalaki ho, gardener. I am in the hobby of doing bonsai. Senator Cayetano (A). Mr. Vicente. Opo. So dalawang gardener pero wala ho kayong katulong.
And that is the reason, kailangan ko ng malaking lote.
Senator Cayetano (A). Kaya ko po ito tinatanong para ma-ascertain ko bilang SenatorJudge, whether or not, sa iyo talaga iyon Mr. Vicente. Akin talaga ho iyon kahit na bukas pumunta kayo sa bahay ko, doon ako natutulog. [Laughter] Senator Cayetano (A). Pero alam ko, puwede po kasing ipinagamit sa inyo at pinabantayan. Mr. Vicente. Hindi po, hindi po. Akin yon.
Senator Cayetano (A). Noong nagka-stroke po kayo, sinong nag-alaga po sa inyo, kung puwede ko lang pong itanong? Mr. Vicente. Yung matandang asawa ko. Yung asawa niyo po ang nag-ano sa inyo.
Close ba ho talaga kayo sa mag-asawang Corona o hindi po? Paki-describe po yung relationship niyo sa kanila. Mr. Vicente. Ang relasyon ho namin niyan, noong grade school pa iyan, high school na ako dahil seven years ang tanda ko diyan eh. Ngayon, nakita ko iyan noong araw nasa Ateneo grade school. Eh di siyempre malaki ang difference, hindi ko masyadong pinagkakausap iyan. And then nagkita nga kami nang malaman ko hong siya ang may-ari noong property because of the broker. Noong malaman ko ho, sana nalaman ko earlier para hindi na ako nagdaan sa broker para yung maitatawad ko sa presyo iyon ang siya kong ibibigay na commission. Senator Cayetano (A). Sino po yung broker? Naalala ninyo po? Mr. Vicente. Mrs. something(?) eh. Nandoon din sa Marikina nakatira. I have forgotten the name. Senator Cayetano (A). Kasi po kanina late po ako dahil masama ang pakiramdam ko pero pinapanood ko...
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Mr. Vicente. Opo. Wala nga kayo diyan kanina. Kayo nga ang hinihintay kong magano diyan. Senator Cayetano (A). Oho. Magaling po kayong witness. Kaya lang po medyo masama ang pakiramdam ko. So, pinapakinggan ko po kasi yung si Justice Cuevas, tinatanong iyong relationship mo. Sabi mo inaanak, kinakapatid, hindi ba? Mr. Vicente. Opo. Opo.
Senator Cayetano (A). Kaya lang noong tinanong ka kung nag-uusap ba sa telepono Mr. Vicente. Hindi ko nga ho nakakausap iyan. Eh kasi po...
Senator Cayetano (A). DalawampuPero bayad po kayo? Wala kayong utang sa mga Corona? Mr. Vicente. Ah, wala ho. Senator Cayetano (A). Kasi usually pag 20 years kayong hindi nag-usap, either may utang na tinataguan o kaya magkagalit. So, kung close po talaga kayo, ni sa mga party po ba o family gathering ay hindi kayo naiimbita? Mr. Vicente. Hindi ho. Hindi ho. Dahil noong mawala na yung father ko at saka father niya, dahil magkabarkada ho iyon eh, eh hindi na ho kami masyadong nagkikita noon. Senator Cayetano (A). Kasi po doon po nagkakaroon po ng diskusyon ngayon kung bakit kayo nagtiwala at hindi ninyo nilipat yung titulo at sabi ninyo close kayo. Mr. Vicente. Opo. Senator Cayetano (A). Pero ngayon sinasabi ninyo po eh magkadugo kayo pero hindi naman kayo nag-uusap. Twenty years ni hindi kayo nag... Mr. Vicente. Hindi ho, eto ho, bale ang tinatawag natin sa Tagalog yung kinakapatid. Senator Cayetano (A). Opo. Mr. Vicente. Yun ho. Senator Cayetano (A). Pero second cousins din po. Mr. Vicente. Opo. Senator Cayetano (A). So, dalawa ang relasyon ninyo. Mr. Vicente. Hindi, ang mother niya, ninang namin sa wedding noong unang asawa ko. Senator Cayetano (A). But aside from that, isa kang Coronado. So, sa dugo, magka-related din po kayo. Mr. Vicente. Opo. Senator Cayetano (A). Pero yung kung close kayo in the sense na meron po ba kayong personal relationship Mr. Vicente. Wala ho masyado. Hindi ho masyadong...
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Senator Cayetano (A). Wala ho. Pero yet nagtiwala pa ho kayo. Mr. Vicente. Eh tiwala nga ho ako dahil barkada nga ang tatay ko at tatay niya eh. Senator Cayetano (A). madre sa TV? Mr. Vicente. Opo. Opo. Senator Cayetano (A). Noong napanood ninyo nakita ninyo may away sila sa property? Mr. Vicente. Opo. Opo. Senator Cayetano (A). Hindi kayo medyo nagdalawang-isip, kailangan ko bang ilipat na yung titulo na ito? Mr. Vicente. Hindi ho. Senator Cayetano (A). Dahil naniniwala ka po? Mr. Vicente. Malaki ang tiwala ko ho diyan. Senator Cayetano (A). Oo. Even if hindi kayo ganoon ka-close sa kanila. Mr. Vicente. Opo. Tatlong magkakapatid iyan eh. Kilala kong lahat iyon. Si Arturo, tapos si Ruben. Senator Cayetano (A). Sir, ibig sabihin po kilalang-kilala ninyo sila, wala lang kayong personal relationship? Mr. Vicente. Opo. Opo. Senator Cayetano (A). But because of your parents and their parents... Mr. Vicente. Opo. Senator Cayetano (A). nagkakaroon kayo ng relationship, pagkakakilala doon, ano. Mr. Vicente. Opo. Senator Cayetano (A). Last po. Hindi po kayo nag-isip na baka mabenta ulit yung lupa ninyo kasi hindi po naka-annotate man lang eh. Mr. Vicente. Hindi po. Naniniwala ako doon sa Absolute Deed of Sale. Nasa akin ho ang titulo. Senator Cayetano (A). Yung anak ninyo po nasa abroad pa po, nandito na? Mr. Vicente. Kakaalis lang ho. Senator Cayetano (A). Kaaalis lang. Mr. Vicente. Two months ago. Dati nasa Dubai, nagpunta ng Bahrain. Ngayon nasa Kuwait. Senator Cayetano (A). Oo. Well, salamat, Mr. Vicente. Yun lang po, ano, dahil magiging napaka-essential yung testimony mo sa decision namin kung kanino ba talaga ang property na iyon. Noong nakaraang mga araw po napanood ninyo po yung
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So, salamat.
Mr. Vicente. Salamat din ho sa pagtatanong ninyo. Mabuti dumating kayo. [Laughter] Senator Cayetano (A). Thank you, Mr. President. Salamat po. Senator Honasan. Mr. President. The Presiding Officer. Yes. Senator Honasan. Mr. President, Sen. Loren Legarda wishes to be recognized. The Presiding Officer. The gentle lady from Antique, Malabon and the Philippines. Senator Legarda. Thank you, Mr. President. After all the questions that have been asked, what we just need to ascertain is whether the property really belongs to Mr. Vicente and whether indeed it was a simulated sale or whether the property actually belongs to him. Kaya karagdagang tanong lang po, Mr. Vicente. Banggit kayo nang banggit ng asawa ninyo. Hindi ako sigurado po kung nabanggit ninyo yung pangalan po ng asawa ninyo. Sino po yung asawa ninyo? Yung pangalan po. Mr. Vicente. Pangalan? Senator Legarda. Opo. Mr. Vicente. Apelyido ho, Morales. Senator Legarda. Hindi, kayo po, Mr. Vicente. Mr. Vicente. Oho. Senator Legarda. Ang asawa po ninyo. Mr. Vicente. Estrelita Morales. Senator Legarda. Vicente. Mr. Vicente. Opo. Senator Legarda. How long have you been married? Gaano katagal na po kayo? Mr. Vicente. Naku po ang tagal na noon ah. [Laughter] Senator Legarda. Do you live... Mr. Vicente. Forty-six years. Senator Legarda. Estrelita Morales Vicente. Mr. Vicente. Opo. Senator Legarda. Yes. Kasama po ninyo ang inyong asawa sa inyong bahay? Mr. Vicente. Opo. Siya lang ho ang asawa ko doon sa bahay na iyon.
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Senator Legarda. Mula po ba noong inyong ipinatayo ang inyong bahay ay kasama ninyo ang asawa ninyo sa bahay ninyo? Mr. Vicente. Opo. Senator Legarda. Gaano katagal na po kayo sa bahay ninyo? Mr. Vicente. 22 years na ho. Senator Legarda. Mula noong binili ninyo iyan mula kay Chief Justice Corona at sa kaniyang pamilya? Mr. Vicente. Opo. Senator Legarda. Paano ninyo kaya mapapatunayan sa amin na talagang doon kayo nakatira at nasa inyo ang property maliban sa pumunta kami roon na wala po kaming panahon. Ang katanungan ko po ay, mayroon kaya kayong kamag-anak sa gobyerno o kakilala dito na nakapunta na sa bahay ninyo, sa Vicente side, Morales side o maski sino man na maaaring tumestigo na Ah, talagang sa kanila iyan, nakatira sila diyan at hindi kay Corona iyan kundi sa Vicente family. Is there anyone in this room or anyone at all that we could probably know who can say you actually own the property or your house? Mr. Vicente. Ang mga kakilala ko mawawala na sa Supreme Court. Senator Legarda. Ano po? Mr. Vicente. Mawawala na sa Supreme Court. Senator Legarda. Sino po? Mr. Vicente. Hindi pa. Iyong dalawa nandoon pa. Iyong isa, wala na. Conchita CarpioMorales. Bale iyong asawa pinsan buo ng misis ko. Senator Legarda. Ulit po. Estrelita.... Mr. Vicente. Conchita Carpio-Morales. Senator Legarda. Estrelita Morales Vicente. Mr. Vicente. Conchita Carpio-Morales. Senator Legarda. Ombudsman, former Justice Mr. Vicente. Opo. Senator Legarda. Conchita Carpio-Morales. Mr. Vicente. Nagpupunta po sa bahay ko. Senator Legarda. I see. Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales is a first cousin of Estrelita Morales Vicente, ang asawa, because she is a Carpio. Mr. Vicente. Opo. Senator Legarda. And she has been to your house? Mr. Vicente. Yes.
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Senator Legarda. How many times? Mr. Vicente. Once.
Senator Legarda. Once. She knows that you actually own your house and you live there. Mr. Vicente. Yes. Senator Legarda. Is there anyone else? Mr. Vicente. Justice Del Castillo who is now sick in Asian Hospital. He is growing bonsai. And I am growing bonsai also. Senator Legarda. And he has also been to your house? Mr. Vicente. Yes, he has been to my house. Senator Legarda. Opo. So, a former Justice, now Ombudsman, and another justice had been to your house, nakita po kayo nakatira doon. Mr. Vicente. Opo. Senator Legarda. At hindi kay Justice Corona iyon. At kayong mag-asawa ang nakatira doon for 22 years. Mr. Vicente. Opo. Senator Legarda. Iyon lamang po ang aking katanungan. Gusto ko lamang malaman kung talagang kayo ang may-ari noon at hindi iyong sinususpetsahan namin kayo just to be able to clarify and put all the statements together. Mr. Vicente. Salamat po. Senator Legarda. Salamat po, Mr. Vicente. The Presiding Officer. The Floor Leader is recognized. Senator Honasan. Mr. President, there being no other Senator-Judges to propound questions, may we move to discharge the Witness. The Presiding Officer. The Witness is discharged. Thank you. The Floor Leader is recognized. Senator Honasan. Mr. President, we believe that the Chief Counsel for the Defense has a manifestation. The Presiding Officer. The Chief Counsel for the Defense is recognized. Mr. Cuevas. I was about to move for resetting, Your Honor, because it is already 6:40 p.m. Secondly, the witnesses whom we intend to present have already asked our permission to be able to leave, Your Honor. The Presiding Officer. Yes. The Floor Leader is recognized. Senator Honasan. Mr. President, we have other matters. The Presiding Officer. Yes. Proceed.
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Senator Honasan. Mr. President, on the participation of lawyers of Chief Justice Corona in the press conference alleging that some Senator-Judges were offered P100 million each to defy the TRO issued by the Supreme Court, the Impeachment Court required the Defense Counsel, particularly Atty. Jose M. Roy III, to cite the source of their information and the names of the Senator-Judges offered. Atty. Jose M. Roy III was cited for indirect contempt yesterday, and the penalty to be imposed was discussed in caucus. The Impeachment Court is now ready to rule, Mr. President. The Presiding Officer. Thank you. The ruling of this Court is as follows: In relation to the finding of this Court that there are sufficient and justifiable reasons for citing Atty. Jose M. Roy III for Indirect Contempt of Court, Attorney Roy is hereby reprimanded for not being candid and for taking lightly his commitment to the Court by failing and/or refusing to give the required information. This Court must assert its dignity and honor in these proceedings. The implication of the statement of one of the members of the Defense panel is rather serious because it, in effect, suggests that this Court could be paid in making a decision. And, I do not think that is a proper thing to even think about this Impeachment Court. We may be politicians but we have our own integrity and honor that we have earned over time. The Court would like to remind and sternly warn the parties that it will not tolerate any further act which would cause any disrespect to the Court or any of its Senator-Judges. So ordered. Senator Honasan. Mr. President. The Presiding Officer. The Floor Leader. Senator Honasan. Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. Roy. Mr. Presiding Officer? The Presiding Officer. Yes. Mr. Roy. May I be heard, Your Honor? The Presiding Officer. Yes. Mr. Roy. Mr. Presiding Officer, my apology and the apology of the Defense Counsel is on record. We stand by our actions. I accept your judgment and I thank you for sparing Defense Counsel. Be that as it may, it is my privilege to serve the penalty in behalf of Defense Counsel. I honor the judgment of the Court and we all stand reprimanded and we shall be guided accordingly. Thank you, Your Honor. The Presiding officer. Thank you. The Floor Leader. Senator Honasan. Mr. President, this morning, Counsel for Chief Justice Corona filed a motion to cite the House Majority Floor Leader, Neptali Gonzales Jr., guilty of Contempt of Court.
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Mr. President, to allow our colleagues time to go over the pleading filed, I move that the matter be taken up at our caucus on Monday, 19 March 2012. The Presiding Officer. Is there any objection? [Silence] There being none, the motion shall be considered by the Court in its caucus on Monday, March 19, 2012. Representative Tupas. Mr. Presiding Officer. The Presiding Officer. Yes, what is the pleasure of the Chief Prosecutor? Representative Tupas. With respect to that motion to cite in contempt the Majority Leader, we will file an opposition before the caucus on Monday. That is all, Mr. President. The Presiding Officer. It is noted. The Floor Leader. Senator Honasan. Mr. President, may we ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to make an announcement. The Presiding Officer. The Sergeant-at-Arms will now please make the announcement. The Sergeant-at-Arms. Please all rise. All persons are commanded to remain in their places until the Senate President and the Senators have left the Session Hall. Senator Honasan. Mr. President, there being no other business for the day, I move that we adjourn until two oclock tomorrow afternoon, Wednesday, March 14, 2012. The Presiding Officer. Is there any objection? [Silence] There being none, the trial is adjourned until two oclock tomorrow afternoon, Wednesday, March 14, 2012. The trial was adjourned at 6:53 p.m.

March 13 Senate Impeachment Court Record

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March 13 Senate Impeachment Court Record

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TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 2012

Republic of the Philippines

Record of the Senate

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Mr. Cuevas. Siya si Chief Justice Corona. Mr. Vicente. Oho.

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Mr. Vicente. Hindi ko na po matandaan.

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Mr. Vicente. During this time, 2009. Mr. Cuevas. 2009.

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