Low taxes “unheard of” in the business, broker says
My Exclusive
By Raïssa Robles
Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona may have been sold a luxury penthouse at a very special discounted price. He also may have enjoyed tax breaks on the same transaction, courtesy of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, sources separately confirmed to me.
What’s wrong with that, his friends and allies are likely to say. After all, it’s a business transaction done in his own private time.
Perhaps I’m being idealistic in my expectations of how a Chief Justice ought to behave. I recall my late lawyer-father – who used to teach Legal Ethics at the University of the Philippines College of Law – narrating how, in the US, when one lawyer was appointed Chief Justice of the US Federal Court, he took to dining alone or with his family in public. He was trying to avoid conflict of interest situations.
I’m sure nearly every lawyer is familiar with the saying: Caesar’s wife must be above reproach. In the case of Chief Justice Corona, did his personal transactions raise any conflict of interest issues? Did he get favorable treatment due to his position, or treatment that is not otherwise accorded ordinary citizens?
Did he violate Republic Act No. 6713 which imposes a Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards on all public officials and employees? Section 7 in particular states:
(d) Solicitation or acceptance of gifts. — Public officials and employees shall not solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan or anything of monetary value from any person in the course of their official duties or in connection with any operation being regulated by, or any transaction which may be affected by the functions of their office [underlining is mine].
Interestingly enough, Megaworld Corporation, which directly sold the condo to CJ Corona, has had legal suits before the Supreme Court while Corona sat as an Associate Justice.
I do recall it won several suits before the Supreme Court. I could not see Corona’s name being mentioned as having cast any vote for or against Megaworld in any of the suits.
The suits of Megaworld decided in the Supreme Court can be viewed by clicking on this link and this link.
UPDATE, January 8, 2011 at 7:47 P.M.: Threecommenters named “George”, Manuel Buencamino and “Josh” have just pointed out to me that I had actually provided a link to the Supreme Court website showing that Renato Corona had penned a decision in 2004 in favor of Megaworld. Looking back, I was thrown off by the phrase “Corona, J.”
My brain had quickly dismissed it because I was thinking it must be a different Corona since his first name starts with “R.” Now I realize that “J.” stands for “Justice”. Click on this link to read CJ Corona’s decision.
Megaworld has refused to comment on its transaction with CJ Corona. I tried to broach the subject with Megaworld Investment Information Officer John Hao. He said he was not allowed to speak on the issue. He told me the same thing he had told the newspapers:
The company has a privacy policy under which it is committed to maintain all client information in strictest confidence. Consistent with this commitment, the company does not, as a matter of policy, disclose information pertaining to the business dealings with its clients.
We shall comply with the official orders of the authority – if summoned – in a proper forum.
Apart from John Hao, I talked to an architect and two other sources who do not know each other and have had no dealings with CJ Corona. Both declined to be identified. One is a prominent realty broker who deals with upmarket properties in Metro Manila. I will call him Pedro. The other works in a well-known property research firm specializing in tracking high-end properties. I’ll call him Danny.
Both Pedro and Danny were amazed at the price at which CJ Corona obtained his penthouse in Bellagio Tower 1. And at how low the taxes that were imposed on this property.
Both said that if offered the same deal, they would grab it quickly.
Why the Bellagio condo “is a steal”
Bellagio 1 was completed in end 2008, according to Megaworld. Before completion, Pedro the realty broker recalled that penthouse units there were pre-selling at P80,000 to P85,000 per sq m. At that price alone, CJ Corona’s 303.5 sq m unit would have cost at least P24.28 million. Add to that P800,000 per parking slot (of which he bought three) and that would raise the cost to P26.68 million.
CJ Corona’s penthouse was still cheaper than the pre-selling price.
According to the Deed of Absolute Sale between CJ Corona and Megaworld, the transaction was sealed and notarized on December 16, 2009 – or way past the pre-selling period. After a building is finished, units automatically rise in price because there is no longer the risk of non-completion, explained Danny of the property research firm.
This means, Danny said, CJ Corona would have normally been charged a higher price than the pre-selling price. And yet, according to the Deed of Absolute Sale, he paid only P14.5 million for the penthouse and three parking slots of 12.5 sq m each.
This means he actually owns 341 sq m in Bellagio. This means he only paid P42,521.99 per sq m, both Pedro and Danny said after their calculations.
“It’s really a steal I tell you,” Pedro said.
Portion of the Deed of Absolute Sale shows the terms of sale
Danny of the property research firm then placed CJ Corona’s purchase in the context of the prevailing market. He said that as a research firm, they track only developments they consider “premium”, “Grade A” and “Grade B” in five areas: Bonifacio Global City (also called BGC or The Fort) where Bellagio 1 is located; the Makati Central Business District or CBD, the Ortigas CBD, Eastwood and Rockwell.
Danny said Bellagio 1 belongs to the highest or premium grade category because of its location, “exclusivity”, floor area per unit, amenities and finishing.
To give you an idea, here are photos from the Megaworld website showing the interior of a Bellagio III unit:
Residents share in the use of the following:
- A 220 sq m swimming pool inclusive of the wading pool
- Sandy beach pool and water feature
- Aromatherm and SPA (male and female)
- Aromatherm Electronic Capsule (4 in 1)
- Hydrotherapy tub Steam
- Vichy Shower Wet table
- Heated Pool SPA in Glass Enclosure
- Fitness gym
- Music/piano function room, game room (billiards and table tennis)
- Day care center and play area
Danny said that of the 41 residential buildings located at BGC or The Fort, only six are considered premium buildings: Bellagio 1, 2 and 3, Essensa, Pacific Plaza and Serendra.
Danny noted that as of end 2008 when Bellagio 1 was completed, the average price of a condo unit in the Bonifacio area ranged from a low of P88,000 per sq m to a high of P115,000 per sq m.
“And he (Corona) got it for around P40,000 (a year later). Anyone would be amazed…because it is a Bellagio,” Danny said.
To give me an idea of how grossly under-priced Corona’s unit was, Danny said that at that time that CJ Corona bought his unit, condo units made by developer DMCI Homes were then selling at P42,000 per sq m. – which is the price at which Corona bought his property. DMCI projects are not high-end and are located in the outskirts of Parañaque, Quezon City and Taguig – not in the heart of Bonifacio, he said.
This is how DMCI Homes describes its market in its own website:
DMCI Homes is the country’s first Triple A builder/developer of premium quality, urban-friendly, serviced communities for young growing families of modest income that aspire to live comfortably near their place of work, of study and of leisure.
Hmmm. Families “of modest income” would have been able to afford CJ Corona’s Bellagio condo if only they were given the same terms that Corona got from Megaworld.
But Danny said, “You can’t get a Bellagio being sold at P42,000 per sq m. It’s so undervalued.” Especially because Bellagio 1 was the only building completed in 2008 with units sized over 300 sq m. The usual unit sizes being built in 2008 ranged from 220 sq m to 230 sq m, Danny said. And that was what made the Bellagio penthouses – that CJ Corona got – quite attractive.
From a purely business” standpoint, Danny found it “quite suspicious” for a developer to sell a prime unit at a loss”without any strings attached. “Maybe Megaworld has ties with Corona. I don’t know,” Danny said.
Why was Corona’s condo purchase taxed so low?
Aside from the low purchase price, CJ Corona seems to have benefited in the transaction in the form of low taxes.
The law taxes the buying and selling of property. The law required CJ Corona, as the buyer, to pay to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) a Documentary Stamp Tax equivalent to 1.5% of either the Selling Price or the Market/Zonal Value, “whichever is higher.”
The law also required the seller, Megaworld, to pay BIR a “Withholding Tax” equivalent to 5% of the Selling Price or the Market/Zonal Value, “whichever is higher.”
After payment, the BIR issues to the buyer a document called the Certificate Authorizing Registration or CAR. This details how much taxes were paid for the transaction.
In the case of CJ Corona’s condo purchase, everything seemed aboveboard at first glance. The tax was based on the Selling Price of P14.5 million because this was higher than the “Market/Zonal Value” of this piece of property.
CJ Corona’s CAR showed that BIR Revenue Officer Gerry O. Dumayas calculated the Market/Zonal Value of CJ Corona’s property at P6,827,200.
Wait a minute, I thought: P6,827,200 (the Market/Zonal Value) divided by 341 sq m would only give a Market/Zonal Value of P20,021 per sq m.
I remembered what Pedro earlier told me. To get the Zonal Value of an area, go to the BIR website and click on Zonal Values (under Special Sites).
He recalled that around 2008 Zonal Value for upscale Bonifacio area, where Bellagio stands, was even then around P80,000 per sq m.
I had to go back to both Pedro and Danny to confirm if I did the calculations correctly – that the BIR gave CJ Corona’s property a Zonal Value of P20,021 per sq m. instead of somewhere around P80,000.
I asked both of them to do the calculations. They came up with the same finding. His property was indeed under-taxed.
“Assuming that is true, that (kind of tax rate) is unheard of” for the Bonifacio area, Pedro said.
“That happens in our industry,” he said.
What happens in your industry, I asked.
Pedro said: “You know, you want savings (on your taxes), you pay only half, you save 25%, the other 25%, you know….”
“That was what was happening in the BIR at least before. Now they’re stricter. I really respect (the current tax chief Kim) Henares,” he added.
I asked both Pedro and Danny to confirm the following – if we assume that the Market/Zonal Value for the Bonifacio area at the time of CJ Corona’s purchase was around P80,000 per sq m, that would mean his 341 sq m property would have a Zonal Value of P27.28 million.
Since P27.28 million is higher than the P14.5 million he paid for the property, the tax he paid should have been based on the Market/Zonal Value and not on the selling price because the Market/Zonal Value is higher, right?
Both Pedro and Danny said “Yes.”
Under the law, CJ Corona had to pay documentary stamp tax equivalent to 1.5% of the selling price or Market/Zonal Value, “whichever was higher”. The BIR document shows he paid P217,655 – or 1.5% of the selling price since this was higher than the Zonal Value given in the document.
However, if the BIR had used P80,0000 per sq m as the Zonal Value, that would have made the Zonal Value P27.28 million for CJ Corona’s property higher than the Selling Price. This would mean, the Zonal Value would have been used as basis for calculating the Doc Stamp Tax. This would mean, CJ Corona should have been charged P409,200 instead of P217,655 by the BIR.
The same understatements are true for the Withholding Tax paid for this transaction. Instead of the P725,511.25 that was paid, it should have been P1.364 million.
All in all, the BIR seemed to have waived P830,033.80 in potential tax revenues in this transaction alone – P191,545 from the buyer CJ Corona and P638,488.80 from the seller Megaworld.
I tried to reach BIR Revenue Officer Gerry O. Dumayas last Friday. All I got was the answering machine in his office. I must have phoned him five times. He wasn’t in his office or was not picking up the phone.
Perhaps someone higher up asked Dumayas to do it?
I also tried to reach Supreme Court Administrator Midas Marquez but he wasn’t picking up. Other reporters have asked him about CJ Corona’s condo. Marquez has defended him saying CJ Corona could well afford to buy a condo.
What CJ Corona has admitted so far
CJ Corona’s Bellagio penthouse is cited as part of the evidence to show his alleged “culpable violation of the Constitution” and “betrayal of pubic trust.” The accusation against him reads:
2.4. Respondent is likewise suspected and accused of having accumulated ill-gotten wealth, acquiring assets of high values and keeping bank accounts with huge deposits. It has been reported that Respondent has, among others, a 300-sq. meter apartment in a posh Mega World Property development at the Fort in Taguig.
CJ Corona recently submitted his reply to the Senate. He denied the allegation it was ill-gotten. But he admitted owning it. He said:
Finally, Complainants allege in par. 2.4 that “reports” state CJ Corona acquired a 300-sq. m. apartment in the Fort, Taguig. Complainants speculate that he has not reported this in his SALN and that its price is beyond his income as a public official. CJ Corona admits that he and his wife purchased on installment a 300-sq. m. apartment in Taguiog, declared in his SALN when they acquired it.
From this statement, it is very clear that Corona claims he did not pay for the condo in lumpsum but “on installment”.
Pedro the realty broker told me Corona could easily prove what he said by presenting a document called the “Contract to Sell”. This is normally notarized in order to protect the buyer while paying on installment since the Condominium Certifcate of Title remains with the seller until everything is paid. The Contract to Sell states the installment terms and interest rate.
I haven’t seen any Contract to Sell. I don’t know if one exists. Only Corona or Megaworld or the notary public can produce it.
What I obtained from a source I can’t name is the Deed of Absolute Sale showing that the Corona couple paid in full for 38-B in Bellagio Tower 1, facing the Manila Golf and Country Club; as well as three basement parking slots of 12.5 sq m each.
You can view the Deed of Absolute Sale below, after the video.
To get an idea of how exclusive this property is, watch the video below on its triplet tower, Bellagio III:
DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE for Bellagio 1, page one
DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE for Bellagio 1, page two
CERTIFICATE AUTHORIZING REGISTRATION, BIR
CONDOMINIUM CERTIFICATE OF TITLE -CJ CORONA’S CONDO at Bellagio Tower 1, 38th floor
CONDOMINIUM CERTIFICATE OF TITLE – parking slot 1
CONDOMINIUM CERTIFICATE OF TITLE – parking slot 2
CONDOMINIUM CERTIFICATE OF TITLE – parking slot 3
Was the 203 sqm lot in McKinley Hills also underpriced? At P6.2 milllion, the per sqm price comes out to 30,542. I heard that lot prices there were offered at around 70k per sqm, and similar transactions in that project should be checked to determine the true prices and the discount. In similar fasion, there are 4 penthouse units in the Bellagio. How much did the other 3 units sell for. Senator Kiko was questioning the Megaworld director along these lines, but was not given an answer. Common sense questioning will give to rest the issue of whether a discount was given or not. Ano ba talaga ang binayad nung 3 pang Penthouse buyers.
wala palang kwenta ang mga unit ng Megaworld, nasisira ng bagyo saka tumatagas ang tubig,
low quality ika nga…….
FR a commenter named HENRY: “wala palang kwenta ang mga unit ng Megaworld, nasisira ng bagyo saka tumatagas ang tubig, low quality ika nga…….” Yamo na low quality units ng Megaworld, Henry. Hi-tech naman ang mga presyo nila. At yung milyones mong ibabayad tiyak na hindi tatagas… safe sila sa banko ng Megaworld!
Why didn’t they discuss the price of the parking lot? We bought a 2 slots in a Megaworld project in 1997 and it was half a million each. If the cost of a slot in 2008 was 1 million, then the condo comes out to 11.5 million only, or 37.5k per sqm. Unless they got a special price for defective parking, this looks like a ridiculously low price. So from 80k to 37.5k per sqm. That’s more than a 50% discount. I suggest that the prosecution lawyers do the math to include the cost of the parking slots. There are three of those and those slots are sold separately from the unit. Please please do the math so you could strengthen your case.
You’re right.
We all forgot about the parking slots, except you.
I meant the prosecution do the math. Sorry wasn’t clear on that. Listening to the testimony yesterday, they valued a 300 sqm penthouse at 80k per sqm, therefore 24M. Comparing it to the 14.5M purchase price led to the conclusion of an approximately 10M discount. The Megaworld testimony yesterday detailed a 5M damage discount, a 15% cash discount, and a Lehman Brothers failure discount of around than 1M or more. I think it was Sen. Recto who tried to calculate how the amount of 14.5M was derived.
Comparing the 24M market value to the 14.5M purchase price is not an apples to apples comparison though, since the 24M figure being discussed yesterday did not include the 3 parking slots. I don’t know the value of each slot, but an assumption of 700k to 1M per adds 2.1M to 3M to the value. This is not an inconsequential figure and should be explained by Megaworld. If they gave it for free, then graft is in play.
superb investigative work,frankly im curious if the defense team of mr corona professional fees are really waive?my perception is it is a well funded team.
Your articles are really nice and informative. I am following your blog since the day I discovered it from the web. It’s way much better to read your articles than to watch TV news. By the way, isang article sana ang gusto kong i-request from you, about Benjamin Abalos. He is the root of all evil after the 2004 elections in my opinion.
Thank you.
You want to read about Mr Hamborger?
Yes definitely, if you may! I find it hard to find articles that points to his misdeeds while he is the commissioner. It seems he has totally escaped the law for all his wrongdoings! Imagine, the comelec office, who is sitting right in front of the intramuros fire station, was burnt to ashes kung kelan may ongoing investigation about anomalies sa nakalipas na election? He wouldn’t surely have done that if he has not amassed millions(if not billions) in return to the favor he gave to GMA. He held the next most powerful position in the land after the president. (I’m not saying that it actually is but he has control on who can sit as the next president).
Sorry for posting out of topic comments by the way! Related kasi ito about GMA at mga galamay nya. (-,-). Maybe I just had the wrong impression about him? But by the way he speaks, I must say that he is much like Pichay who can speak with extreme confidence telling unbelievable lies infront of the camera. Para silang mga Avengers (sa kabaligtran sa movie) together with the generals surrounding GMA at that time, ang mga tagapagtanggol ng pandak!
I also agree with will…please d the same with abalos and possibly other justices too then all politicos
Yes, include Cong. Pichay also.
He is so confident on his lies that I will not be surprised if he will believe it himself too.
Pasensya na OT na po.
This case is more than what the eyes can see. Such a transaction cannot be done without the participation of others. This is really good & exciting whatever will be the result of the case. Other participant(s) will now have to think if their action or monetary gain is worth it, knowing that it be uncovered in the future. Deterrent is at times the best way to stop this type of transaction.
Gara ng palusot ni Defense Counsel Cuevas pagkatapos mabisto na sa Impeachment Court ang SALN ni Corona na pilit sana nilang gustong itago. Sabi nya FAVORABLE DAW SA DEFENSE ung paglabas ng SALN ng Client niya. HAHAHAHA! His lame reason, altho mi konting value ay, it proved that Corona did indeed file his yearly SALN. But had this “brilliant” (DIUMANO) counsel thought of that IT WAY WAY MUCH FAVORED THE PROSECUTION BECOZ IT REVEALED IN INCONTROVERTIBLE BLACK AND WHITE — or should it be BLANKONG WHITE lang? — THAT CHEAP JUSTICE CORONA DID NOT LIST DOWN HIS INFAMOUS, highly documented by our RAISSA, P14.5 MILLION BELLAGIO CONDO IN ANY OF HIS DECLARED SALN? BINGO!!
WHAT ABOUT IT, CUEVAS? Baka mamiyabas ka na mula ngayon! Hehehehe!
Tama ka @AUGUST C FERNANDO
Nakasulat ang basehan ngayon kung unipormado ang ari-arian, pangautang, at buhay halaga ni Renato Corona.
Dito malalaman ngayon ang sangkaterbang agam agam ngayon ng sambayanang pilipinas.
Maliliwanagan, mapapatunayan ang lahat ng itinatagong mga ari-arian at yaman.
Dahil legal ang SALN at may kasamang kaparusahan kung nagsinungaling si R Corona.
Lilitaw at napapatunayan kung nagsasabi ng tutuo ang mga Coronas.
HINDI SANA MAGKAMALI ANG PROSEKUSYON DITO.
@mel & august
Mamiyabas, kapampangan si august sabi ko na sayo mel
ahh, makaniyan.
Eh ngeni ko pa balong kapampangan pala eh i August.
eh di masanting para atin kong kasabi keni.
kamusta ka wari @AUGUST C FERNANDO.
taga nukarin ka? eh i ima at ita ko taga bacolor ra.
ditak mung balo kong kapampangan pero makaintindi ko.
o sige neh?
Raïssa, you might be wondering what I just posted here.
i just wrote, it is only now that I knew @AUGUST C FERNANDO as a kapampangan.
That’s good. and asked how are you @AUGUST…
I wrote that my parents are from bacolor pampanga.
END.
Raïssa, Sorry for the Troll again for the nth time. pahamak si Johnny lin.
LOL!
—–
@Johnny lin
You wrote, “Mamiyabas, kapampangan si august sabi ko na sayo mel”
hey máte, how would I know every comment & replies you threw at Raïssa’s blog site.
we’d have to put a stop to this trolling shots máte,
otherwise visitors would be annoyed and label the blog site a favorite of JOKEr arroyo.
DAKAL SALAMAT KEKA YU NGAN.
Fr JOHNNY lin: “@mel & august Mamiyabas, kapampangan si august sabi ko na sayo mel”
Johnny Guitar… soweee… WRONG MISTAKE NA MALI! August is as Rizalian as Lorenzo Sumolong. As pure Tagalog as Amang Rodriguez minus the Queen’s English! HAHAHAHA! The only Pampango term I know is “mekeni, abe?” na pinsang-buo ng Batangueno “Aru, abe!”
@fernando
Ha ha ha, you say depend like GMA, Mamiyabas like mel, i said you are kapampangan only, idid not say you come from pampanga, you are kapampangan by speech like mevsonetines. i am also Rizalian from Pampang, pampang ng Pasig
You are really from super Rizal, like your real name preceded by Augustus Caesar
I rationalize now like your favorite lawyer Cuevas or favorite punching bag shall I say, he he he.
@Raissa we are only happy bbecause SALN was finally proving non disclosure. Sorry too.
The prosecutors are so bobo, all they should say “what Corona did was submit an untruthful SALN, what we accused was non disclosure of SALN. Submit is different from Disclosure in terms of truthfulness. Under the constitution, public official, more so with Corona being the highest magistrate of the court of the land, must be TRUTHFUL with SALN Disclosure in all its contents, income and assets including conjugal properties bank accounts, source of conjugal income and true market values of properties based on deeds of sale. That we are presenting are documents proving Corona lied in his SALN which untruthfulness is culpable violation of constitution and betrayal of public trust. That the documents showing millions of undisclosed properties in his SALN are evidences of ill gotten wealth. All of these are stated on the Article II impeachment charge”
Did I say it right like Cuevas, kasangga kong Rizal
August, Tagalugin mo nga yung sinabi ko baka nagbabasa yung tunay na kapampangan kabalen ni Mel, si Lapid, I mean pareng Leon Guerero,
From Johnny lin, somewhere: “August, Tagalugin mo nga yung sinabi ko baka nagbabasa yung tunay na kapampangan kabalen ni Mel, si Lapid, I mean pareng Leon Guerero,”
Linsyok, pare ko, at gagawin mo pa akong interpreter! You know, after I retired prematurely the day my office was reduced to ashes and debris by ruthless, soulless, Godless Middle East punks on Sept 11, 2001, I no longer wanna do ANY KIND OF JOB! Sunog na katawan ko sa trabaho. 25 yrs in Pinas govt (NEDA). 20 years in corporate America (Wall Street). Enough! The only exertion/exercise I have been doing since then was whenever I use my ATM to haul off what Uncle Sammy’s sending me monthly — if you get my drift, hehehe!
Sayang na cuevas membro pa naman nang lglisya ni kristo pero napakasinungaling pala at gagawin lahat maipagtanggol lamang ang thief justice corona? Tanong ko lang naghiwalay na ba si thief justice corona at mrs.cristina corona dahil nakita ko hindi isinama ni thief justice sa kanyang SALN ang asawa? Bakit nga pala sinabi nang defense team na nakatulong sa kanila ang paglabas nang SALN gayon noong una ay halos ayaw pag usapan at ilabas kahit ni thief justice corona kanyang na ba ka BOBO mga taong ito? Unti unti na lumalabas Baho mo thief corona, konting panahon nalang at magsasama na kayo ni abalos sa kulungan? Magbalot balot kana thief & mrs.thief cristina corona?
Congratulations Ms. Raissa for a wonderful job. Just now, i found out that Corona did not own any vehicles for the year 2009 based on his SALN. All the Prosecution should do is to call the LTO official concerned to prove that there are vehicles registered under his name.
GOOD POINT!
Chances are not in his name but to his children. Associate justices are provided free cars, one is Camry and another SUV and their drivers are SC employees, same with CA justices, government paid driver with one car. CJ has 3 free cars and 2 drivers, the reason Mrs Corona delayed her resignation date until she could avail of the car privilege of CJ. Neat ha!
Justices were supposed to buy new ones before Christmas but that decision was shelved due to the tempest in SC. Better investigate how many cars his children have, how much and how were they purchased? Another Megaworld like sweet deal? Clue: Try finding out which justice has Audi. This company has a long standing unresolved court case between the franchise owner and Audi Germany.
yeah, but the wife has to have a car. The car that she uses when she goes to the supermarket every weekend. Otherwise, the presumption is they use the “red plated ones” even during their private trips.
Hindi ba puwede red plate sa weekend?
They use government cars 7 days a week including drivers except Sundays. Two cars for SC justices, one for CA justices.
Pwede naman miss raissa pero dapat may travel order. Dapat justified ang paggamit ng car at pagsunog ng gas. Hehehe pero baka exempted nanaman ang Supreme Court. I will not be surprised. =)
He did not disclose the Bellagio property in his 2009 SALN (as of 31 december 2009). Said property was bought on 16 December 2009 based on the Deed of Absolute Sale issued by the RD of Taguig City. Corona said, the “apartment” was bought in installment, he did not declare the same in his liabilities.
lOOK AT THE 2010 – that’s his disclosure as of Dec 31, 2009.
@ juan caballero
Hindi nga na disclosed ni thief justice corona ang asawang si cristina corupt corona eh ang penthouse pa sa taguig etc etc… napakasinungaling talaga ni thief corona. ano kaya masasabi niya BUKING na BUKING na si thief, napakasingaling na mandarambong at walang dilikadisa… cum laude na Magnanakaw ha ha ha…He don’t deserve to in the Supreme Court a day long. Resign na thief corona sayang gastos namin sa magnanakaw na katulad mo? Nagpaka TUTA ka kasi?
This 14 million BELLAGIO property is not listed in any SALN declared annually by CJ Corona. The highest property asset declared is 6.8 million pesos in Taguig. If Corona claims that one Taguig property is the Bellagio then he lied on his SALN. Either way he was untruthful. Mafiosos call liars, BUGIARDO, rhyming with BELLAGIO. Well, Corona lawyers could testify his property name is Bugiardo, not Bellagio, he he he,
Corona’s defense team though legally skillful, lost the greatest battle already, SALN DISCLOSURE. There is now basis for comparison with acquired properties.
His fellow justices refused to interfere despite the secret pleading of Marquez to them. Corona eventually was abandoned by the ocho-ocho justices prompting Marquez to announce that Corona gave permission to release his SALN, done only after the Senate ordered it as saving face gesture.
The rest is posturing by Corona lawyers, their legal skills immaterial already. Last night, short lived eerie silence prevailed in their close door post trial conference when one young lawyer objected to the media declaration of Cuevas that none of them saw the SALNs before, tantamount to incompetence. This lawyer protecting professional future. SALN non disclosure was in the Articles of Impeachment and insanely inconceivable to declare publicly that NOBODY among the lawyers saw the SALNs.
Age and memory lapse of Cuevas catching on him shown by his profuse apology to Drilon and Enrile. Cuevas expertise on diversionary tricks is failing him. Expect withdrawal of one lawyer in few weeks for made up reason. Lets pray that Cuevas will not suffer CVA from too much brain pressure.
GAME OVER,TOUCHE!
Hi, Raissa
Palagay ko ay tapos na ang laban dahil nasisilip na ang malinaw na katotohanan. Sa SALN ni Thief Justice Corona na 18.5 million pesos for 2010 ay kulang pa kung icoconsider itong Bellagio na may market value na 25 to 30 million pesos. At sa 5 properties na inamin na niya ay nagkakahalaga sa declared value na 30+ million pesos. Good riddance, Thief Justice.
Ika nga awit na ang lahat ng “”and now the end is near”" from the song “”His Way”".
Di magtatagal ay makakapagpapahinga ka na ng kaunti sa kasong ito, Rissa, at ibang personalities naman ang maaaring hahalughugin mo?
Salamat din sa mga bloggers ng issue na ito. It has been an interesting and exciting reading for me.
More power.
Hi Raïssa.
Good to re-read your articles again, including comments posted preceding the trial start date.
The comments posting was off for two days, except for @Johnny lin’s posties.
At least today, we got to read a lot of the comments due to recent developments.
I hope you’re AOK, not sure if you got an interview from R Corona’s media liaison spokesperson(s).
ARe you attending the Senate Impeachment trial sessions? It would be nice you are.
We look forward to your investigative reporting, and an update this impeachment case.
THANKS IN ADVANCE. Take care.
Good job Ms Raissa Robles. More power. Pwede ba kitang e pm dito?
Sorry ha,
Ano yung “pm”?
Fr RAISSA somwhere here: “Sorry ha, Ano yung ‘pm’?”…. PASABAD NGA: Raissa, the dude just meant PRIVATE MESSAGE…. PM in Net abbreviation/parlance.
PM=Personal Message
PM =private message
Pls send to raissarobles.com@gmail.com
Wow. I’m amazed with the writer’s writing. Galing! You have very detailed information there. Keep it up!
EXPOSE: all in one movie operation in real life. Midas Marquez is the Yes Man,Transporter and Terminator that is why he is the Kick Ass of Corona, No wonder he smooches Corona’s butt unabashedly.
World Bank recent audit report found out that SC loans were spent without internal control by Court Administrator, appointed by Corona when he assumed Chief Justice position. Midas is the sole responsible officer who Approves, Disburses and End User of court supplies and travel privileges without limit up to 500,000 pesos a month, increase from 200,000 as soon as he was appointed.
@Johnny lin
You got it right Pedro!
No wonder why he is so proactive and high strung in his defense of his benefactor.
According to newsinfo.inquirer, “[W]ithout naming Jose Midas Marquez, the World Bank said “this senior official, due to the combination of his appointments and functions, was the requestor of the services, the approver of the terms of reference, the end-user of the services provided by the firm, the authorizer of contract extensions, and the authorizer of payments to the firm.”
It said this arrangement, among others, “present[ed] a conflict of interest and eliminate[d] internal checks and balances applicable to the procurement and disbursement functions.”
—————–
Hey @Johnny lin
I notice that you ‘monopolize’ the right side column bar of Raïssa’s index page for ‘Latest comments:’. How come it takes our comments to appear, whereas yours – just as more quicker.
Ang lakas mo sa moderator, ah?
@mel
I think the main frame of Raissa froze thats why I notified her about problems her fans might have Lol
@Johnny lin
You baffle the creeps on my end.
are you a smart–aleck that you seem to twit on no end…
ultimong website server side ni Raïssa, alam mo.
nakakapag hinayang ka @Johnny lin.
later on, you might claim you have all the IP addresses of the commenters here.
or you’re just pulling @ricky’s leg because of his wealth flaunting
- see related post by @Mel January 17, 2012 at 8:48 pm
Sorry Raïssa for the troll for the nth time.
pahamak si @Johnny lin
@mel
What do you mean “nakapanghihinayang ako”? My life has been very fruitful with successful cerebral children.
For the sake of trumpling his unnecessary cocky attitude, what I told @ricky was not far from truth though not in lump sum preferring to remain anonymous. Due to constant travel, I dont use a personal computer, no stored files because of God given gift of photographic memory, few email contacts, no fb or twitter friends, dont have own IP address because I use open wifi from an ipad bought from a homeless to be discarded easily, participate only on intellectual blogs like, Raissa, Newsbreak/Rapper with the common purpose for a Great Philippines by promoting changes on our current corrupt culture.
I’ve been called many names, you tagged me smart aleck; @ricky called me rich SOB, @arsenio labelled me fortune teller, @gloriatomas thought I was a lawyer or bar flunker, @august sarcastically addressed me idol, @nona named me a fake eonophile, @saxnviolins belittled me “dangerous” with skimpy knowledge because I debunked his theories culled from his legal education, @jcc asked me if I was a GMA stalker for knowing so much about her personals, while another guy called me a medical specialist. i am a retired professional “company” strategic analyst having tasted the luxurious trappings of the rich and famous. Shakespearean, whats in a name?
Being wealthy is worthless if not shared with the unfortunates, schools and churches, never with politicians nor to flaunt indiscriminatelyRipley?
From Raissa somewhere over the rainbow: “@august sarcastically addressed me idol….” Raissa if I am the AUGUST you were referring to… sorry to disappoint you. I never “sarcastically addressed” you as my idol…. I remember writing something like that once… but it was NOT — repeat NOT — you who I addressed it to. Ok ba, TUNAY KONG IDOL? (This capitalized part is under oath!)
Sigue na nga.
Sandali,m paalam muna sa lahat.
got to work.
To all Raissa fans and disputants, here is not hot item related to the Thief Justice Corona impeachment case.
Just off the Phil. Daily Enquirer:
Final tranche canceled due to irregular expenses
By Michael Lim Ubac
Philippine Daily Inquirer
12:08 am | Sunday, January 15th, 2012
0share5 5
The Supreme Court under the watch of Chief Justice Renato Corona has been weighed and found wanting.
The World Bank has uncovered questionable procurements and disbursements in the high court in connection with the Judicial Reform Support Project (JRSP). The project, partly funded by a World Bank loan of $21.9 million (P930.75 million at an exchange rate of P42.50 to $1), was designed to restore efficiency in the dispensation of justice in the country.
For complete reportt:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/128095/world-bank-loan-to-supreme-court-high-risk
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Forget about 45 or 5 properties. Just the Bellagio condo and this news item alone will hang Thief Justice Corona.
Impeached Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona has called a “hoax” a list of 40 real estate properties he and his kin allegedly own.
And he could be right.
Has anyone bothered to check the breakdown list of the ‘alleged’ 45 properties owned by R Corona and kin?
Check item no 33. TCT No. RT-106747(226256) it is “in the name of National Housing Authority”!
“That list of the LRA [Land Registration Authority] is a total fabrication. It is a hoax,” Corona said.
R Corona refers to 40 (perhaps admitting 5 are spot on), but the Land Registration Authority list contains 45. And it was signed by EULALIO C. DIAZ III Administrator. I do recall R Corona saying in a video clip interview that he was his student, and felt sad about it. Not really sure if he was directly referring to EULALIO C. DIAZ III – the clip was that short.
R Corona’s last available statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) in 2002, only 5 of the 45 are registered. 40 properties a hoax, Corona says
There is a discrepancy here which could result to a technical issue that could favor the defense team. How reliable is the LRA Administrator? Could he actually help the defense of this willful blunder? Or was it just a technical glitch or typing error? If yes, then the whole list could indeed be a hoax?
Sino kaya ang nakuryente dito?
Here are the abs-cbnnews.com web links
- Prosecutors: Coronas amassed 40 properties in 9 years (By RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News Posted at 01/12/2012 4:45 PM | Updated as of 01/13/2012 12:20 PM)
- (Click here for list of Corona’s alleged properties. pdf format docu with the scanned fax copy image embedded.)
@mel
Thats common in the Philippines like in buying cars, they do not change the original name of registrant just in case they want to rent or resale the property or car, less paper work, less bribe, easy to cheat on income tax., aside from obvious reason, hiding the source of income. One possibility implied there is # 33 TCT was obtained from LRA because somebody gave the prosecutors a Deed of Absolute Sale and Tax document on that property with Corona as buyer and a third party seller. The prosecutors and LRA officials are not that stupid, they know every tricks because to some of them, its their modus operandi too.Corona answered that way because thats what he thought if it were really his. You were blindsided, how many thousands more like you, thats what Corona was aiming with his press conference, neat eh! We’ll see.
LRA signatory official Atty Bautista, Corona said, he is his student, what he meant for mentioning it is puzzling? If he taught him legal ethics, Then his student learned well while the teacher does not practice what he preaches.
@Johnny lin
Your wrote, “You were blindsided, how many thousands more like you, …”
LOL!
Thanks for that @Johnny lin. This is one thing about what is “… common in the Philippines like in buying cars, they do not change the original name of registrant just in case they want to rent or resale the property or car, less paper work, less bribe, easy to cheat on income tax., aside from obvious reason, hiding the source of income.”
If that practice is that common, doesn’t that become a source of swindling or graft? What if the ‘Deed of Absolute Sale and Tax document on that property with Corona as buyer and a third party seller’ was also manufactured? Any person (Coronas?) of interest (including House Prosecutors) may innocently be a victim of this rort, right?
Does CAVEAT common, allowed or legal in the Phils.?
@mel
Hard earned money, buying properties, every precautionary measures must be observed, despite, being swindled is unavoidable. Corrupted money, they dont care besides same people work in govt so they could short cut paper process. Carnapping is big business because of illegal connivance with govt employees. Even computers are manipulated. Pathetic culture of corruption because it was unabated for decades so same class of people have to maintain lifestyle unaffordable thru legal income. Kids and spouses keeping with other Jones spouses and kids is a big factor of such impunity in Philippine society.
Story in today’s news, QC tax assessor office computer system hacked by own IT tech employees posting paid tax without money remittance but fake receipts issued to Sulu Hotel tax payment.
Another story, Philhealth premium paid by American company for its outsourcing deposited in private accounts by Philhealth employees totalling more than 100 million pesos. Both cases could only happened because top officials are in the caper. That is the formidable task of cleaning government if no big names are not sent to jail as examples.
@Johnny lin
You wrote, “LRA signatory official Atty Bautista”.
The controversial LRA Corona list was signed by EULALIO C. DIAZ III Administrator.
Who is Atty Bautista?
Atty Bautista released all the Deeds according to CJ Corona.
is atty bautista the mario bautista of the prosecution lead lawyer?
if yes, is he too the LRA Signatory official?
sorry máte, kulang ang sukli. trivial question lang. never mind.
Latest news: esguerra admitted only 5 properties inCorona SALN.
Corona will oppose subpoena to his family. WHY, If they are clean? Heres is why they should testify:
Corona in interview yesterday, said the properties in Pasay City/ Paranaque were listed in his son inlaw and daughter names because they were given by inlaws. Accepted, but do the in laws have means to buy all those properties and give them away? Corona has now dragged his in laws into the mess, thay have to testify and show ITR.
ABS CBN news has unearthed a property in Mckinley worth 16 million pesos transferred to Corona daughter in 2008 and another property in 2005 in Makati. Thats Ok, yet the question is did the children have the mean? So show their ITR and income. if Coronas bought them, where they reported in their SALN before transferring, how were they paid? Was the means of payment commensurate to Corona reported income in 2005 & 2008? he does not have to disprove if all 45 properties are legitimate accusations. Corona has to prove that whatever properties acquired by him, spouse, children and in laws were from legitimate income supported by SALN. That is what the accusation is all about, CAN THEY AFFORD LEGALLY BUYING THE PROPERTIES.
Unrelated news but inspirational to exposure crusade of Raissa’s blog:
North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Mendoza apprehended 13 LTO officers and agents mulcting motorists and placed them in jail immediately. If governors and mayors start performing and inspired by PNoy, Gov Mendoza and Raissa quest, the people could start believing we could become a great nation again.
Also unemplyment went down by .4% ; not much but good news.
Inquirer discovered 19 properties registered to Corona and children worth 200 million pesos bought from 2004-2010, span of 6 years.
@Johnny lin
You wrote, “Unrelated news but inspirational to exposure crusade of Raissa’s blog”
Where did you read it from @Johnny lin?
That’s good then, hopefully more to follow, and do it for their Whole community and because it is The Right Thing to do with or without publicity.
You also wrote, “… the people could start believing we could become a great nation again.”.
Was the Philippines’ once a great nation?
I don’t recall. We can be a better nation or generation of Filipinos.
What makes a country a ‘great nation’? Lawyer Esguerra might bring it to some forum and ask it to be defined – formally.
——
As for R Corona’s children benefiting from his ‘exploits’, very unfortunate. Difficult to blast tirades on children of an embattled and accused Corrupt Dispenser.
What makes you wonder is how they look at themselves or one another around the family dinner table knowing that … and attends Novenas of some sort as if ‘All is forgiven, and forgotten’ at the confession box to do bigger exploits next time around.
It is the religious mentality of commit, confess, and commit again. No Restitution or remorse.
@Mel
“Was the Philippines’ once a great nation?” – I’m currently reading Rizal’s “The Indolence of the Filipino” and for me the answer to your question is YES. But back then, we were not yet a ‘nation’ per se but mere group of islands ruled by Rajahs. Our downfall started when the Spaniards came and that’s the cost of having the name “Philippines”.
Philippines? Named after a Prince of Spain who died of ?
You rewrote & answered, “‘Was the Philippines’ once a great nation?’ – I’m currently reading Rizal’s “The Indolence of the Filipino” and for me the answer to your question is YES.” Reading your post, you were leading to that we couldn’t have been since the archipelago has Rajahs on as many as 7100 + islands & islets.
I disagree, unless someone debunks me.
Has the nation of 7100 islands ever benefited from the Spanish colonization? What does Rizal’s “The Indolence of the Filipino” say about that?
SORRY FOR THE TROLL Raïssa.
@Mel,
I said we were not yet a ‘nation’ per se….Our downfall started when the Spaniards came and that’s the cost of having the name “Philippines”. . If you are interested in reading The Indolence.., just Google for the English version.
Children of legal age become fair target when they are complicit participants. They could not claim innocence because of the benefits they are enjoying. Those titles could not be transferred without their signatures and they know fully well the father is a government employee with comparable measly salary despite the lofty title.
It just dawned on me, there must be an extended family gathering in the Corona’s household about the impending summons and subpoenas on the ‘kin’ – including in laws.
Should there be a consensus, and if the majority so decides – they might convince Renato to quit or resign to save the disgrace it will fall on the BIGGER FAMILY.
If Renato remains stubborn, he could fight it out – come rain or shine. I guess a collegial census or decision may not eventuate. BUT I HOPE HE’LL REALIZE, TO PUSH THRU OR NOT – A LOT OF DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE.
He’ll just have to cop a lot but not the whole mud – cause it will surely stick.
Perhaps, during the impeachment trial – one of his lawyers might do a broken arrow slip to save face.
Mel, news from Inquirer. Could you attach link,pls?
kung mapatunayang totoo ang lahat ng ito sana ang kayamanan ay nadadala sa kabilang buhay.
Para me extension ang pagpapakasasa kaso di ganon eh di madadala sa hukay pero pagbabayaran sa kabilang buhay.
what these corrupt idiots think is that they are buying a piece of “heaven” here on Earth…what they failed to realize is that once it blows onto their faces..the “HELL” begins.. sa ugali ba naman nating mga Pilipino pagdating sa chismis…wala ka maitatago.. bilib naman ako sa mga documents mo Raissa dear..ang galing! ~(“,)
Salamat sa pagdalaw mo.
Dalaw ako uli, ha.
Maybe there’s a new definition to the phrase, “being paid on installment.” If you’re a high ranking government official, it means something else. If you’re just a lowly Filipino (like me) it literally means hinuhulugan mo pa!
LOL, yes.
From MARICOL: “Maybe there’s a new definition to the phrase, “being paid on installment.” If you’re a high ranking government official, it means something else. If you’re just a lowly Filipino (like me) it literally means hinuhulugan mo pa!”
[ACF again showing his rich Tagalog bokab]…. Maricol, hija, the NOW
From MARICOL: “Maybe there’s a new definition to the phrase, “being paid on installment.” If you’re a high ranking government official, it means something else. If you’re just a lowly Filipino (like me) it literally means hinuhulugan mo pa!”
[ACF again showing his rich Tagalog bokab]…. Maricol, hija, the current term for INSTALLMENT PAYMENTS is “PAIYAKAN”.
@august
Akala ko “Indian” yung nakapayongsa publiko; sa teachers, tama ka
Today, friggatriskaidekaphobia, Friday the 13th, more bad karma to Corona camp.
First, Enrile ruled that there is no need for pre trial conference requested by Corona lawyers.
Second, Enrile ruled that charges could be amended in the middle of the trial as long as the House voted on it and bring back to Senate unless the majority of senators oppose the amendment.
Third, Esguerra, one of new lawyers of Corona, is asking for the definition of “betrayal of public trust” claiming it has never been defined and their action is not dilatory. Abogado ito, general counsel daw ng IBP. Sino ang boss ni PNoy, publiko. sino ang boss ni Chief Justice, publiko. Sino ang amo ng katulong, mayari ng bahay .kung baga, katulong si CJ. Kapag inutusan ng amo ang katulong na bumili ng pagkain at tuwing uuwi kulang ang sukli, 19 beses na, sasabihin ng amo, wala nakong tiwala sa iyo dahil sa gawain mo. Si CJ 19 times bumoto kampi kay GMA na hindi makatarungan, sabi ng boss, wala na kaming tiwala sa iyo pa-impeach ka namin. Betrayal of public trust not understood by general counsel of all lawyers and claimed his request was not dilatory tactic. Pro bono kasi, they dont care if their action is ridiculed and moronic. They are forgetting their client is the chief justice of the judiciary. They are inadvertently demonizing Corona to the public.
Former Justice Undersecretary Ramon Esguerra motive for defending CJ R Corona.
“This is a challenge of a lifetime as far as I’m concerned. I have two sons and I want to leave them a legacy that they can be proud of–that I stood my ground in defense of the Constitution and of the highest official of the judiciary.”
It doesn’t sound much convincing whether he believes R Corona is innocent or not of the charges laid in the Articles of Impeachment.
He wants to be part of history, for pride and joy, a legacy to his sons.
In defense of justice?
“Let me just assure everyone that we will do everything legal, valid and, of course, Constitutional that will protect the rights of the Chief Justice and in so doing, we are not protecting the Chief Justice per se alone, but we are protecting the Constitution and the institution,” he said.
Two different matters, the person R Corona and the Judiciary Branch.
R Corona as Chief Justice fell short of the higher calling of the office.
Nothings wrong with the Constitution – it is the performance of the person holding the office of Chief Justice.
FYI, I tried to interview two of the lawyers whose names were earlier announced as part of CJ Corona’s defense team.
I kept calling both.
Both were always “in conference” or “had stepped out of the office.”
I even left my name and phone number.
For reporters, that’s a big hint saying – we don’t want to talk to you.
I’m still waiting for a spokesman to be named so I can talk to him.
Hi Raïssa,
Not very encouraging isn’t it?
it is now that R Corona needs to desperately communicate directly with the media outlets since it may be his last hurrah before the trial starts. And it takes time for the news stream to gather pace and change people’s opinion of him and controversy surrounding the upcoming impeachment trial.
According to former Justice Undersecretary Ramon Esguerra , “It will still be Justice Serafin Cuevas who will be our lead, primary spokesperson for the defense team. Atty. Tranquil Salvador and myself, and even my former student Karen Jimeno will only be there momentarily… Karen will remain a spokesperson because she is not part of the defense team at the moment.”
Let’s try doing a blog paging.
Rening, could you KINDLY please advise your assigned media spokesperson to accommodate Ms Raïssa Robles’ request to interview any of them ASAP.
It is high time that your side of this House & Judiciary crisis be given ample and quality time to broadcast your side of the story saga before the impeachment trial starts. We are aware of the sensitivities of questions and answers from an interview, and that could derail or peril your chances for dismissal or acquittal in the impeachment trial.
However, if you wish to win POLITICAL public support during this crisis period, this is the time to accommodate Ms Raïssa Robles to interview your side thru your designate media spokesperson(s). She is a well respected and a professional journalist that could best report your first hand circumstances directly to your countrymen, Filipinos both nationally and overseas.
Thank you.
——————-
Raïssa, I hope that helps.
Thanks.
Let’s see
Raissa, I believe those lawyers are NOT just trying to avoid you. They are BOUND by oath as LAWYERS TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY AND THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF THE INFORMATION INVOLVING THEIR CLIENT. Have you seen or watch the movie called “The Firm” ? Remember when Tom Cruise finished law school and passed the bar exams? At the end of their convocation, all the lawyers stood up and raised their right hand and under OATH, they pledged and promised to protect and uphold the law profession by keeping the secrets of their client. See an example oath below from the State of Louisiana :
I solemnly swear (or affirm) I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Louisiana;
I will maintain the respect due to courts of justice and judicial officers;
I will not counsel or maintain any suit or proceeding which shall appear to me to be unjust, nor any defense except such as I believe to be honestly debatable under the law of the land;
I will employ for the purpose of maintaining the causes confided to me such means only as are consistent with truth and honor, and will never seek to mislead the judge or jury by an artifice or false statement of fact or law;
I will maintain the confidence and preserve inviolate the secrets of my client, and will accept no compensation in connection with a client’s business except from the client or with the client’s knowledge and approval;
I will abstain from all offensive personality, and advance no fact prejudicial to the honor or reputation of a party or witness, unless required by the justice of the cause with which I am charged;
I will never reject, from any consideration personal to myself, the cause of the defenseless or oppressed, or delay any person’s cause for lucre or malice.
So help me God.
This is why I say Tupas was NOT a lawyer. He does NOT even know the rules or etiquette of court proceedings. When a lawyer makes this oath, he duly obligated to follow it or he will be dis-barred and will never be allowed to practice law again in the country. Remember in the movie “The Firm” when Tom Cruise was being pressured by the FBI to testify against the MOB (mafia) and he just could not agree with them because he knows that once he discloses information about his client, he ends his career as a lawyer (attorney-client priviledge). This does not apply to situations where a lawyer knows that a crime is taking place. However, in Corona’s situation, it is possible there was NO CRIME that even took place hence, the lawyers cannot reveal this information neither.
That is why I know if you have a lawyer that likes to talk a lot and likes to reveal information that he is NOT suppose to, especially information concerning you and your life? Fire him right away because that is not a lawyer. That is Apeng Daldal and you are just going to lose a court case.
They were named as spokesmen, you know, for CJ Corona.
If they are part of the defense team, the most you can get are just general statements but no real in-depth information that is crucial to their defense. Needless to say, you will get nothing.
Fr: Idol RICKY DE LA TORRE: “If they are part of the defense team, the most you can get are just general statements but no real in-depth information that is crucial to their defense. Needless to say, you will get nothing.”
Tama ka dito, Idol. All Raissa will get are crumbs. Waste of time, effort.
@Ricky
Bakit naman puro antique yung mga reference points mo? 1920 na lupa, Apeng Daldal (pagpalain nawa), the Firm.
Sabi nga ni @Augusto bago na:.The Fort na ang Lupa, Ogie Diaz o Vice Ganda yung comedian at Lincoln Lawyer na yung movie
Baka di mo alam lawyer ang father ni Raissa
Fr MY OTHER IDOL ABOVE: “@Ricky Bakit naman puro antique yung mga reference points mo? 1920 na lupa, Apeng Daldal (pagpalain nawa), the Firm. Sabi nga ni @Augusto bago na:.The Fort na ang Lupa, Ogie Diaz o Vice Ganda yung comedian at Lincoln Lawyer na yung movie Baka di mo alam lawyer ang father ni Raissa.”
Uunga. Baka mamya nandyan na sina barrister Clarence Darrow, comic Robert Benchley at Louisiana Purchasers pa! HAHAHA!
Ibig mong sabihin si Tupas comedian pala. hehehehe
Di ba Clarence Thomas, Peter Benchley at Gadsden Purchase he he he!
@mel, baltazar, saxnviolins
Want something intriguing to read: Philippine Daily Inquirer Opinion section, exchanges between De Quiroz and Joker Arroyo.
I think I read it days ago.
something about a letter from the joker, … was it a Joke? He’s still a Joke.
I’ll read again sometime later.
Thanks mate!
Sabi ni Igan JOHNNY lin: “Di ba Clarence Thomas, Peter Benchley at Gadsden Purchase he he he! @mel, baltazar, saxnviolins Want something intriguing to read: Philippine Daily Inquirer Opinion section, exchanges between De Quiroz and Joker Arroyo.” NAH! I meant Clarence DARROW, the famed lawyer; ROBERT Benchley, the portly columnist/comedian of yore; and LOUISIANA Purchasers…. Johnny, ilalaban ko ng patayan yan, HAHAHAHA! Google o Wiki mo, if you want. And if you insist on YOURS, magkikita tayo sa PLAZA MIRANDA. Tomorrow. High Noon. Armalite o Granada? Your call.
@august
Nahawa ka na kay ricky, antique na plaza miranda Edsa na.
Pinamimigay na ni Corona yung 45 properties niya, san kaya pwedeng pumila?
hindi raw siya magnanakaw pareho ng iba. Si GMA at FG, Abalos, Mendoza siguro tukoy niya. Sino pa ba, dahil sila lang naman nakasuhan ng graft lately. Sa bibig na rin niya nanggaling ang pagnakaw ni GMA
Fr JOHNNY lin somewhere around here: “august Nahawa ka na kay ricky, antique na plaza miranda Edsa na. Pinamimigay na ni Corona yung 45 properties niya, san kaya pwedeng pumila? hindi raw siya magnanakaw pareho ng iba. Si GMA at FG, Abalos, Mendoza siguro tukoy niya. Sino pa ba, dahil sila lang naman nakasuhan ng graft lately. Sa bibig na rin niya nanggaling ang pagnakaw ni GMA.”
Igan, Plaza Miranda is REALLY antique. Bcoz it’s already classic. All classics tho antiques never grow old. Till now, if you cannot depend it in Plaza Miranda, dapat mag-Mercedes Gutierrez ka na lang. U know, RESIGN! Hehehe. [Paging a Thief Justice out there!]
BTW , nde magnanakaw ung mga binanggit mo sa itaas. Ang lahat ng yaman nila ay galing sa kanilang sariling pawis. Mantak mo ipinawis ng mga kumag na yan nung niluluto nila ung mga nefarious deals na un! HAHAHA!
CORRECTOL, from my post below: “if you cannot depend it in Plaza Miranda….” s/b “if you cannot DEFEND it in Plaza Miranda….” Sorry. Fast fingers! [Baka makalusot!]
Kapampangan ka pareho ni GMA “depend”
@Johnny Lin
. What used to be the “little president” during Cory’s time has now the Silence of the Lambs – baka kasi mabuko kapag nag ingay pa. I was amused when SenJo used the term “mullosks” when in fact not all mullosks stick and much to that, some produce pearls when get irritated. Too bad for him, Conrad produced a black pearl so solid and big enough to sling him like Goliath. SenJo, hindi mullosks, dapat barnacles para specific. Barnacles silently crawls and settles in our plant’s cooling system (using sea water). Hindi mo namamalayan, malaki na pala sila at fouled na ang system mo. Senjo , parang ikaw yun. Hindi alam ng mga taong laging kalam ang “kasmura” (sikmura) kung ano ka na ngayon at kung sino ang kinakapitan mo ngayon.Conrad is right, you are a Joke.
Thanks mate. I’ve just gone through their word wars and I had to duck down otherwise I will get hit by the mud-slingings
@ baltazar
Funny, Joker has a point on The Rub during Marcos time. He should have explained his role because now is the right time, his alibi is flimsy, adding more to his military dossier. At his age, so what!
@baltazar
Currently the phenomenon in sports in US is Football quarterback Tebow, who grew up doing charitable works with his parents in the Philippines. He plans to put put up a hospital in Davao with his foundation. He speaks fluent Tagalog, btw. Amazing was his recent game stats: his favorite quote in Bible is John 3:16. His stats on his recent win have exact 316 numbers in yardage, passing percentage and time duration of the game. Coincidence or Divine intervention?
Going back to Joker and the Rub, same question coincidence or intervention?
Joker has been Sen Arroyo nickname since public exposure. Now the word JOKER is aptly applied to his principles.
Heres The Rub is title of the column of Conrad De Quiroz. According to Joker and other knowledgeables, he was the main speechwriter of Marcos before martial law.
His condo was one of Marcos finest housing development in terms of location, right behind Trinoma/ SM EDSA area. There were of course vicious rumors he got RUB with Marcos wealth in a small way considering to belong among militant activists sworn to spartan life.
Sorry, i mean DURING martial law
@Johnny Lin,
You must know more mate..Contemporary ko si Kris Aquino so I’m probably almost a generation behind you LOLs.. Seriously, I don’t know much about the martial law “dark days”. My father was just a kaminero at the Ministry of Public Works & Highways and talking about the political situation of the country was a taboo in the family. The most important was the kanin and ulam in the dining table. The star fruit became so famous during Coy’s time because of a host of political turncoats that surfaced. You mentioned coincidences, Well, de Quiroz with Marcos and now “sticking” to PNoy led me think why Teddy Boy Locsin Jr is so critical of PNoy nowadys – when everybody knows ( as mentioned also by Raissa) that he was Cory’s speech writer. De Quiroz might have found a place in PNoy’s heart to be his speech writer(?) and in return, the son has to junk his mother’s .. just an imagination though
E kaya nga sinabi ko na paalala lang. Lawyers are bound by oath with the “attorney-client priviledge”. You cannot extract information from that priviledge kasi strictly confidential information yan between client and attorney. 1920′s na lupa is the same lupa as today. Except that valuation changed. As for the comedian, I cannot refer to any comedian that is popular today that I know who is known to be carrying a monicker of a “gossiper” or “daldalero”. A lawyer is definitely NOT a “daldalero” hehehehe
@Ricky De La TorreORO
You commented and included a ‘… example oath … from the State of Louisiana’.
Nice one.
If all public officials, elected and appointed, do take their oaths of office literally, conscientiously and faithfully, regardless of what country and type of democratic gov’t they reside in & serve at, would you think the Philippines would find itself embroiled in a political crisis like it is experiencing today?
If stewards of a public office do live, eat, sleep and work faithfully to their entrusted duties of their office in the service for their constituents, would any one question the term of their tenure of office or appointment?
Definitely, people who are satisfied with their public servants would aspire their good stewards to stay longer, even for life.
Parang katulong sa bahay, kung ang taong bahay na pinagkatiwala mo sa mga buhay ng mga anak mo, sa mga nakakatandang mga magulang mo, pulido sa pamamaraan ng pag ayos at pag silbi sa lahat ng mga nakatira, nagdadala ng grasya sa buhay at kalusugan ng bawa’t isa. AYAW mo ng paalisin, bibigyan mo pa lagi ng umento, ibibilang mo na parte pa ng pamilya mo, habang buhay mo pa siyang gustong makasama.
And maybe, if that can happen or made possible, we may no longer need a single written Constitution. Like the United Kingdom of Great Britain – no single written constitution. They have a perfect and robust parliamentary form of gov’t. To which Canada is a commonwealth country of the United Kingdom.
Suwerte mo expatriate.
@mel
I am in fact going back to the philippines to live there due to family reasons. My mother is getting old and is ill. Her mental faculties are deteriorating. It would be best for her to live her remaining golden years in the Philippines where she is close to family and other relatives. We are still entitled to collect our Canadian Pension anyways in the Philippines so she will be alright with me and my sisters looking out for her best interest.
Getting back to the subject, it is exactly why I think there is just a cover up of everyone else and why Corona is being targeted as someone else said, they are making an example of Corona now. It isn’t really why he violated any laws because as well all know there are others too that have done this that are presently in office. Here is an example of a cover up. It was some editorial I found recently :
Here is another case where the administration of justice may be derailed.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has taken over the investigation and resolution of a syndicated estafa case still being investigated by the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office. The complainants, two Mandaluyong City-based companies, are questioning the motive of the DOJ.
Earlier, a complaint was filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against two executives of Omico Corporation, Tommy Kin Hing Tia and Juana Lourdes Buyson, for obstruction of justice. The NBI filed the complaint against Tia and Buyson for their alleged failure to obey the legal process in connection with the syndicated estafa complaint filed last year by Guevent Investments Development Corp. (GIDC) and Honeycomb Builders Inc. (HBI) against Tia, Buyson and other Omico executives.
A little background: On Sept. 26, 1995, a joint-venture agreement was entered into by GIDC and HBI, on the one hand, and Omico on the other, to develop parcels of real estate owned by GIDC and HBI along Pasong Tamo Extension in Makati. Omico was to construct the condominiums.
Omico raised, through a public offering, P250 million to be used exclusively to develop the mixed-use condos. However, the amount was instead diverted to other projects and can no longer be accounted for. The amount went to Omico Kapital Inc., a subsidiary firm, only to be loaned back to Omico without interest.
It is not only the two partners asking where the money went but also the thousands of small investors who bought shares in Omico’s public offering. A publicly listed corporation, Omico’s board chair is Antonio Lopa, a relative of President Aquino.
Alberto Gaviola, legal counsel of GIDC and HBI, said in a letter to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima that the NBI investigation was going smoothly before the Aquino administration took over. After the Aquino takeover, however, Omico executives began snubbing subpoenas issued by the NBI.
The case was filed on Nov. 22, 2010, by the NBI with the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office but, curiously, was docketed with the Guevaras of Guevent as complainants. Gaviola told the investigating fiscal, Nestle A. Go, that the complainant was the NBI, not the Guevaras.
Gaviola said the DOJ takeover was improper. It is only after the resolution of a case by the prosecutor that the DOJ may take over a case for resolution, he said.
See what I mean? If you do dig hard enough, you can find some dirt on Pnoy’s side too. The sad part is Corona is made the scapegoat out of everything including everyone else’s crime.
Here it is again –
You copied the last half portion of Neal Cruz’ column.
You should say so when you do that, you know.
There is I think a new term for this.
Blog plagiarist.
Up to you madam to filter out the entry.
@mel I did mention this that I SAW this piece from Another paper and cut and pasted it. That was I posted. You can read it again.
I think what Raïssa was alluding to was acknowledging your source.
Especially that you ‘cut and paste’ that “last half portion of Neal Cruz” column of love. It was that long, considering it is word for word, sentence by sentence.
As a suggestion, embrace your exact quotations with tight quotation marks, that way seasoned readers would know that it was picked up err pulled from somewhere that you NEED to acknowledge.
Although its nice to browse you comment, can you keep it short. Thanks.
Ang haba kasi nila – balikbayan.
At best, you must credit Raïssa too since she has a sharp memory that she was able to unearth your source TWICE – with out you naming the pimp, sorry my mistake – I mean the original writer. She thought she had to raise the red flag on the second dump.
If you could be so nice to Raïssa, she can share some journalistic ‘creative writing’ tips she has honed over the years. Not only can you comment on her excellent pieces, but learn a lot too.
Bob’s your uncle.
13th Commandment: THOU SHALL NOT COVET THY NEIGHBOR’S WORDS!
Or at least use quotation marks, ’2pid!
To paraphrase GMA: “It’s the Economy of Work, STUPIDent!
Sorry about that Raissa. I did not read Neal’s comment on this page but yes, I did see this editorial from another paper and just “copied and pasted” it. Kasi nga it appears always one sided ang mga comment when I could easily tell, the case is not even. Madami din anomalies si Pnoy. It just happens that he currently the one in power now. I remember when GMA was still president and in the first few years, wala pang lumalaban sa kanya. In the end, all her enemies then started to really push her down. I think we will see the same thing with Pnoy. It is still early in the game and he has been in power for only a year and a half. Wait until the last two years and things will change.
Defending as a “devil’s advocate”, Corona chose to defend instead of resigning; why?
1. He knew the prosecutors have the goods on him and family on the vast properties, 45 by prosecutor and 19 properties verified by Philippine Daily Inquirer.
2. Keeping his CJ position, he will have at his disposal the SC logistics including its spokesman, Midas Marquez and support, real or apparent by SC employees
3. Keeping CJ, lawyers and judges would still fear his clout and presence in CJ
4. Savings from paying lawyers instead of pro bono.
5. He could try wining the public support with easy access to media
If he resigns, he could still face corrupt charges with Ombudsman after resignation or convictionanyway; his unexplained wealth would be revealed.His back was on the wall so he did not have recourse except to fight. By trying to win public support with the assistance from court personnel, he could improve his public persona credibility and dispel notions of corrupt ways. The novena was a public relation ploy rather than sincere religious fervor.
In case of impeachment acquittal he could continue his cry of depending the consttitution for at least a year, when another charge could be filed again for another round of impeachment.
Inisip niya masisira narin lang ang karangalan namin pamilya kahit saan ako bumaling, lalabanan ko na. The worst that could happen with this decision on conviction, the people will condemn him and his family much worst than the present time. His answer to that, So What!
Really…. proven once more… that biblical truth…. “Money, or the love of it, is the root of all evils.”
This is understandable, in a society where MONEY IS GOD! ALL HAIL TO MOOLAH!!
@august
The other day, did you see the picture of Mrs Corona crying on the shoulder of CJ after the mass? You know why, nobody did the moolah collection during the mass
As usual, you’re right on their god.
One Senator-Judge who will be sorely missed from the proceedings of the Senate Impeachment is Senator Loren Legarda.
Sen. Loren Legarda on Tuesday said she will be unable to attend the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona this week because she is caring for her 78-year-old nanny in the United States.
“[S]he said she requested for a leave of absence from January 16 to 19, 2012.”
It was for a humane and very touching reason why the Senator needs to look after her dearest nanny, 78-year-old ‘Nanay’ Felicidad Bagayas, in her time of need for True, Love & Care (TLC).
‘[M]y nanay has been a most loyal, hardworking and loving Ilocana, who selflessly took care of me from birth and my sons too. For over 60 years, she has devoted her life for my family and has become a second mother to me,” she wrote the Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.
The Senator must have been blessed that she calls her as her second mother (nanay) for taking care of her since birth, including the Senator’s sons before she needed a life saving operation in the US.
I hope the best and get well soon nanay Felicidad.
@mel
We are not lawyers but we are flabbergasted on the media releases of Corona lawyers. Its all legalese for public consumption, “we will do everything that is valid, legal and constitutional that will protect the rights of our client and institution” How about the curiosity of law students and young lawyers, how could they learn from their expertise? To silence once and for all unnecessary speculations and to support the written impeachment answer on the condo at the same time embarass the prosecutors, just release the “mortgage loan paper or installment contract” or say something about it. A public relation move that will garner public sympathy because its the truth. Without such action, inevitably the public would speculate two things: no installment loan exists and they are trying to manufacture fake documents.
Its Raissa’s fault for exposing the lie on the condo payment, that is why 2 lawyers withdrew and they are refusing her request for interview
Ikaw kasi Raïssa.
But you had to work on scoops that are of national interest and AS THEY COME, right?
Professional, balance reporter, works for an international news bureau (?), marunong, maganda, anu pa?
At least gusto ni Raïssa na ma-interview ang side ni R Corona para kahit papaano – e balance ang reporting niya.
Halos lahat ng commenters at readers ni Raïssa ay for impeachment – anti R Corona.
Iilan lang, gaya ni @Leon – baka bayaran pa siya.
KAYA DAPAT LANG NA BIGYAN NG MALAWAKANG IMPORMASYON ANG libu-libong MAMBABASA NI Raïssa sa pamamagitan ng first-hand interview mula sa mga opisyal na tagapagsalita ni R Corona. Hindi rin tama halos lahat ng articles ay ukol sa kamalian ni R Corona. May good side at may katotohanan din ang tao na isinusukol. Tao pa rin si C Renato at may pinag aralan kahit papaano.
Maganda ang adhikain din ni Raïssa.
SANA PAGBIGYAN SIYA.
With all this craps, just get the property appraise by license people for its true market value and tax it from there.That’s how we do it here, it don’t matter who owns the property..It don’t matter how much you paid for it. The current market value is where your tax will be base upon, period..All properties are subject to review and tax are adjusted accordingly..Every single person of legal age should file their income tax every year, employed or not..NO EXCEPTION!!!!This is very important to know for the government the true state of the economy and how the government is doing on distributing its wealth to the people…Only in the Philippines I hear all kinds of manipulations and tax evasion cases from the very rich and government officials. This all pure bullshit, corruption to the max..To boot from SC justice like Corona, ?. It don’t say much about the justice system of the country huh?..Every single government officials should be investigated of their assets then..There is something terribly wrong with the BIR . How in the world the country survive with this kind of attack?..WOW..
I think there is an exception for those who had bought their properties a long time ago. And what I was told it was a grandfathering approach to property taxes. In the late 1920′s and early 1930′s, an area here in Toronto (Canada) was nothing more than farmland and riding stables for the wealthy. It had huge hectares of land tracks owned by the wealthiest in the country. Then they decided to subdivide it and sell off huge tracks of land for housing developements.
The Bridle Path was little more than farmland until 1929, when the Bayview Bridge was constructed across the steep (West Branch) Don River Valley. It was at that point that the area was first considered for residential development. Forsey Page, a Toronto-based land developer, envisioned the Bridle Path as an “exclusive enclave of estate homes” and he built the neighbourhood’s first home, a Cape Cod Colonial style home at 2 The Bridle Path. This house is credited as the catalyst for the development of the neighbourhood.
The Bridle Path upscale residential neighbourhood in the former city of North York, now part of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, that is characterized by large multi-million dollar mansions and two to four acre (8,000 to 16,000 m²) lot sizes. It is often referred to as “Millionaires’ Row”. It is the most affluent neighbourhood in Canada by household income, as well as property values.
In 1937, developer E.P. Taylor, who designed the Don Mills community, purchased a large plot of land north of the Bridle Path. In the late forties, Taylor’s business partner George Montegu Black, Jr (father of Conrad Black) moved into the area and built a large mansion on Park Lane Circle. In an effort to control who his future neighbours would be, Black took over the company that owned the rolling farmland that was to become the Bridle Path, and set restrictions in place through the North York zoning by-laws — Only single-family dwellings could be built, with a minimum lot size of 2 acres (0.81 ha). The area was subdivided into approximately 50 lots, each selling for $25,000 at the time, and began to take shape throughout the fifties.
The street’s name is frequently misspelled as “The Bridal Path” by those who are unfamiliar with the history of the area. The actual “Bridle Path” name came about as early plans for the neighbourhood included an elaborate system of equestrian bridle paths, as most of the estate owners in the area preceding its development were horse-owners. While the paths have since been paved over, their legacy remains in the Bridle Path’s wide streets and in the name of this elite community.
The Bridle Path has been home to prominent Toronto business people, celebrities and doctors. Media mogul Moses Znaimer used to call The Bridle Path home, while computer businessman Robert Herjavec, former newspaper baron and convicted businessman Conrad Black, and Celine Dion still own a home in The Bridle Path area. Prince was said to have purchased a home in the Bridle Path for $5.5 million, although his recent divorce, concert tour rigours, and weight loss have meant few sightings of him. “Casino King of Macau” Stanley Ho owns a home on High Point road, which was purchased in 1987 for a record $5.5 million dollars and now is currently worth $27 million CAD in 2012. That is how the price of real estate goes up because of the way the location and the area is developed. I bought a condo near this area in 2000 and now just recently sold it because I am going back to the Philippines. Yes, I made some money from the sale but I could have sold my condo unit for more money.
By the way, I forgot to say that those who have acquired their houses back in the late 40′s or early 50′s may have paid only a small price for their homes which are worth a million dollars now. They bought it for $150,000 back then but are worth much more now because the land value also rose. However, during that time, the owners were still young and were employed. They were still making money but now these people are older and retired. They certainly can’t afford to pay the taxes on their homes which they already paid for and acquired several decades earlier. So in order for these people to afford their property taxes, they are given a grandfathered rate that as long as the property is still in the name of the original owner, the property tax will not go up to today’s rate and will be pegged at the owners affordability and retirement income. Once the property is sold, (principal home owners here in Canada do not get Taxes on Capital gains on their property as long as they were living in it) then the new property tax rate applies to the new owners. That is what they call granfathering. After all, these older home owners were the original owners and have maintained their property as well as contributed and paid their taxes through all those years so they are given a tax break. It is the new owners where the new tax rates apply.
Ricky, what has this Toronto’s grandfathering tax cases related to Thief Justice Corona’s 2009 condo acquisition?
Corona’s a brand new Megaworld development and not related to decades long property ownership.
Thanks for your historical input, though.
Not related but in the Philippines, something like this I believe exists. My father acquired his home and properties prior to 1970. Latest one we had was land bought in 1970 but the house was purchased in 1965. The value of the land and property has increased since then and depending on the areas development and growth, the property values have risen dramatically. When my father retired I know his retirement salary package if measured against the value of the property when he was still alive 4 years ago won’t be enough to pay for taxes, expenses and his personal well-being. Considering that prices in every sector has risen 10 to 50 times more than when it was before when he was still working, it would be impossible for him to hang on to all his properties unless there was some sort of grandfathering type of tax subsidy for original owners who have acquired their property a long time ago. But for Mr. Corona, the jump from 14.5 million to 42 million in less than 5 years (he bought it in 2008?) then it’s 3 times it’s original purchase value, But if we did factor in the tremendous discount he got, it might have been valued higher at the time of purchase but he just bought it on a sweetheart deal. My issue is that anyone could get a discount regardless of what anyone said. I could get a good discount plus more if I knew the realtor broker who is selling a property and he also gave me his employee discount. It is possible to acquire property at 50% discount during forclosures as well or default from previous buyers. I am not sure what the situation was with Corona but I do know that it is possible. Discounts could be given to anyone depending on the time, place and circumstances.
If you are the owner , will you sell the property lower than it’s market value? Likewise, the increase in market value of a lot corresponds to a decrease in value of the house which depreciates over time.
It depends on the situation. I was in a situation where I had to sell my unit for only $360,000 but it is on average valued at $395,0000 dollars. I lost $35,000 because I have family issues that must come first and have to go back to the Philippines. Im hoping though with some other people’s help to recupe my loss from that deal and find me a good investment in the Philippines para makabawi ako. I know in a few years, that unit I sold will be in the half a million dollar range already if not more. Di bale, babawi na lang ako sa Pinas, Madami naman akong kakampi sa pinas eh. hehehehe
From my idol RICKY: “It depends on the situation. I was in a situation where I had to sell my unit for only $360,000 but it is on average valued at $395,0000 dollars. I lost $35,000 because I have family issues that must come first and have to go back to the Philippines. Im hoping though with some other people’s help to recupe my loss from that deal and find me a good investment in the Philippines para makabawi ako. I know in a few years, that unit I sold will be in the half a million dollar range already if not more. Di bale, babawi na lang ako sa Pinas, Madami naman akong kakampi sa pinas eh. hehehehe.”
Well, DALIAN MO, IDOL! PARA UMABOT KA DUN SA IPAMIMIGAY NI CORONA! HAHAHAHA! AYUN NA SINA MEL AT JOHNNY, NAKAPILA NA! HEHEHEHE!!
OCCUPY CORONA’S ILL GOTTEN WEALTH
uu nga eh August. hehehehe nagmamadali na nga at baka pakyawin na ng iba lahat ng mga on “SALE” na meron malaking discounts. hehehehe Parang Boxing Day sale dito sa Toronto. Here in Toronto on Dec. 26 which is the day after Christmas, all the stores have a “Boxing Day’ sale with huge discounts on practically everything. 50% to even 80% off ticketed price. But it’s a first come, first serve deal. If you come late, mauubusan ka ng stock. hehehehe That is why some people come as early as midnight and just wait until the stores open at 05:00 AM (they open that early just on Boxing Day because of the expected rush of people shopping).
Ricky, meron ding BOXING DAY sale sa Tate. Sa Nuyok nga kahit na mga Wall Street honchos/Ponzi schemers e nakikipagtulakan sa bargains, hahaha! Hanap ko nga sina Milken at Maldorf and some such greedy critters eh. Gusto kong DUKUTAN lang naman! SHARE THE WEALTH, PLEASE!
Will you sell it at $197,500.00? Half of the market value.
I don’t dictate the market value price and I have a real estate agent who does the listing for me. For a small fry like myself, obviously I would not sell it for half the market value. The market value at the time was $395,000.00 at the low end. The high end, it is valued at $445,000.00 and I sold it for $360,000 because as per statistics and advise of my real estate broker, it was winter and after the holidays when the market is very slow. Had I sold this in the summer, I would be able to sell it around $400,000 maybe more. A $197,500.00 will get you a one – bedroom in a different part of Toronto and not as posh as my neighborhood. I live by Bayview Village and Sheppard Ave. very close to the Bridle Path area. Most of the houses here are in the $700,000 to $1.2 million dollar range and that’s just a regular middle class house. A $500,000 dollar house here is a 2 bedroom, one bath house with a sq footage of 1,200 sq FEET not SQ METRES. very small and it’s also a fixer upper meaning the house is NOT new and might need renovations.
There are new townhouses that I have been seeing near my street that are being constructed and the starting price for the townhouses are in the $600,000.00 dollar range and up. They are much larger with an average size of 1,800 SQ FT. Further down near Bridle Path, the Townhouses being constructed there are pure luxury and the prices are between $1.5 million to start (located by Bayview Ave and York Mills Road) and the ones beside the Bridle Path which are $2 million to start and up. And those are just TOWNHOUSES not the mansions at the Bridle Path.
Do you think Megaworld have financial problem ? Kaya binenta ang unit ng half the market value.
Megaworld has a lot of projects going on. They may have some issues for sure. One thing is that there are too many projects of luxury condos and houses in the Philippines but the average income of people there is so small it is impossible for an average person of average means to purchase them. 2nd, although there are foreigners that may buy a few of these so called homes being sold, the ratio between supply and the demand is so big. The demand is not as big as the supply. Look at all the projects they have there – Portofino, Ayala Greenfield Estates, South Forbes City in Laguna, Trump, Century City Gramercy , Azure, Aqua, Milano Residences, Mahogany Place, Courtyards of Portofino, Raffles Residences, the new condos in Newport City, Ayala Westgrove Heights, Nuvali, Santierra, South Lake Village at Eton City, 68 Roces, SM Residences, etc etc and that’s just in the Metro Manila and Laguna Area. There are some in Baguio, Batangas, Bataan, Cebu, Davao, etc etc. Yes, there is a huge population in the Philippines around 95 million people. But how many people in the Philippines make the equivalent of at least $50,000 dollars ? How many of them make over $100,000 dollars? Yes, there are Balikbayans and OFWs but is their income enough to sustain this real estate growth? A lot of these projects are overpriced when compared to the condos we have here in Toronto alone. Considering the fact that now they are warning in Toronto and Vancouver that there might be an oversupply of condominiums and townhouses in both cities and that supply might outstrip demand. In the law of economics, if there is enough supply, and less demand (because of affordability), then prices tend to go down. This is what I see in the Philippines now. The demand is NOT there. The demand to WISH I could afford a place like that is there among those working people but their salaries cannot afford a home like that. The majority of people in the Philippines can barely feed their families and buy basic neccessities of life. I see a lot of them carrying expensive cell phones, maybe laptops, buying nice big LCD screen TVs and blue-ray DVD players but that is about all they can afford. You don’t see the majority of filipinos buying homes in posh areas. It’s the 5% rich of the Philippines that can do that. The rest will have to just settle for sub-standard housing which the government claims is adequate but in fact in Canada, it would be called a ghetto or slums. This is why I think in some cases, these developers are in serious trouble if they don’t smarten up and try to price their units to match the average workers salary per year. It’s a matter of common sense for these people. Do I live in a nice place and NOT eat and buy clothes I need and a phone so my employer can contact me, OR do I live in a ghetto type dwelling but I can eat at least 3 times a day, have decent clothes to wear to work and have a phone so that my employer can contact me if I need to do overtime. Someone better open their eyes because what is happening is, FOREIGNERS and NOT Filipinos are owning properties in the Philippines. It’s like a LEGAL way to COLONIZE the Philippines and it’s people. FOREIGNERS retire there, buy the posh properties and the subservient pinoys work for them at slave wages. Do you think the Philippines is truly free and independent NOW? The Majority of Pinoys work for peanuts. We are still a COLONY of Europeans and America as well as the Japanese and Chinese. Open your eyes. And you thought we got liberated from being a Spanish Colony by the Americans? LOL We are still a COLONY except it is done in a LEGAL way. Until a good majority of the filipinos can afford to buy these so called properties themselves (I mean filipinos who live there and NOT ex-pat pinoys who live in the US or Europe or Australia or Canada) then I still consider the Philippines a COLONY of FOREIGN INVESTMENT.
Wala akong comment sa mga sagot mo. Pero di mo ma-Getz yong ibig kong ipahiwatid sa mga tanong ko.
Fr a poster to my idol RICKY DE LA TORRE: “Ricky, what has this Toronto’s grandfathering tax cases related to Thief Justice Corona’s 2009 condo acquisition? Corona’s a brand new Megaworld development and not related to decades long property ownership. Thanks for your historical input, though.”
Siyanga naman, Idol. Enough of THAT! Hew close to homeground. MAKATI. TAGUIG. SAPANG PALAY. You Canadian examples/thingies are as far from Metro Manila as Pluto is to Venus! HAHAHAHA! Enough with those suppositions, conjectures, non-applicable, far-from-MetroManila realities. Nakakaumay na!
———— distracting
Soooo glad I discovered you raissa.. I can’t call them blogs.. I say TRUITH!! Thanks again.. Im now a follower LOL…
Thanks, Edgar.
Keep coming back and pls tell your friends and relatives about this blog . I’d really appreciate it.
@ Raissa
Bakit nawala na sa abs-cbn news headline ang news mo na “14 million corona penthouse is a STEAL” nagtataka lang ako? sino kaya kumuha? sayang madali kasing mabasa doon at sarap ulit ulitin basahin mga kasinungalingan ni corona? LOL …saka mga readers mo ay bilib na bilib sa makatutuhanang pagkakasulat mo… GOD SPEED…
I agree with most of the comments here. thanks raissa for bringing this up and sharing these. i currently am among the realtors who are selling units at Bellagio. we actually are in the process of selling a penthouse unit now at the same condo and the price of the unit is already at 42M, its more than what they are declaring that the market price is only 30M…their pre-selling price is even ridiculously placed at 14M almost the same price as that of a typical three bedroom unit.
i tried playing the devil’s advocate and really can’t seem to think how they were able to get the unit at that price…the only way that i could think of is if you are paying in cash (you get a discount, but not as much as to the point of lowering the price to 14M…and i guess this would also go in conflict with their claim that they are still paying for the unit. and to add, they cannot move in to the unit or do any improvements unless the unit has already been fully paid by Corona. but i guess the adverse is true as they have started with the interior designing of their unit and they have frequented the place as well.
there’s really so much to consider and you really would find that there are irregularities and inconsistencies…
Thank you for sharing.
The current selling price of the same kind of unit that Corona purchased is 42 M .
He got it for 14.5 M.
Unthinkable. and Unexplainable
What amazes me is the rise in the price of the condo in just a very short span of time. It does not even happen like that in Toronto where you buy a condo in 2008 and then it is now more than double the price or market value? that’s even more impossible to think of. I live in a very affluent neighborhood near the Bridle Path where mansions here are easily in the $5 million dollar range and up. A small condo here during pre-construction price where I bought was about $140,000 for a one bedroom unit before construction in 2000. I bought a two bedroom plus den and paid $260,000 including the upgrades. I could only get $360,000 for it today and I just recently sold it last month. That’s not even double the price I paid for before. But I see condos in Makati areas going up rapidly in value? And the average income of people there is nothing compared to mine? What is wrong is the pricing in the Philippines. Not CJ Corona. Because that 14.5 million peso condo should only be around 25 million at this time considering it is not even 5 years after he bought it.
Fr my idol RICKY DE LA TORRE somewhere in here: “What amazes me is the rise in the price of the condo in just a very short span of time. It does not even happen like that in Toronto where you buy a condo in 2008 and then it is now more than double the price or market value? that’s even more impossible to think of. I live in a very affluent neighborhood near the Bridle Path where mansions here are easily in the $5 million dollar range and up. A small condo here during pre-construction price where I bought was about $140,000 for a one bedroom unit before construction in 2000. I bought a two bedroom plus den and paid $260,000 including the upgrades. I could only get $360,000 for it today and I just recently sold it last month. That’s not even double the price I paid for before. But I see condos in Makati areas going up rapidly in value? And the average income of people there is nothing compared to mine? What is wrong is the pricing in the Philippines. Not CJ Corona. Because that 14.5 million peso condo should only be around 25 million at this time considering it is not even 5 years after he bought it.”
MAKATI or TAGUIG is not spelled T.-O-R-O-N-TO. Simple as THAT, Idol! Happy?
Price gauging mean anything to you?
I mean price goughing pala. Price gouging is a pejorative term referring to a situation in which a seller prices goods or commodities much higher than is considered reasonable or fair. The term is not in widespread use in mainstream economic theory, but is sometimes used to refer to practices of a coercive monopoly which raises prices above the market rate that would otherwise prevail in a competitive environment. Price goughing and price fixing are similar. Price fixing is an agreement between participants on the same side in a market to buy or sell a product, service, or commodity only at a fixed price, or maintain the market conditions such that the price is maintained at a given level by controlling supply and demand. The group of market makers involved in price fixing is sometimes referred to as a cartel. Di ba criminal offense yan? Is it legal to do that in the Philippines?
Fr my idol, RICKY: “The group of market makers involved in price fixing is sometimes referred to as a cartel. Di ba criminal offense yan? Is it legal to do that in the Philippines?”
Idol, lahat ng gusto mong gawin LEGAL ngaun sa Pinas. BASTA WAG KA LANG PAHUHULI! HAHAHA!
O kung it’s your rotten luck na mahuli ka ….”ang LAGAY eh makukuha yan sa maBOTENG usapan!”
Masama yan. Pag nasabit ka. The bribe and the blackmail. hahahaha both parties are guilty dyan. UNLESS like you said, meron CUT din ang naka-alam. Pero ang masama pa dyan, lima sila na naka alam eh. NYAHAHAHAHAHAHA Otherwise alam mo na, meron sisipol dyan. hehehehe
In Cebu the pre selling price of a high end condo is 31M for 131sm. http://www.cebuholdings.com/1016residences. I can’t imagine how the Thief Justice got his for 14M. High end condo prices in Cebu and Taguig should not differ much.
This has nothing to do with Bellagio but since you are in the real estate business there I hope you dont mind if I made an inquiry about another building there. The building is a condotel called the F1 which is in the same vicinity , I think. I purchased a residential suite for around 4.2M 2 years ago although the construction is still ongoing I’m curious as to how much you think the price of that suite is now. Thank you in advance for indulging me, regards, joey
Hmm.
Not wasting the opportunity, eh.
Anybody can answer this.
Nice research!
Thanks. I try.
Hi Raissa!
Thanks for this juicy info. Siguro naman kilala mo si Belinda Cunanan. The Lady columnist kick-out by Inquirer. I’m still reading her blog, just to know her inputs about our politics and to make my self hate them more. Eh isa siya sa mga loyal defender ni GMA. as in licking their behinds! Lalo na ngaun about ke Corona. Sana mabasa nya o kya mapadalhan mo kaya ng mga back up evidence mo. Gusto ko lang makita kung talagang idedepensa pa rin nya si Corona once na mabasa naya to. Keep it up! You’re the LADY MAN!
Very in-depth and well-written. kudos to you raissa!!!
Thanks.
I hope you read the one I posted yesterday –
http://raissarobles.com/2012/01/10/cj-coronas-condo-is-fully-paid-up-tax-official-confirms/
And the follow-up I will post, hopefully today
@Ding
If there are breaches to their Code of Professional Responsibility, are there any sanctions?
Are there penalties or disbarment when found guilty?
What if the Chief breached many of them, what then?
Is the Chief immune?
And to whom or in what forum (ie court) will they bring their case against an erring member or lawyer?
What if it was the chief, impeachment by IBP this time?
I was really amazed how you put up the details of each stories
since I read your article about the Ramgen incident.
I was just curious about your work. You supported all your articles with
facts(documents, etc), underlining the details. You really know how to investigates your articles.
Are there any big news company offering you any position? You can be a great asset to them.
The way you run you’re stories, it seems like you’re really hands on in all of these. It’s really great.
You’re doing better than any other journalist out there.
Keep them coming….:-)
Thank you.
I wonder if there will also be investigative journalism on Carpio’s unexplained wealth…
I’m sure there will be.
Hmmm, such a sweeping staement. There is no proven unexplained wealth of carpio, only allegation. Besides 800 sm condo does not exist anywhere in the Philippines. Ask any realtor.
I will.
Oh really. Kris Aquino has 1000 sqm condo in Ayala Triangle.
The 800 sqm could be the floor area of the condo which may
include a high loft or a combination of 2 or 3 penthouse units
or even the whole floor.
Apparently according to Johhny Lin, Carpio comes from a very wealthy clan from Visayas and they own huge hectares of land in the visayas including those in Boracay. Try investigating that and what the connection of Carpio is to those land barons in the Visayas. Oligarchs will like them and the Aquinos who are also hacienderos will only connive with each other to impose rules for their own advantage and benefit. The person who did not come from a wealthy clan will never be able to even get up to the level of comfort because of these people.
You must have been living in Canada for a long time. Land reform applies only to agricultural lands. Since you know so much about the history of property tracts in Toronto its kind of disturbing you did not know the history of how lands in the Philippines were distributed during Spanish times. You probably didn’t know too that many top Filipino millionaires now did not come from old oligarchs category but were from middle income families. That many OFWS earn the same income or more than you but they send their money back to their families here. Try coming back and stay for a long time in the PHILIPPINES to reacquaint yourself, at least you could contribute to our economy with your 360,000 Canadian dollar in case you decide not to invest in our condo industry in which you could earn much more compared to Toronto.
You have a point on grandfathering real estate taxation, not in Philippine tax laws. The reason many oligarch sold their coveted properties especially those who were not successful businessmen like their parents/grandparents. They could not afford paying their high real estate taxes like those in Forbes Park, Bridle Path in your hood.
Just remember, “the sin of the father is not the sin of the son”.
Yes, the reasoning for the real estate grandfathering tax break is that these people who were the original owners of their homes are all Canadian citizens and have contributed to the economy, paid their taxes throughout the years and have lived there all their lives. Now just because they have retired and have some sort of retirement income that they assumed would support them in their old age suddenly became inadequate due to the fact that the area where they bought their homes have dramatically risen in value hence the rise in property taxes. The councilors and mayors as well as the provincial MPs debated over this, is it right to kick out these people who have already lived there for a long time and have paid their dues to society just because the value of their property had risen ten to 50 times more? They decided that it was fair for the original homeowners to stay in their homes and be given a grandfathered tax subsidy whereas as long as the property does not change hands and remains in the family, the taxes are just moderately increased according to the homeowner’s retirement income. If the property is suddenly sold at today’s prices then the new owners will pay their property taxes based on today’s rate. One detail to know is that here in Canada, Capital gains made in your principal home is tax-free. You will not pay capital gains taxes if you live in your condo or home after you sell it. Even if you say you made $500,000 dollars over the value of the house when you first initially bought it or even a million dollars over the value of the home when you bought it, it is still tax free as long as it is your principal home and you were living in it. Nice isn’t it?
ricky, tax system in Canada is not same in Philippines. Thats right, nice if applied here, same way what we have in the philippines is not found in canada like being able to bargain with amount of tax when the time comes. Thats the way it is. Many expatriates like you inherited properties sold them and happy with the bargain they got since they did not pay realty taxes on the property during the times they were living overseas. Can you do that in canada? Its not perfect but sufficient in our tightly knit society.
I have not sold any property yet that I have inherited, My sisters dont want to sell the properties so there is nothing I can do although it is sitting there and we pay taxes on it yearly without anyone living in it. By the time we turn 80 years old, we might be too senile and someone will just literally rip us off and take those properties away from us because we could not decide on anything to do with it. I don’t want to wait that long. Properties in the Philippines are not worth as much like in Canada unless it is in a posh area like makati, The Fort or other exclusive neighborhoods. My sister has friends that are wealthy in the Philippines and no one has money to buy even if they are trying to sell their properties. Everyone that approaches them try to rip them off and low ball them from the market value of their properties so this why I believe, a syndicate is behind all this real estate control in the Philippines. Wait until the recession hits the Philippines and all these high price condos lose value including those stately homes in Forbes Park, The Fort, Ayala Alabang and other exclusive neighborhoods, In some parts of the U.S, prices of mansions went down. You can purchase a big mansion in the U.S. for half the price. The problem is no American can afford them so rich Foreigners are the ones buying them. And that is what is going to happen in the Philippines if it is not happening now. Foreigners marrying pinays and buying up all these properties. I heard stories of Japanese, Chinese and Australians buying up large tracts of beach property and setting up resorts and businesses. It might look good on the outside but the ordinary filipino who is 100% pinoy and was born and raised there are the ones that are suffering. The oligarchs don’t care about them. They only care about how they can get richer . The greedy want more and the already wealthy and rich want even more. That’s what is happening. And now they are castigating Corona? What a joke.
And they say education is the key to success and enrich you. What is happening is Corona despite the fact he went to Ateneo and Harvard (on a scholarship meaning he is a bright student, not a flunky or average student), people still think that his education is NOT worth much. So for his reward, he is a public servant with very little to show for. Is that what society wants to happen in the Philippines? Go study and educate yourself and still be a poor person with no good paying job. What a crock of malarky.
@ricky
Corona got what he dove into. Like in war, target the general and his command will collapse. Despite intelligence, not all educated are smart. Your hero belongs to this class, the reason he is in this mess. His demeanor filled with impropriety, talked of his integrity which had been lacking since working in government. He was the main architect of illegal deals of GMA as his chief of staff. He gives interviews denying all the 40 properties but all he has to do is show his installment loan documents. You write here about your 360,000 canadian dollar condo which is actuallylly equivalent to a garage in our US dollar neighborhood because you could present evidence if somebody dares you. We care only about how he paid for a penthouse with his monthly salary of 45000 pesos, thats about 1100 canadian dollar to you which is less than what we spend for gasoline monthly in cars in my US hood. Our church parking lot is like a high end cars showroom every Sunday but we dont whisper about it until now. You keep on talking about your real estate, WHO CARES, you could not even afford to go home to the Philippines yearly while you were busy working your ass for decades in Canada. Bet your salary when you started working was not enough to buy a bird’s nest in our hood. People earning much lower than you had better sense bringing back their riches to the Philippines frequently and you come preaching us now about your real estate. Bragadaccio is fine but the kind you are cocky about, its poverty level in our hood. They say “a bird perched on top of a carabao brags its taller than the 2 horn animal” Humility is still taught in the Philippies that is why you need to go back and take refresher course. What nincompoop! Dayum.
I am not bragging. Why all the animosity? YOu talk as if you OWN the whole world. Most people are modest. THE US is in financial trouble and your dollars mean NOTHING. The U.S. government keeps printing your currency which has practically lost it’s value by 80%. yes, people accept it but everytime, the price of oil goes up, the value of your dollar goes down. Pretty soon, you will need a barrel to carry your mountain of U.S. bills just to pay for a loaf of bread. Ever heard of HYPER INLFATION? You may feel your home is worth 10 million dollars and you are getting paid 2.5 million a year but with the current value of your dollar, it’s worth 20% of it’s price. Go look at the price of gold now. Gold is hovering around $1700 dollars per One ounce. Just observe this method, everytime, oil goes up,the prices of commodities goes up. Did you notice that the price of everything in stores now are inflated? Price of food went up, price of services went up. Hell, you must be paying your janitors over there the same salary as the President of the Philippines.
So stop bragging how rich you are because there is SCAM going on in the U.S. now. Your U.S. government is $14 trillion dollars in DEBT. You are at the point of NO RETURN. You won’t be able to pay your debt anymore. CHINA, JAPAN, THE SAUDIS AND KUWAIT practically own you. There is nothing you can do except take in the rear and grin about. So what if you are driving a luxury car and you are paying gas as if my condo is just a drop in your tank. You are just making the SAUDIs richer and they are laughing at AMERICANS for being foolish. That’s what your AMERICA is headed to. Homes in the U.S. are cheap now. MANSIONS FOR SALE AT HALF PRICE. Yes, at one point in time, I even saw an ad in the news about a car dealership offering “TWO for one” sale on Hummers. hahahaha TWO HUMMERS for the price of one. That’s how SORRY your country is. Bankruptcies, mortgage defaults, foreclosure, malls empty, stores boarded up and millions and millions of people out of work. Why do you think the state of California was laying off thousands if not millions of government workers? They can’t pay their wages. Teachers, cops, firemen, emergency ambulance workers, hospitals, practically everyone in essential services being layed off and you are BRAGGING about you church parking LOT? hahahaha WAKE UP JOHNNY, DIDN’T YOU NOTICE? AMERICA IS LITERALLY BANKRUPT.
I am NOT preaching about my real estate. I just mentioned the difference and why the hyper inflated rise in price of the Units in such a short span of time. Even in a country where even the highest positions in government jobs cannot even afford to purchase them? Obviously, there is something wrong and something is illegal when even the salary of a judge or a congressman or a vice president or mayor cannot pay for a condo like that. Think of it, the average salary of the workers in the Philippines CANNOT afford to buy a home that is nothing more but AVERAGE here in CANADA? you are a joke about bragging about your AMERICAN B.S. AMERICA is BANKRUPT. That’s why everyone is trying to swindle other people of their hard earned money.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsinCoRnAic&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNHwncb55iQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXIrfjLsmaU&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mejNWqwiClY&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cziN3gt-hic&feature=related
I think you are the one that needs to go back and learn HUMILITY. All your BRAGGING about your church parking lot looking like a SHOWROOM of luxury cars? hahahaha I know several people here who work as NANNIES and CAREGIVERS for very wealthy people. One lady who is my friend’s aunt works as a NANNY for a rich family. The family gave her a 2010 LEXUS GX 470. IF YOU ARE A RICH PERSON HERE IN CANADA , YOU CAN AFFORD TO GIVE AWAY A 2010 LEXUS GX 470 TO YOUR NANNY. I doubt you are rich enough to even tip 100 dollars to a waiter serving you food that he may have spitted on and mixed his boogers in it. Another lady who is my mother’s friend works as a caregiver for a rich jewish family. They gave her a used 2009 Mercedes Benz C350. How many people do you know that can do that? LOL you’re a braggart and a joke
@johnny lin: RE “Bet your salary when you started working was not enough to buy a bird’s nest in our hood. People earning much lower than you had better sense bringing back their riches to the Philippines frequently and you come preaching us now about your real estate. Bragadaccio is fine but the kind you are cocky about, its poverty level in our hood. They say “a bird perched on top of a carabao brags its taller than the 2 horn animal””
First of all, I was not BRAGGING. I was trying to figure out why the sudden rise in price when the average salary of the middle class worker cannot afford that. You brag about your US real estate (which is really going down. Do you know AMERICA has a lot of bankruptcies and mortgage defaults and foreclosures in the past 4 years?) and your US dollar. The US dollar is toilet paper because it’s value has gone down dramatically. It is worth 20% of what it used to. That’s what your US dollar is. 20 cents. Look at the Euro. The value of the Euro is also going down. Take a look at supposedly rich European countries, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Ireland, Iceland, Italy all bankrupt. And you think, poverty level in your hood? LOL, you’re full of sh*t. Rich people don’t even talk on forums like this in Canada. They don’t bother getting involved. You on the other hand is like some kind of Gossiper who thinks is rich but acts like one of those chismosos at a coffee shop along with other unemployed americans collecting unemployment benefits. LOL. Let me ask you, how much is the deficit of America? $14 Trillion dollars? For every dollar you spend, America is borrowing $40,000 dollars. That’s the value of your dollar. CANADA? We happen to have the third largest OIL deposit and reserves in the ENTIRE WORLD. We have oil in Alberta, in Newfoundland, in New Brunswick and we also have one of the largest diamond mines in the Northwest Territories. In reality, the US is sinking and pretty soon, your so called rich neighborhood will just be inhabited by terrorists, gangbangers, drug dealers, Corporate Crooks like Ken Lay, Bernie Maddoff, etc etc as well as mafia bosses. That’s what your world is about. LOL. Rich my a$$, you can’t even wipe my butt with your dollar, it’s too crinkly.
@ricky
USA can go bankrupt become a third world country, who cares I dont. Im a Filipino, resident of the Philippines.
I fed your own dose of medicine whether true or not, and look what happened, you feel irritated. You see the point. We understand how successful you are now, mentioning your real estate once for comparison is probably enough since the topic reference is barely relevant to the blog. twicel, 3,,4,5. is not only too much. Besides in terms of wealth Philippines could not be compared to Canada or US, thats foregone conclusion. You posted the salary of the SC justices in Canada this time, there is no relevance again except you wanted to point out the their CJ makes more than 300,000 canadian dollars per annum multiply that with peso exchange rate, its awesome. Now, You look at it at 1-1 conversion equivalence; what does than mean. Nothing compared to SC CJ salary in the Philippines he makes at least 480,000 per annum.you see what I mean.
Everybody has a right to their own opinion but when arguing with others, the reference point is wealth of oneself, then dont be offended if that reference point is attacked. Its not animosity, its wake up “call”, I thought you said you play poker, blufffffff! You folded by getting irritated, you lost. cheer up, its only one game, try again next game.
Hay naku! Tayong mga Pinoy. Pag YUMAYABONG na ang kabuhayan, YUMAYABANG din ang kamalayan! HAHAHAHA!!! Buti na lang at ako’y mahirap pa din pagkatapos ng mahigit dalawampung taong kayod sa Wall Street ng Nuyok. Kahit kinakabahan ako ngaun dahil ung maliit kong pension mula ki Uncle Sam e baka wala na komo bankrupt na siya. Mauuubos nga raw ang SS fund ni Uncle Sammie by the year 2050 yata. Good thing siguro hanggang 2049 lang ako aabot! THE REWARD FOR BEING OLD! HAHAHA!
@august
Buti ka pa yung SS mo magagamit mo, kaya lang hindi hanggang 2049 dahil sabi ng mga Mayan 2012 na lang ang mundo. Kaya yung sa akin sinabi ko kay Uncle Sam bigay na lang sa mga taga Toronto bago mabankrupt Amerika
I have been in North America since 1975. That’s approx. 37 years living abroad. And yes, if you are wondering, I have been Canadianized which is why my way of thinking is sort of different than some if not most Filipinos.
What was my first comment to you. I said come back to the Philippines, reclimatize yourself to the culture. As of now your perspective stands on opposite pole, being Canada your reference point, wrong chart.
Oh, btw, those who have read my postings thousand times before, I never mentioned anything about my wealth; your posting was the only reason. So what if I paricipated in this kind of forum which you insinuated is not worth for the wealthy. Did you ever think what you posted demeaned all the people here especially Raissa. “Character of old wealth is measured by how they blend with the unfortunate compared to those with sudden fortune” Where do you belong?
Also I just gave 100,000 US dollar to my son private high school alma mater; does that count with your Lexus and MB C300; combined their amount is less than AMG 55, do you know what it is, I gave also to raffle. Do you think, thats enough?
I am coming back there. Giving $100,000 US Dollars to your son’s private high school must be some sort of charitable gift? To a school that caters to only the RICH? And that is helping mankind? you and your kind really irks the real public. Considering your comments are always geared to protect Pnoy Aquino’s administration show Pnoy was never someone who REALLY CARED FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC WHICH IS 90% OF THE POPULATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. Let me ask you this. What is the ratio of the poor or considered poor in the Philippines compared to it’s population? 90%? I bet that means, you just gave $100,000 US Dollars to those people WHO DON’T REALLY NEED IT. They are wealthy already. YOUR IDEA OF GIVING TO CHARITY IS LIKE TRYING TO BRIBE A SCHOOL OFFICIAL TO GET POGI POINTS AND MAKE YOU LOOK GOOD IN THE EYE OF YOUR POMPOUS ARROGANT SELF-RIGHTEOUS HOLIER-THAN-THOU NEIGHBORHOOD? LOL What a hypocrite. First of all you were trying to point at CORONA and say he is guilty and corrupt then you yourself admit that you are a CORRUPT PERSON. I bet if the public hears what you just did and knowing the majority of filipinos in the Philippines are struggling, they would castrate you and vote to remove Pnoy out of office.
And you talk like a $100,000 US Dollar gift to your son’s private high school alma mater was helping anyone. It’s like giving money to Bill Gates who does not really need your .50 cents because he is already very rich. By the way, those nannies and caregivers don’t make a lot of money and are paid by the hourly wage. Yes, they make more in Canada than working in the same job in the Philippines. Their hourly wage range from $16 to $18 dollars an hour but due to the high cost of living here in Toronto, that is just normal. That school is a private school and they don’t need $100,000 dollars like these working people do. That school charges a tuition fee something like $30,000 a year per student which is how much some of the private schools charge in my neighborhood although the public school here is very good and more than sufficient for people living here.
So in essence, you are just trying to rub elbows with those wealthy people because you really don’t care about the filipinos. $100,000 dollars can help a lot of the homeless children in the Philippines. If I had that kind of money, I would give to those victims of the typhoon, the landslides, try to use the money to build public schools for the disadvantaged people. The REAL PEOPLE who do need the help and NOT THIS B.S. OF YOURS THINKING YOU ARE THE RIGHTEOUS AND HIGHER MORAL GROUND BUT YOU ARE JUST AS DIRTY, CORRUPT AND CONNIVING AS THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATION. KEEP TRYING BECAUSE YOU ARE JUST REALLY SHOWING YOUR TRUE COLOURS. I HOPE THE FILIPINO PEOPLE HEAR THIS AND KNOW MORE OF THE CHARACTERS BEHIND PNOY AQUINO’S ADMINISTRATION. HE IS BEING BACKED BY HOODLUMS CORRUPT MANIPULATORS OF MEDIA AND CONNIVING THIEVES THEMSELVES.
You are a liar and a hypocrite. First of all, that $100,000 dollars given to a private high school? A school that really does NOT NEED help because it is a school that charges a tuition fee from every student that goes there. That $100,000 could help a lot of filipinos in the Philippines like homeless children, the victims of the typhoon, floods and landslides. It could be used for building public schools for the disadvantage people. You are full of sh*t and the biggest braggart here.
The filipinas working here don’t make a lot of money. Yes, they make more here in Canada than working in the same job in the Philippines. They make somewhere between $16 to $18 dollars per hour from their employers. However, the difference between those rich people and your greedy kind is THEY GIVE TO THOSE WHO TRULY NEED AND DESERVE IT. You on the other hand are just trying to make a fool of yourself trying to show you are generous GIVING money to a PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR RICH KIDS that do not really need the money because they charge a lot to students who go to school there.
YOU ARE THEREFORE TRYING TO SHOW OFF THAT YOU ARE WEALTHY SO THEY ACCEPT YOU INTO THEIR SOCIAL CLASS FULL OF SNOBBY, SELF-RIGHTEOUS, HYPOCRITES THAT ARE ARROGANT CONNIVING AND FEEL THEY ARE DESERVING OF EVERYTHING THEY HAVE EVEN IF IT WAS STOLEN. A BUNCH OF POMPOUS HOLIER-THAN-THOU PEOPLE WHO DON’T REALLY GIVE A SH*T ABOUT THE REST OF THE WORLD. IF IT WEREN’T FOR THE MASSES OF PEOPLE, THEIR BUSINESSES WOULD BE BANKRUPT.
Too bad, the filipino public does not know that PNOY AQUINO’S FAMILY AND CIRCLE OF FRIENDS ARE JUST A BUNCH OF CONNIVING ARROGANT HYPOCRITES LIKE YOU AND IF THEY KNOW, THEY WOULD MARCH DOWN AT EDSA AND REMOVE HIM FROM POWER EVEN AS I TYPE THIS RIGHT NOW. LOL
@ricky
I just gave 100 million pesos to catholic church for their work on the victims, is that enough? Did you google AMG 55, you did not comment? Whie googling find out also the meaning of sarcasm, @August , @nonon and I were having fun of
Have you heard of wikileaks where all secret confidential of US embassies and consulates were hacked, what the hell you are talking about paperless money. There are still money in the bank. More in circulation than a decade ago. There is constant recycling of old bills the reason Secretary of treasury signatures on the different denominations are updated.
Hey @Johnny lin
you posted the foollowing comments as above;
Johnny lin says: January 14, 2012 at 11:05 pm
Also I just gave 100,000 US dollar to my son private high school alma mater
Johnny lin says:January 17, 2012 at 7:56 pm
I just gave 100 million pesos to catholic church for their work on the victims, is that enough?
Are you for real or you’re taking everyone here for a ride?
tsk tsk tsk…
From MEL somewhere here: “Hey @Johnny lin you posted the foollowing comments as above; Johnny lin says: January 14, 2012 at 11:05 pm Also I just gave 100,000 US dollar to my son private high school alma mater Johnny lin says:January 17, 2012 at 7:56 pm I just gave 100 million pesos to catholic church for their work on the victims, is that enough? Are you for real or you’re taking everyone here for a ride? tsk tsk tsk….”
Mel, have you heard of hyperbole, exaggeration and sarcasm? They are legit literary/journalistic tools, used mainly to attract attention or opinion…. the more outlandish or overblown, the better. Writer Mark Twain, sports columnist Grantland Rice, famed trial lawyer Louis Nizer, the late Philippines FREE PRESS editor Teodoro M. Locsin (dad of Teddy Boy), superwriters Nick Joaquin and Gregorio Brilliantes and my fave woman writer Kerima Polotan were masters of them. I suggest you google or wiki those “tools”. Good luck, tututak!
To our friend MEL: Please guess what literary/journalistic tool I used in my following short piece I published somewhere a while ago: “In the picture where ‘Bishop’ Cruz is shown anointing (or putting pomade on CJ Corona’s hair?): Sa lahat ng bishops yan ang lagi kong sinusundan. Para hindi ako napaligaw ng landas. Siya ang aking giya, ika nga. Kc basta kung ano landas na tinatahak ni Cruz, iyong SALIWA ang tatahakin ko. PARA TIYAK NA NASA MATUWID ANG LAKAD KO!
”
@august
Binubuko mo naman, sigurado ka ba sa sinasabi mo? tuloy hindi kana sinasagot ni @ricky. Kapag nawalan ng follower si Raissa, kasalanan ni Bishop Cruz. saka kasusumpa mo lang kay Raissa, binabali mo kaagad
@AUGUST C FERNANDO, @Johnny lin
Hey boys!
LOL!
As much as I would like to Reply to your recent posties, wala iyong Reply button sa ibaba. (AND THIS IS FOR THE TROLL)
@AUGUST C FERNANDO, You asked ‘have you heard of hyperbole, exaggeration and sarcasm?’ DEFINITELY, having exchanged with @Johnny lin since Dec last year, never thought he’d stoop to keep up with the Trump (@Ricky) from Canada. Ayaw pala maunahan. Puro seryoso kasi iyong mga past exchanges namin with @Saxnviolins. I should have taken the cue that @Ricky was a bit showing off.
As for your ‘In the picture where ‘Bishop’ Cruz is shown anointing (or putting pomade on CJ Corona’s hair?):’
Máte, you’d have to give me a web link if it is in the cloud. Otherwise, I might not be able to find it down under.
With @ Johnny lin’s Post: January 18, 2012 at 12:04 pm, iyan ang Quickie sa madaling sabi.
Thanks guys. Let’s keep it within the thread. Otherwise we’re wasting Raïssa’s time of moderating our trolls.
Once again, sorry Raïssa.
Fr pal JOHNNY lin somewhere: “August…As for your ‘In the picture where ‘Bishop’ Cruz is shown anointing (or putting pomade on CJ Corona’s hair?):’ Máte, you’d have to give me a web link if it is in the cloud. Otherwise, I might not be able to find it down under.” NO PROB, Johnny. Below is the URL…. GO, PAL!!! ENJOY!!!
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/22198/fr–robert-reyes-an-open-letter-to-our-bishops?fb_comment_id=fbc_5007051728029_725228_5007051780029.
By the way, NO, IM NOT IN THE WRONG CHART. IM ALSO A FILIPINO. I HAVE DUAL- CITIZENSHIP. I DONT STAND ON THE OPPOSITE END OF THE POLE. I AM SPEAKING ON THE SAME REASONS WHAT EVERYONE IS TRYING TO SAY. TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A DECENT LIFE WITHOUT PERSECUTION FROM POMPOUS ARROGANT LOUDMOUTHS LIKE YOU. “CHARACTER OF OLD WEALTH IS MEASURED BY HOW THEY BLEND WITH THE UNFORTUNATE COMPARED TO THOSE WITH SUDDEN FORTUNE”? JOHNNY, BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY THIS, YOU CANNOT, I REPEAT IT AGAIN, YOU CANNOT BLEND WITH THE UNFORTUNATE.
WHY? YOU JUST SAID IT, YOU GAVE $100,000 US DOLLARS TO PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY DON’T NEED IT. THAT’S LIKE TELLING MANNY PACQUIAO, HEY MANNY LET’S GO TO JOLIBEE, I’LL BUY YOU A BURGER AND A SOFT DRINK. YOU ARE JUST INSULTING HIM.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TRULY RICH HERE IN CANADA AND YOUR KIND IS YOU TRY TO THINK YOU CAN BUY YOUR WAY UP INTO THE SOCIAL CIRCLES OF THE TRULY WEALTHY BUT THE TRULY RICH PEOPLE HERE DONATE AND GIVE TO THE LESS FORTUNATE AND THOSE WHO TRULY DESERVE IT LIKE THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THEM AS A SIGN OF GRATITUDE FOR DOING A GOOD JOB OF TAKING CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR ELDERLY. THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE.
YOU AND YOUR KIND ON THE OTHER HAND THINK BY DONATING TO THOSE THAT ALREADY WELL-OFF, THEY WILL LOOK UP TO YOU AND MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE A KING BUT IN REALITY YOU WERE JUST TRYING TO BUY YOURSELF INTO THEIR SOCIAL CIRCLE. LOL YOU ARE A JOKE AND A BIG LAUGH. TRUST ME, WHEN I SAY THIS, THE TRULY WEALTHY PEOPLE WITH MONEY HERE WHO COME FROM OLD RICH FAMILIES DONATE TO THE POOR AND UNDERPRIVILEDGED PEOPLE MORE OFTEN THAT THOSE OTHER OLD RICH FAMILIES IN THE PHILIPPINES. THEY KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF HELPING OTHERS THAN TRYING TO BUY THEIR WAY INTO A RICH SOCIAL CLASS BECAUSE THEY DONT NEED TO. THEY ARE THAT RICH.
Investigate Carpio for being wealthy? If true, his mother belongs to one of the wealthiest families in Visayas, Tirol, of banks and landed fame in Aklan, probably owning most of Boracay beachfront before it became famous. He was a successful lawyer before becoming justice. The reported megasize 800 sqm condo would occupy two floors of the building, almost impossible, unless his family owns the entire building which is chicken feed to family wealth anyway. Corona has to prove his wealth lineage.
If that’s your argument, Corona could very well afford to buy a P14.5M condo, even if on installment.
He was a graduate of Ateneo from elementary, high school and college.He also studied in Harvard.
As you know, it can cost a fortune to study in this schools.
@leon
Who told you, Midas Marquez. Its illusion and guessing, prove it. Ask Corona. I did too on scholarship and we were poor.My salary in 2009 was 15x that of Corona monthly but I could not afford the monthly installment of a 15 million condo at Serendra. Bank installment loan in the Philippines for real estate is for 5 years term meaning the monthly installment was at least 250,000 pesos a month for 60 months. I know because I tried to buy one with 30% down payment. Corona does not earn that much monthly. In 2002 Corona SALN had an asset of 14million pesos and at that time mine was 3x of Corona and in that same year my income was 20x that of Corona. The only way Corona could have paid his condo cash was he received bribes in cash. That is a guarantee. Dare you to ask him to waive his rights on all his bank accounts since 2000 so my “company” could access them to print them here. Ask also the address of his residence in San Francisco so we could trace how it was bought. No way he could afford even with his chief justice salary plus the salary of his wife at Camp John Hay. Dare his family to show his SALN and ITR for the past 5 years and I will do the same for comparison to prove my theory. Your hero is corrupt in the highest category. Thats the truth, however he denies it. Corona is a dayum liar. We can randomly pick 10 OFWs and they will all say , no way he paid installment on that condo with his monthly salary.
Corona worked in the private sector for 20 years. Early in his career, Corona served as special counsel at the Development Bank of the Philippines. He later became senior vice-president and general counsel of the Commercial Bank of Manila, and later a senior officer of the Tax and Corporate Counseling Group of the Tax Division of Sycip Gorres Velayo & Co. (SGV & Co.), the country’s largest multidisciplinary professional services firm. I am sure a salary of a senior vice-president and general counsel for a bank is more than enough to justify his means. A senior officer for Sycip Gorres Velayo and Co can also command a very handsome salary. Inherited wealth could also be a factor since his family could afford to send him to Ateneo and Harvard.
Can’t be 20 years in private sector.
Far less.
I checked.
Corona started his career in government with Marcos under Executive Secretary Melchor in late 70′s to mid 80,s. Worked few years in private sector, went to Harvard under scholarship and was a working student, came back private sector few years then worked in government starting 1992 with Fidel Ramos that is why he has 1992 SALN with reported assets of 14 million pesos. He became VP GMA chief of staff in 1998. His reported assets in 2002 when he was PGMA chief of staff was 13 million, one million pesos less than 1992, This debunked the theory he earned a lot of money, at least according to his SALN, if true. The most years he worked in private corporations was 5-7 years. In ten years, 1992-2002 his assets went down by one million while working with Ramos and VPGMA yet from 2002 when he was appointed SC justice at least he was able to buy 14 million peso condo in cash. Not including those unexposed properties yet? We will know them during the trial. How did he do it in 7 years with associate SC justice salary that he was not able to do in 10 years with government salary too. Do the math? Only corruption could solve it.
I will pay attention to the trial and we will all know the real facts. I cannot say you are right and someone else is also right. Somehow I will try to keep an open mind and be impartial about everything. The truth will be exposed during the trial anyways. Evidence is the determining factor not public opinion, for me anyways. I don’t want to be convicted just because people disliked me or my methods or because I did not agree with someone’s opinion. If I would be found guilty of any charge given to me, I would rather be found guilty if the evidence is there and that I have been proven to be guilty WITHOUT A REASONABLE DOUBT. That’s what they always teach you in law school. Men’s rea, Actus rea, legal process, presumption of innocence, etc.
At least you read another opinion contrary to what was fed to you. Now you have an open mind. I dont claim Im right to convince you, just giving another side of the story with details and reasoning.
That is acceptable. I do like to hear from both sides. Di naman ako kumakampi with either side. Im just a spectator myself but I like to draw some conclusions on my own sometimes based on what I have read and already know which sometimes may be false information or insufficient information. Usually there is more to a story than what is being printed anyways.
Your above “soft punch” visibly shows that you’ve been licked. Or at least NANGHIHINA KA NA, Ricky. As we say in Tagalog, Ricky, GULAPAY KA NA SA HIRAP. LAMOG KA NA SA SUNTOK…. hehehe. But in fairness, I like your debating prowess. Magaling ka. Pero mas magaling kahit kanino ang KATOTOHANAN. Sa laht, mahirap kalaban ang KATOTOHANAN! Db, Ricky idol?
we will know but the truth usually hurts sometimes di ba? We have not heard the whole story yet. Somehow there might be missing information somewhere but that’s where the intrigue lies. It makes for good speculation on who is more credible. Actually, if you did investigate a lot of these congressmen / women and senators, there might be quite a few anomalies already to discover. Corona is only one of the scapegoats that was being pressured but I am certain there are others too and possibly some that are also involved in the cover up.
No.
Corona is NOT a scapegoat.
He is an EXAMPLE.
You know the tagalog slang – sasampulan siya.
Fr RAISSA to RICKY somewhere above: “No. Corona is NOT a scapegoat. He is an EXAMPLE. You know the tagalog slang – sasampulan siya.”
My exact same take, Raissa, Ricky. A SCAPEGOAT is not actually involved in a particular shennanigan/case. Sa Tagalog namin sa Rizal un ay SINANGKALAN lang. IDINAWIT. PINAGBINTANGAN. [Thanks Lolo Balagtas for my rich Tagalog bokab, hahahaha!]. And Corona is NOTHING but. He IS the major player. BIDA, kumbaga. “Bida” in the mold of Martin Marfil, Joseph de Cordova, Ricky Davao, Eddie Garcia and some such critters in our movie industry. LOL.
so that means they made an example of him? What about others? I am sure more than half of congress and some of the Senate can fit the same category. Corona was made an example BECAUSE of his ruling in HL and he was appointed by GMA. NOT because of anything else right? Or if there are others, why isn’t anyone going after them too? All the governors, the mayors, the senators, congresspeople, PNP, Generals, etc etc. hahahaha It is a joke however, I know the present administration CANNOT stay there forever. The term is 6 six years only so we will see another person who will have his own point of views and he or she may want to go after the past administration again. A repeat of what is happening now. The saying “what goes around, comes around” rings true in a lot of ways. Look what Estrada said. “Baka na Karma ka ngayon GMA”
You wish, ano.
@August C Fernando :
You’re understanding of a scapegoat might be different than mine but here is an interesting story about one of Pnoy’s relatives (which is why I still think Corona is a scapegoat despite other’s opinion because a scapegoat is someone who is blamed when he is targeted and NO one powerful to defend him and that powerful person lets others get away with practically the same or even worst crime as in swindle or estafa) :
Here is another case where the administration of justice may be derailed.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has taken over the investigation and resolution of a syndicated estafa case still being investigated by the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office. The complainants, two Mandaluyong City-based companies, are questioning the motive of the DOJ.
Earlier, a complaint was filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against two executives of Omico Corporation, Tommy Kin Hing Tia and Juana Lourdes Buyson, for obstruction of justice. The NBI filed the complaint against Tia and Buyson for their alleged failure to obey the legal process in connection with the syndicated estafa complaint filed last year by Guevent Investments Development Corp. (GIDC) and Honeycomb Builders Inc. (HBI) against Tia, Buyson and other Omico executives.
A little background: On Sept. 26, 1995, a joint-venture agreement was entered into by GIDC and HBI, on the one hand, and Omico on the other, to develop parcels of real estate owned by GIDC and HBI along Pasong Tamo Extension in Makati. Omico was to construct the condominiums.
Omico raised, through a public offering, P250 million to be used exclusively to develop the mixed-use condos. However, the amount was instead diverted to other projects and can no longer be accounted for. The amount went to Omico Kapital Inc., a subsidiary firm, only to be loaned back to Omico without interest.
It is not only the two partners asking where the money went but also the thousands of small investors who bought shares in Omico’s public offering. A publicly listed corporation, Omico’s board chair is Antonio Lopa, a relative of President Aquino.
Alberto Gaviola, legal counsel of GIDC and HBI, said in a letter to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima that the NBI investigation was going smoothly before the Aquino administration took over. After the Aquino takeover, however, Omico executives began snubbing subpoenas issued by the NBI.
The case was filed on Nov. 22, 2010, by the NBI with the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office but, curiously, was docketed with the Guevaras of Guevent as complainants. Gaviola told the investigating fiscal, Nestle A. Go, that the complainant was the NBI, not the Guevaras.
Gaviola said the DOJ takeover was improper. It is only after the resolution of a case by the prosecutor that the DOJ may take over a case for resolution, he said.
Now Mr. Agust C Fernando, this is a REAL case and could you explain to me why Pnoy’s relatives are not investigated by the NBI? I know 6 years in power is a short time but I don’t know the statute of limitations on this case.
Just curious –
Did you feed the same info about Omico to Neal Cruz or did you just lift this from him?
Because his column of jan 12, 2012 has what you have word for word –
http://opinion.inquirer.net/21021/graft-charges-filed-against-wrong-people
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has taken over the investigation and resolution of a syndicated estafa case still being investigated by the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office. The complainants, two Mandaluyong City-based companies, are questioning the motive of the DOJ.
Earlier, a complaint was filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against two executives of Omico Corporation, Tommy Kin Hing Tia and Juana Lourdes Buyson, for obstruction of justice. The NBI filed the complaint against Tia and Buyson for their alleged failure to obey the legal process in connection with the syndicated estafa complaint filed last year by Guevent Investments Development Corp. (GIDC) and Honeycomb Builders Inc. (HBI) against Tia, Buyson and other Omico executives.
A little background: On Sept. 26, 1995, a joint-venture agreement was entered into by GIDC and HBI, on the one hand, and Omico on the other, to develop parcels of real estate owned by GIDC and HBI along Pasong Tamo Extension in Makati. Omico was to construct the condominiums.
Omico raised, through a public offering, P250 million to be used exclusively to develop the mixed-use condos. However, the amount was instead diverted to other projects and can no longer be accounted for. The amount went to Omico Kapital Inc., a subsidiary firm, only to be loaned back to Omico without interest.
It is not only the two partners asking where the money went but also the thousands of small investors who bought shares in Omico’s public offering. A publicly listed corporation, Omico’s board chair is Antonio Lopa, a relative of President Aquino.
Alberto Gaviola, legal counsel of GIDC and HBI, said in a letter to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima that the NBI investigation was going smoothly before the Aquino administration took over. After the Aquino takeover, however, Omico executives began snubbing subpoenas issued by the NBI.
The case was filed on Nov. 22, 2010, by the NBI with the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office but, curiously, was docketed with the Guevaras of Guevent as complainants. Gaviola told the investigating fiscal, Nestle A. Go, that the complainant was the NBI, not the Guevaras.
Gaviola said the DOJ takeover was improper. It is only after the resolution of a case by the prosecutor that the DOJ may take over a case for resolution, he said.
You just added the last paragraph addressing Mr. Fernando.
From RICKY DE LA TORRE, somewhere in this discourses: “Corona worked in the private sector for 20 years. Early in his career, Corona served as special counsel at the Development Bank of the Philippines. He later became senior vice-president and general counsel of the Commercial Bank of Manila, and later a senior officer of the Tax and Corporate Counseling Group of the Tax Division of Sycip Gorres Velayo & Co. (SGV & Co.), the country’s largest multidisciplinary professional services firm. I am sure a salary of a senior vice-president and general counsel for a bank is more than enough to justify his means. A senior officer for Sycip Gorres Velayo and Co can also command a very handsome salary. Inherited wealth could also be a factor since his family could afford to send him to Ateneo and Harvard.”
RICKY, bottom line is THROUGH ALL THOSE YEARS, Corona was able to amass “only” a total of P14.5 million mazzumahs as shown in one of his SALNs. RIGHT? Aminado ka? So how in tarnation was he able to pay his Bellagio thingie with ALL THE CASH IN HIS DISPOSAL? And what about the OTHER 45 — you read right, FORTY-FIVE, as in KWARENTA’Y SINGKO! — pieces of PROPERTIES IN EXPENSIVE, EXCLUSIVE PLACES IN METRO MANILA that your Idol Corona and Family own? WHERE, OR WHERE DID THEY GET THE MOOLAHS FOR THOSE?
B ALL AGAIN IN YOUR COURT, RICKY! HEHEHEHE.
Again you are already jumping to the conclusion that this is also true. 45 properties is a lot to amass in a short time on a Government employee salary. That is true. However, there was a reply by Corona that if these properties are real, he will give them away because they are not his and they do not exist. Remember the case with Senator Lacson regarding the Dacer-Corbito murder case? Suddenly, Mancao said there was 2 million dollars in his account that appeared out of nowhere that someone deposited. A demolition job is easy to do in the Philippines on any public figure. If they can counterfeit dollars and Gucci bags, they could easily create forged documents with someone’s signature on it. If the Philippines is like North America where you use a chip debit card, it is easy to trace transactions and there is NO WAY you can deny if you are actually earning this money and where you are spending it. A cashless society is what is being planned for the future where everyone has a microchip on their body and can be scanned for information. This information is in a database and cannot be duplicated and cannot be altered since there will be a timestamp each time a person will access this information. It will also show who attempted to access this information. Needless to say, it is “IDIOT PROOF”, and it will eliminate counterfeiters, drug dealers, blackmarket dealing, illegal transactions, money laundering, tax evaders, etc etc. This will also eliminate those Executives who are siphoning money out of companies, transfer or using company funds etc etc because the chip is only match to one person and that is the person where the microchip is embedded. Pero I was wondering bakit sa pinas even the payroll of employees they still use cash money instead of direct deposit and using a bank debit card with a security chip instead. This eliminates bank fraud and bank robberies easily. A bank robber cannot rob a store because there is no money. People cannot get robbed at gunpoint because there is nothing to take. A chip card can easily be stopped by calling a number and it will be cancelled as a security measure. The Philippines is still a long ways from being in the 21st century where everything is high tech. Anyways, yes, you are right, Corona may or may not be able to afford those properties if they existed. I doubt they are his and that this was his own doing. Probably some people that did a demolition job on his integrity. If they can manipulate the polls and manipulate votes or public surveys, they can easily forged documents. The Philippines is known for dirty tricks like this. Falsified identification, uttering false statements, etc etc. Remember “hello garci”? Or during Estrada’s trial , the false account he had? somehow down the line either Corona will fess up or some other people will. And those people who are involved must be scared out of their pants now.
Pls. put paragraphs in your comment.
Easier to read.
sorry. I will.
@ricky
This is from your own mouth: ” if they can manipulate polls and manipulate votes, they can easily fake documents” the only person accussed of rigging votes in 2004 & 2007 is GMA whose chief of staff was Corona. The person mho might present fake documents is Corona. Where is his installment loan document, bet you had yours when you bought your condo? So easy to produce, isn’t it?
Also when you copy and quote a writer, acknowledge the author so you wont be accused of plagiarism like SC justiice Del Castillo.
Fr JOHNNY lin somewhere here: “@ricky This is from your own mouth: ‘if they can manipulate polls and manipulate votes, they can easily fake documents’ the only person accussed of rigging votes in 2004 & 2007 is GMA whose chief of staff was Corona. The person mho [sic] might present fake documents is Corona. Where is his installment loan document, bet you had yours when you bought your condo? So easy to produce, isn’t it? Also when you copy and quote a writer, acknowledge the author so you wont be accused of plagiarism like SC justiice Del Castillo.”
I hope readers in this ongoing debate have discerned the sarcasm when I said Ricky de la Torre was my “idol” here. I said it in the manner a Jonathan Swift, a Samuel Clemens or a Westbrook Pegler would say it… in ironical vein. Now that we discover him, thru Raissa, to be ala-Supreme Court justice [read: PLAGIARIST], I won’t bother to read his posts anymore. I will just wait for Neal Cruz’s column. Neal was once one of my fave columnists in the defunct Manila Chronicle, along with IP Soliongco, Pura Santillan Castrence and Carmen Guerrero Nakpil.
Raissa, pardon if I put here this correction of my entry below. There is no REPLY buton in my item…. “Neal was once one of my fave columnists in the defunct Manila Chronicle, along with IP Soliongco, Pura Santillan Castrence and Carmen Guerrero Nakpil.” I think Neal H.Cruz’s paper was The Evening News, not the Manila Chronicle. Soliongco and Nakpil, tho, were with MC. Castrence, with Manila Bulletin(?). Not a big deal. Just for the record — and I hope — accuracy.
@Ricky
Do you understand what you’re reading about future technology. Let us dissect:
“chip debit card” – is also available in the Philippines to those with large bank deposits if you are not aware of it, usually a minimum of maintained 1 million pesos in the account. With your 360,000 canadian dollar you could do this when you desire to retire in our paradise. Sorry to tell you, that amount is not enough to buy a house in our subdivision, the minimum price is of our houses is 20 million pesos. I would love you to be my neighbor.
Body micrchip: it is not “idiot proof” , ” fool proof” yes; idiot= gago; fool= naloko
This microchip will never be imbedded in the body because thats only in the movies and North America will never be a garisson society in the near future.
“direct payroll deposits” this is what you are talking about salary being deposited instead of cash payment : it does not eliminate bank robbery because the money is still deposited in the banks. You are probably talking about “armored car robbery” which is entirely different.
Electronic transactions are a lot more harder to steal. Armed bank robbers cannot rob paperless money that is recorded electronically. This is why they are aiming for a cashless society. Because they want to eliminate fraud, blackmarket economy from drugs, money laundering, counterfeiting, etc etc., money from the mob, terrorists and all kinds of illegal transactions. Currency is always being de-valued. Prior to 1973, the value of the dollar was always pegged with the value of GOLD. After 1973, Nixon based the value of the dollar based on it’s strenght and the market economy. In reality, the value of the US greenback has been going down ever since. Each time the price of OIL (barrel) goes up, the value of your dollar goes down. Each time, your U.S. government PRINTS more money, the value of your dollar goes down. It’s like the Russia ruble or the Mexican Peso before. It was so devalued against the dollar, everytime I went to mexico for holidays and exchanged my dollar, I had to carry a barrel full of mexican pesos. That’s what your AMERICAN dollar is heading for. A complete ZERO. It is not even worth the paper, it’s printed on. I bet the INK is worth more than the dollar bill itself.
hey ricky you look like you read too much but have you heard of identity theft. your electronic transaction or deposit will be easy to steal with your personal info and the smart criminal mind. and besides that if your bank will go under its just being insured for 100k and your out of luck if you have more. stop bragging about your wealth dude, it make me sick. my friends here in chicago cant stand your comments regarding your presume knowledge of the US finances. have you heard of the homehealth care boom in the united states where most of the owners are filipino nurses, our money is still good anywhere, have you heard of anybody using a canadian dollar for a business transaction. regarding your comment about the 2for1 hummer, nobody want to buy those trucks due to gas consumption we have hybrids now which are more expensive than hummers, and just for your info, i just switch my bently to an rr last month. now are we getting porrer or what…..
YOu might be sleeping all the time which is why you think everything is fine.
Take a look at some of these REALITIES that are going on :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmDnxcICvF8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujpmhGUNjKk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzjiW4U4V9g&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKHyLNvZwpI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vd0QvpdJD6Y&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F43e-wKY5IE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjoBtNvBPIM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6vi528gseA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7r9o3jmyoaA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4YCjjqwH8M&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXIrfjLsmaU&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxalsJBRc_Y&feature=related
Didn’t you notice it? Even the Euro is in serious trouble? Countries like Greece, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Iceland, Ireland are bankrupt? And you think the US is doing OK? You’re living in a house of cards. One strong wind will blow your house down in a matter of seconds.
So go ahead and keep investing in US Treasuries and US Savings Bonds. Keep buying US stocks and buy US real estate. hahahaha, you’re going down dude.
You keep living in your fairy tale dreamland without ever realizing what is so oblivious that is going on around you? hahahahaha
I have relatives and friends in your neighborhood. Yes, I can afford to buy a 20 million pesos home there if I get my inherited properties sold at the right prices too. And if my business ideas become successful. But, my sister’s friends who live in those posh neighborhoods are also trying to sell some of their properties, and they can’t even find buyers willing to pay their asking price or even just the current market value.
I see a lot of rental properties in Makati and The Fort that are vacant for 8 months. Yes, they may find a renter for a few weeks but after that it is dead. The problem is overpriced units, some units cost more than a luxury hotel in the Canada. Some of the renters try to rent their units for $3000 a month when in Toronto, you can get the same quality for $1900 dollars. And considering the average salary of a worker here makes at least $47,000 dollars a year. Garbage collectors working in the Union (City workers) practically make $60,000 dollars a year. Bus Drivers for the Toronto Transit Commission make about $58,000 dollars a year plus lots of benefits.
This is why I believe the Philippines is another bubble to burst. Overpriced Units there are just going to be vacant. No one in his right mind would pay for some of those Units even if they had the money or income to do so because they are overvalued. Believe me, that kind of thing will never happen here. And Canada’s economy is certainly more stable than Europe and the United States.
Besides, I prefer to live modestly as I cannot tell what will happen in the future. With all this economic instability around the world, it is not wise to spend frivolously buying luxury things and homes that you cannot sustain in the long run.
My strategy is just to lay low and invest my resources for a few years and wait until 2015 or 2016 when it might be safer. There is even a possibility of a World War III and another economic depression that may occur. I just need to lay low and live within the means and not squander everything. Hoping to gain some advantage later when the economy becomes clearer and better.
@JOHNNY LIN:
Just to show you that I am telling the truth. Here is a link to salaries of Garbage drivers and collectors working for the city of Toronto :
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/655607
They make more than the president of the Philippines? LOL
Here is a link to Toronto Transit Bus Drivers :
http://www3.ttc.ca/Jobs/transit_operator_drivers_recruitment.jsp
Most average bus drivers make $58,000 a year or even higher after working 3 years or more. That is not including overtime pay, holiday pay (which is double time and triple time if the holiday falls on a Sunday) which also on top of their base salary, benefits, paid sick days, etc etc.
I have a mechanic cousin in New York City who makes $90,000 dollars a year. Can your senators make that kind of money? That is why it is a joke in the Philippines. Get an education, work hard, study hard and be poor. Mayaman pa yun mga crooked and corrupt and that includes the present administration.
New york $90,000, bet your cousin does not live in the city and rides subway to work, brings lunch to work and washes his clothes. In Manila, with that kind of money we have maids and driver, and we barely work., he he he
FYI, a senior officer for SGV DOES NOT command a handsome salary, or at least handsome enough to buy whatever’s in his SALN.
From ZEE somewhere here: “FYI, a senior officer for SGV DOES NOT command a handsome salary, or at least handsome enough to buy whatever’s in his SALN.” I’m inclined to believe this. I think SGV is a cheapskate when it comes to compensation/salary of its people. A starting level CPA, even if you are a cum laude grad of a respectable school like UST, gets only P12,000 per month. Which is really a pauper’s pay in this time and clime! Especially in Makati.
Cuevas guilty of saying that Corona was still amortizing the penthouse and at the same time he said Corona did not give to him yet any document in the condo. Installment payment was also stated in the answers to impeachment complaints. Then, what was his proof on installment statement?
These lawyers wrote something definite without Corona giving them the proof? They look stupid based on Cuevas media interview. No wonder Atty Francisco resigned from the team because he did not agree that statements were not backed up by documents which could be easily furnished by Corona if true. This is more believable reason of a lawyer with integrity rather than any other excuses on his withdrawal.
The lawyers had misunderstanding on kowtowing to Corona’s withholding vital information away from them. Some were still treating him with reverence rather than a client. Cuevas unwittingly implied this in his interview, expected because of age related memory lapses. Corona could not trust his lawyers because they were volunteers, could be treacherous informants since few had been against GMA before. The documents exposed by Raissa in this blog proved the suspicion of some honest Corona’s lawyers.
Unsurprising that Cuevas would withdraw eventually too, citing poor health. His credibility and dignity sullied by his own statement contradicted by exposed deeds of absolute sale. Cuevas, lawyer, ex SC justice making stupid claim,hearsay without evidence which his client could furnish to him immediately if there are documents of monthly installment. Kawawang matanda, masisira ang reputasyon sa pagtatago ni Corona ng ebidensiya sa kanya.
It is interesting to note that lawyers have their Code of Professional Responsibility to abide by. This appears on the IBP website.
As an example, see Rule 19.02 below:
Rule 19.02 – A lawyer who has received information that his client has, in the course of the representation, perpetrated a fraud upon a person or tribunal, shall promptly call upon the client to rectify the same, and failing which he shall terminate the relationship with such client in accordance with the Rules of Court.
I suggest readers should refer to this Code so that we know whether the lawyers behavior do not breach their Code.
I am wondering how many of the lawyers (especially those representing Corona because there are 15 of them) abide by their Code. (On the side, I am reminded of Lambino, Topacio, Flaminiano, Arroyo, et al being GMA’s lawyers, and whether they did not breach Rule 19.02).
it is interesting
Could you provide a link to the Code, pls, so everyone can read the entire thing.
Thanks for the info.
Very interesting.
here is the link http://ibp.ph/downloads.html, the click on Code of Professional Responsibility to download the PDF file where you can find all the Codes,
Thanks!
@Ding
Right on the money. corona was not furnishing them documents/information that is why they were forced to file motions to delay, including soliciting few lawyers to intervene in SC despite their knowledge that SC must not interfere on impeachent. francisco was uncomfortable aside from the Villar issue so he resigned from the team.The answer contained the installment payment on the condo because Corona said so and promised to give them documents but Prosecutors pre-empted by revelation and they were all surprised. There was too much blaming after seeing the Raissa documents. Delos Angeles was having second thoughts but so far he was persuaded to stay put. Hofilena was being filled up thru phone and text, same issue he decided not to participate. The conflict of interest with his son was minor issue.
Cuevas forced media interview was revealing, he was trying to exonerate himself by saying “due to the unique position of Corona, i did not ask for the documents” Lousy excuse because he must treat him as a plain truthful client rather than an honorable justice in terms of submitting evidences. He did not become justice not to know this simple client lawyer evidence sharing relationship. He was seething mad for being conned easily by Corona but he was already deeply committed to him so he fulfills his end of the bargain, Saving face!
@Johnny lin
CASE SCENARIO
What if CJ R Corona and his lead lawyer Serafin Cuevas are quite right on their own version of public pronouncements? With the lawyer acting innocently and submissive, like a lap dog. By an ex-Supreme Court Associate Justice to the current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
The Coronas claim they are still paying off a loan they used to purchase a property at Bellagio. Cuevas claims the same except that Corona hasn’t supplied him documentary evidence to support this claim. Which is very odd considering R Corona is a lawyer. Also that R Corona allowed his lawyers to submit his answers for the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate Impeachment – unsigned!
Since Cuevas lack the document evidence (no Contract to Sell from Megaworld) to support these claims on the Bellagio property yet, there is no way to accurately identify what is this Bellagio Property the Coronas claim they still continue to pay by installments.
——————
Raïssa’s excellent investigative reporting has unearthed or received documents that prove the Coronas do have a Bellagio Property. These materials purport to signify that it is fully paid by virtue of a Deed of Absolute Sale from Megaworld bearing the name of the Coronas , amount paid, etc.
Raïssa’s documents refers to the Bellagio 38 B (CCT No 19497), Parking Lots No 50 – 52 (CCT No 19651 – 19653). It is fully paid – no loan repayments outstanding.
CASE THEORY: More than one Bellagio Unit
Is it possible to assume that the Coronas have more than one unit located in the same Bellagio street address but on different parts of the building? And that they have more one property with Megaworld at the same Bellagio address? Is it suffice to say that the one that Raïssa has brought to light is one that is fully paid, and the second is what CJ R Corona admits to still paying off the loan?
As you also noted, Corona’s lawyer Serafin Cuevas maintains that R Corona hasn’t supplied him THE documentary evidence , such as a Contract to Sell between Megaworld and the Coronas?
A bigger question everyone should be asking; what is the relationship of Megaworld and the Coronas in relation to the Bellagio Property(s)? What arrangement do they have for the Coronas to secure these property(s). As we are aware by now, CJ R Corona penned one of the Megaworld cases before his sala in their favor.
——————
UNLESS A WHISTLE BLOWER WHO IS PRIVY TO THESE do testify with irrefutable first-hand evidence, AND OTHERS – TOO DIFFICULT TO PROVE THAT ANYTHING WAS ILLEGAL. The solon-prosecutors should be at their best to convince a political win over these allegations.
Usually if there is a criminal complaint, the police or an investigating body (e.g. NBI) with special police powers can raid offices, confiscate materials and investigate the matter. Anything allowed by law to investigate a criminal behavior to warrant prosecution. If there are evidences gathered/collected, it would be recommended for criminal prosecution by a public or gov’t prosecutor(s).
In CJ R Corona’s case, it is by impeachment. There was no formal investigation or collection of evidences. Except those that are now in the room-full of evidences that Rep. Tupas claims they have against the Chief Justice. BUT this is a political trial, an impeachment process to try to forcibly remove a seating gov’t Chief Justice official. The Legislative Branch is endowed with special powers to impeach the Executive Leader or any member of the Judiciary.
LOL.
YOu are more sneaky in your thoughts than I am.
Hi Raïssa,
LOL!
I was merely toying with the idea that if it was the case scenario.
These people are not simpletons, as much as I would like to berate their wrongdoings, infuse a moral compass on their failures and castigate them for their absence or loss of professional etiquettes, and the like.
Sometimes, crooked people(corona, cuevas) of the same trade just nod, wink and look at each other (without saying much) for just affirming that their sorry circumstances (like R Corona) are survivable.
Shrewd and cunning people (old school so to speak) can always get themselves around a predicament.
Sa simpleng salita, “Kung may lusot, may gusot”.
Like many of your ardent readers, I really hope your light and good example will cast its rays on people who are privy on cases like this. So that they can be enlightened and show cause to spill the beans. THEY MUST DO THE RIGHT THING.
Expose and reveal what they know, and find your channel to correct the wrong and put a stop to the shenanigans placed on a very important institution of our country.
You know – so far, the commenters – for and against, haven’t thought as yet of the people who got the bitter end of the injustice rulings and gravel decisions (including flipflops) that CJ R Corona have made. Simply because, the people they were up against can solicit or influence judges’ decisions on their favor.
The Solon-prosecutors should darn know what they have, and surest on what they need to do for a successful impeachment.
Dakal Salamat keka Raïssa.
Very fertile ang imagination mo. talo mo pa si Raissa. LOL!
@Leon
Hindi ooii.
Si Raissa ang ilaw, sumusunod lang tayo sa liwanag niya.
May katotohanan ang liwanag kasi niya – kabayan.
Hindi biro ang nangyayari sa bansang pilipinas ngayon.
Kung gusto mong umunlad at maiayos ang bansa, makibaka ka sa tama.
kungdi ang maralita, ang maliliit na tao ang maiipit at mahihirapan sa bandang huli.
Ang mga taong makapangyarihan corrupt ang unang managot, magmula sa itaas at pababa. Para may halimbawa na ‘no one is indispensable or above the law’. Lahat ay pantay – pantay. Kungdi, paikot-ikot lang ang ganiyang buhay at pamamaraan sa bansang pilipinas.
Kaya kung may ebidensiya ka kay PNOY about corruption, gaya ng sabi mo sa ibang threads mo. Pakiusapan mo si Ginang Raissa na magtulungan kayong ibulgar din dito. Walang lokohan.
Eh kung isa ka sa mga bayaran na ibebenta ang kaluluwa para magdanak ng mali o pampagulo, eh baguhin mo at sumabay ka sa liwanag para matuwid ang kamalian. Kung tutuong tao ka naman, pagpasensiyahan mo na lang ako – kabayan.
Mabalos.
@mel
Your scenario of another property on installment goes back to the basic questions: where is his source of income to be able to pay $14 million monthly installment in 5 years( max time in philippine banks)? How did he acquire this other property? Why did he answer Bellagio property is on installment? its the other property that was on installment, not Bellagio. How the loan from first property was used was immaterial. Besides, it does not make sense to amortize another property when you could amortize the new Bellagio although its personal choice. The more alibis, the more they will be caught in web of lies. Its so easy to produce mortgage papers, show them or name the bank and Raissa could ask the bank if true, the way she investigated BIR and Taguig tax Assessor. Its beginning to look more that there is no installment plan every day no paper trail is produced. Which bank or private individual wants to be dragged into this sensational case by backdating loans in millions? It will invite scrutiny from IRS and Anti money laundering for private individuals. Even Mike Arroyo could not save Corona.
According to Cuevas himself, whatever was submitted to the Senate could not be changed, so they could not change their answer to this property that it is still being paid on installment.
Niluto ang sarili sa sariling mantika, di ba?
BIR not IRS.
@mel
There is another outlet scenario, Corona could use. Her daughter Cheryl in San Francisco is paying the loan.Then the daughter has to prove the loan, what US bank she got the loan, when and was she qualified with her income? 14 million pesos is equivalent to at least $340,000 in 2009. How did she bring the money to the Philippines? Bank checks or cash?
If Cheryl says she had the cash lent to her parents then same process, she could be reported for investigation by IRS and Anti Money Laundering office in US if she has the ability to possess that kind of money. I would tend to believe this scenario the reason delay for trial was being explored in many ways. But then, its easy to seek paper trails in US, the way the Ligots were prosecuted so the daughter has to be really careful.
@Johnny lin.
As for the source of funds or income to afford the loan repayments, it remains to be seen. His SALNs are not available to ascertain his real assets, liabilities & net worth. Mortgage terms & conditions, for all we know – the Coronas may have a special rate and schedule to repay it in 25 years +, or maybe until never EVER.
From the announcements of both, R Corona didn’t deny the Bellagio property. His admission is preceded by ‘still paying by installments’. Whereas the evidences presented here, it is done and dusted since Jan 2010. Should it be deliberated in the Senate Impeachment, they may already have a ‘hat trick’ up their sleeves to belie the Bellagio property.
Agyaman ak apo. Thanks mate!
The longest real estate term in the philippines is 10 years, commonly 5 years. Even with 50% down payment the loan balance of 7 million pesos will entail to pay principal and interest rate of 4%(impossible rate for ordinary citizen), the monthly payment for 10 years is at least 70,000 pesos a month. Chief justice does not earn that much a month. My guess his salary borders in the 40- 47,000 a month range.
FYI, Mortgage life terms here in Australia have a maximum of 25 years, some banks do offer 30 years.
However, the monthly mortgage repayments can be paid more than the minimum. If the person paying a mortgage pays more than minimum each month over several years, the life term of the mortgage is cut down sooner than the expected life term.
@downunder
In Australia, Canada, USA, England mortgage term is longer up to 30 years but not with banks in the Philippines because the mortgages are not packaged to be resold to investors unlike in other countries. Usually 5 years, 10 years to special clients at the most in Philippine banks. Maybe SS, GSIS and Pagibig loans offer longer terms but they dont offer to large loans like that of Corona condo amount.
@mel
Meron ng lumabas ng SALN ni Corona 1992 and 2002. Maximum assets niya 14 million pesos na kasama sigurado dun yung Xavierville house property niya. So from 2002- 2009 imposible magkarun siya ng 14 million cash o mabayaran ng installment Bellagio sa SC justice salary niya. Kung binenta yung bahay dapat me record yun. Isa lang conclusion kahit gaano niya ipagkaila — graft and corruption. Kaya ang ginagawa lang ng abogado niya magfile to delay the trial habang naghahagilap ng documents. Maramimg ng umatras na tao sa pakiusap nila.
@Johnny lin
Better than nothing, but a good start to base R Corona’s SALN circa 1992 2002.
Just read the news, now the Corona defense team are asking to summon several House Representatives from the speaker down to the prosecutor.
Spare Speaker in Corona trial: Remulla
@mel
The latest is the prosecutors sre asking senate to subpoena all members of Corona family including their ITRs and records of properties all over metromanila. This is what I have been talking about ” manufacturing documents”, the reason delaying tactic was the strategy of Corona camp approach. Corona should spare his family but I dont think he will escape corruption charges after resignation or conviction. The phase of shame the family has started. Corona should have realized that Pnoy men had been collecting evidences against him since he accepted midnight appointment and government employees trying to curry favors from PNoy men for their own future were volunteering information. He miscalculated Pnoy’s resolve because he relied from GMA assurance.
@Johnny lin
Tit for Tat ang magkabilang panig.
Hindi pa naguumpisa, paramihan ng summons request.
A lot of worms and Corona family dirty laundry will be ‘budding’ on this saga.
With all the Corona attention, nasapawan si Gloria at si Abalos.
At si Homo Adaza – pumapapel na uli.
Corona emotional, holds back tears in novena Mass, also when the couple listens to the Impossible Dream being played – they too can’t hold on to their emotions. Makes us all wonder what their tears are for, and for what depressing state they regale in. Was it the expose or the impeding threat that all will be lost, including their family honor.
This time, association with GMA is proving to be a disaster. Reality is setting in.
The former president doesn’t get it, she still has the temerity & gall to belittle and blame PNoy for the economy. GMA schools PNoy: ‘It’s the economy, student’.
This is where the impossible has come to naught.
The student’s fervor for economic, political & social change has led his teacher to jail for betraying the very principles she taught her students back at school.
We are all witnessing something not of the ordinary.
Only those financially threatened by PNoy anti corrupt crusade are resisting him. The worst credo is Corona, he says he is doing it to keep PH democracy and pretend to be religious. Trying to make Jesus stand besides him. what a prick!
Yo nitwit, you should not have accepted midnight appointment if democracy was battlecry in your heart. You should have told GMA before, Im Godly!
i like the term “explored in many ways” -> clever!
@rose
It was obvious from what we read on their moves. Start analyzing when Corona addressed the employees of the court after impeachment. Remember he is a lawyer. At that time he said he wanted a quick trial. Since then every time his lawyers say something the following day another theory is offered. TRO in SC by 4 different lawyers and IBP, impaired verified complaints, will ask all 188 congressmen to testify, censure of prosecutors, subpoena the speaker and 5 others, emergency TRO by Adaza/Paguia all in less than 4 weeks. They are throwing not only the kitchen sink but also the food incinerator and dishwasher to delay trial. What is the logical conclusion of this tactic: There are no installment payment documents on the condo matching his SALN. Corona is trying to manufacture documents, especially on his assets, bank deposits and loan that will pass scrutiny that is why forensic test on all submitted documents must be requested by Prosecutors. Wait till you read the bank deposits from at least 3 international banks. One account was closed already.
@rose
A good one liner though, ‘…explored in many ways’.
Keeps the public at the edge of their seats. While trickles of documentary bits N pieces drizzles in the airwaves all over.
This is the bloggers own pre-trial participation as the crumbs falls from the kitchen table to digest. The chef author markets for ingredients, prepares the viand, presents it on the table, and while bloggers have a look, smell, taste – they express their opinions if is worth to munch or criticize why the viand choice, argue if anyone’s allergic to some ingredients, while others checks their diets, few are weight conscious, and so on.
Piece meal, right?
But another drinks a mexican beer called Corona, and says, ‘That was refreshing’.
Sorry for the Troll Raïssa.
Ginutom sa kababasa ng maraming comments.
@Johnny lin
You often quote, RA 6713 Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public Officials specifically Section 7(d), acceptance of gifts.
The burden of proof is on the solon-prosecutors to prove that it was a gift, a favored arrangement between Megaworld & the Coronas or establish that it is an unexplained wealth by the CJ.
But the articles of impeachment in reference to this Bellagio Item may only apply in articles 2 (SALN) & 8 (JUDICIARY DEVELOPMENT FUND (JDF) AND SPECIAL ALLOWANCE FOR THE JUDICIARY (SAJ)). Nothing even on unexplained wealth, except if the solons-prosecutor will lead the questioning towards CJ dipping into the Judiciary funds to pay by installments (or in full) the Bellagio Property(s).
NOT A SURE THING if the Bellagio item will be mentioned or raised in the Impeachment proceedings by reason of relevance to Articles 2 & 8..
With no Corona SALN available as basis, what is there as a resource to prove his unexplained wealth – if there is.
Can’t the Senate Impeachment (or solon-prosecutor) summon documents like this from the Judiciary Branch? Are they allowed to summon judiciary personnel as well to be resource witnesses for or against the CJ R Corona?
Depends on Enrile and the senator-judges.
Raissa is right. Any supporting evidence could be submitted to the senators, like that envelope in Erap case. Of course Corona team will oppose anything against their client but the Bellagio is in play now because it was admitted in the answer. The bone of contention is “still being paid on installment”. In my opinion Corona lawyers were blindsided by him and accepted his assurance on this and I say again it was elaborated by Cuevas the extent of his knowledge which is almost incompetency or negligence for not asking for proof before putting it in the answer. “Due to the position of Corona” is telltale! Cuevas sounded remorseful, isn’t it?
Ehh di okay na.
CJ R Corona’s SALN can be produced in the Senate Impeachment if either side requires it.
The Senate Impeachment – Senators (Judges) can so order the Judiciary Branch to produce the hoarded SALNs. Eh di mainam.
IF it is submitted, can they include the whole nine yards… since R Corona became a Supreme Court Associate Justice to the present year as Chief?
Bank deposit documents? Phone records? Travel itineraries (overseas, domestic) for the last x years?
An inquisition? It remains to be seen.
@mel
If you look back at our exchanges with saxnviolins, i have been pointing out that 3 impeachment articles have claws but Article II SALN has the most substance and best chance for conviction which Saxnviolins criticized but if you read his latest posting in this aricle, he realized he made a mistake in interpreting it. He said ooops.
Keep rolling mate
@Johnny lin
From recent news, there are at least 4 condominium units involved.
Some of the ‘room-filled evidences’ of the House Prosecutors?
Here are the latest salvo from the House Prosecutors against CJ R Corona and concerned Associate Justices:
- Prosecutors: Coronas amassed 40 properties in 9 years | ABS-CBN News
- “Eh di ilabas nila. Kung mailalabas nila iyong properties ko ibibigay ko na lang sa kanila (So disclose it. If they could produce the properties they can have them)…I will sign a deed of donation,” Corona told reporters after the 7th day of Novena at the Supreme Court.
- SC justices risk impeachment over PAL case – Casiño
- Corona mum, emotional about prosecution team’s request to summon family members
Thanks for the links.
Million dollar question, How many of those condos are Megaworld properties?
40 undeclared properties with an average value of 5 million pesos, that is 200 million pesos in 9 years. Excluding daily lifestyle and bank deposits. No wonder he is clinging to CJ position.
He should have seen this mess coming to his family since accepting CJ appointment. If he did not, the summa cum laude is undeserving.
Megaworld got mega projects, mega government lots only during the time of Arroyo, (former Iloilo airport, Villamor, Jusmag, Public Safety College place in Fort Bonifacio) Andrew Tan wasnt even on the billionaires lists before. Was his closeness to the former FG merited some favors?
I dont have know how on the realty business but having worked in Fort Bonifacio, BGC now, Ive seen the transformation of Fort Boni from grassy, bushy to posh luxury, a more than 300sq m penthouse unit for P14M only, that is really a steal. I dont think that is the real value of that property.
And with the salary plus allowances of a CJ, no way can he buy that Bellagio unit unless he is super rich and has other businesses.
It is really very hard to fight corruption.
14.5 million pesos is about $340,375.58 Canadian Dollars. I just sold my condo for $360,000 and Im NOT super-rich. Don’t you people have some sort of standards? A typical middle class standard house in my neighborhood goes easily for $400,000 to $500,000 dollars. A filipino guy who wanted to buy my condo before works in the IT industry and he is trying to sell his 4 bedroom house in Scarborough for $600,000 dollars and that’s very middle class here. Super rich people here have homes in the $3,000,000 dollar range for a modest mansion, not really extravagant to super luxury mansions with 13 acres or more for $25,000,000 +++ This is definitely making the Philippines look really like a bunch of government people that are poorer than Garbage collectors from Toronto or New York City. New York city garbage collectors make $80,000 dollars a year. Look it up if you don’t believe me. This is why I think, some type of syndicate or mafia is holding government employees by the balls because of the lower standard of living, the poor salaries and certainly the backstabbing of filipinos against each other trying to get “pogi” points from the public and the present administration. it’s a joke.
By the way, a Supreme Court Chief Justice here would be making more than $300,000 dollars in today’s Canadian dollars. See below chart set in 2004:
Here are the salaries that were set in 2004, effective for four years.
Department of Justice Canada
8] The alternative formula is discussed infra., Recommendation 16,
Representational Costs.
[9] Recommendation 1: The Commission recommends that the salary of puisne
judges be established as follows.
Effective April 1, 2004, $240,000,
inclusive of statutory indexing on that date, and for the next three years:
$240,000 plus cumulative statutory indexing effective April 1 of each of
those years.
(“Statutory indexing”: under the Judges Act, judicial salaries are indexed
to the Industrial Aggregate Wage.)
[10] “puisne” refers to a judge who does not hold the office of Chief
Justice.
[11] Recommendation 2: The Commission recommends that the salaries of the
justices of the Supreme Court of Canada and the chief justices and
associate chief justices should be set as of April 1, 2004, and inclusive
of statutory indexing, at the following levels:
Supreme Court of Canada:
Chief Justice of Canada $308,400
Justices $285,600
Federal Court and Tax Court of Canada:
Chief Justices $263,000
Associate Chief Justices $263,000
Appeal Courts, Superior and Supreme Courts and Courts of Queen’s Bench:
Chief Justices $263,000
Associate Chief Justices $263,000
whats your point. why are you comparing the standard of canada and phillippines, you did not take into consideration that the value of the land cost more sometimes than the actual cost of the house, in canada and united states may i remind you that the location of your house affects the price. for a comparison, my 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo in trump towers in downtown chicago cost the same as my 6 bedrooms 5 bath house with indoor swimming pool in the suburbs. jonhhy lin is right go back home and re emerse yourself of being a filipino. you sound canadian and pretend to be a canadian but when you look at the mirror what can you see. been living here in the states for over 45 years but did not stop in dreaming that someday someone will have the political will to stand up against the corruption and stop the old and the same. lets start prosecuting the top then down the line. all we need is the start……
KARMA ANG TAWAG DIYAN MGA KAPATID, Sa sobrang pagkagahaman ni thief justice corona sa kapangyarihan, kayamanan at Salapi ay ginamit ang lahat nang paraan para makapanloko, makapandaya, makapagsinungaling at Magpayaman para sa Pansariling PAKINABANG…at Tama ang sabi sa Banal na AKLAT, “WALANG SINO MANG MATALINO, MAYAMAN, AT MAKAPANGYARIHAN TAO ANG MAKAKALIGTAS SA ANOMANG NAKARAAN NA KANYANG GINAWA”, AMEN….
One of the subjects in the law course is Legal Ethics where a student is taught not only to prepare pleadings, affidavits etc., but far more importantly to convey only the truth. Nowhere can you find a professor teaching a student to concoct stories. Sad to note that when they practice law its almost the other way around..
Kasi sa pondohan sa mall at beer garden ang class lesson dun, hindi classroom
Saka nga pala hindi textbook ang gamit, textfon
Ethics have something more to do with moral principles or that branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to human conduct, with respect to the rightness and wrongness of certain actions and to the goodness and badness of the motives and ends of such actions. But then again MORALITY also depends on a persons culture?, ancestral customs?, religious beliefs / customs?, individual creed or simply a person’s upbringing depending on the environment they were brought up in.
The reason I mentioned all these criteria is what might be moral for a certain person might be immoral to another person. One example is in Religion. Under the strict Muslim or Islamic Sharia laws in some of the middle east, women are supposed to wear a niqab while in Afghanistan women under Taliban rules must wear a burka. If you are a country of democratic laws and have no prejudice and discrimination against people of other religion or faith or customs, then you allow certain ancestral customs to be practiced and traditional costumes or attire to be worn in your country.
This leads us to the question about getting a discount, is it a violation of the law for someone to get a discount? YES OR NO? If YES, please provide the ruling and article where this could be found. This is just basing things in a practical sense. GIFTS obviously received by a Government employee particularly someone in authority is seen as a sign of some kind or form of bribery. However, a discount can be given to anyone and at anytime on a lot of things. I get discounts all the time. I buy products on sale when I shop. Call me frugal and maybe prudent in my nature but bottom line is I try to save money when I can when I shop. Even more so for a person working for the Government because they have a small salary so they can only afford sales, and products sold on discounts. Are I right? Or are government employees NOT allowed to shop for luxury items ON SALE?
Here is a link to Eml Jurado’s editorial regarding the on-going impeachment :
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideOpinion.htm?f=2012/january/13/emiljurado.isx&d=2012/january/13
You might want to expand your mind and read it to get a different view of the impeachment. Like I said once before, there is always two sides to a coin. If someone is holding a coin with both heads then he is lying, cheating and is holding a crooked coin because no two sides should be alike.
Correction: I meant “AM I RIGHT?” and NOT “ARE I RIGHT?” LOL my apologies. Im using my laptop and my fingers find it harder to type than on a desktop.
@ricky
Kung hindi mo alam, Si Emil Jurado, crook din yan. Kumita siya ng malaki nung panahon ni GMA bilang Director ng PNOC. Pinatalsik siya ni PNoy. Kaya puro against siya kay Aquino ngayun. Bias siya kaya baka wala pang sampung tao naniniwala sa kanya. Sayang kung kailan siya tumanda saka ang kaispan nabaluktot, hindi naman niya kailangan ng pera siguro na.
Ngayon sa gifts na sinasabi mo, google mo RA ui6713, me definition dun ang “gifts” na hindi dapat tanggapin ni Corona.
have you read the anti kickback law in the united states and canada. even discounts are prohibited up to certain amount if you receive something in return.
easy reading, may mapupulot kang pag-iisipan, pati mga comments napa-follow through. keep it up, ms robles!
Thanks.
With your name, I believe you can appreciate the following quote –
“Uneasy lies the head that wears the corona….”
PNoy’s Pork Barrel (unaudited and unprogrammed):
2011 — P68B
2012 — P120B
I am expecting Raissa to also investigate how PNoy spent the billions of taxpayers’ money. in 2011.
I think it is fair that people should know because if he cannot account on this and cannot be transparent
about it, then his slogan “Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap” does not mean a thing.
How about GMA’s pork barrel?
Pakibigay mo na rin sa akin. So I can make a comparison.
yes!…yes!…and yes!!!!…why not GMA too!!!
@Leon
Paki pasa mo na rin sa amin iyong kay Manuel L Quezon at mula kay Elpidio Quirino.
Medyo hawig mo kasi!
Ano iyong letrang B sa P120B?
Bullshit ba?
Mukha nga…
Mali bang malaman kung saan napupunta ang pera ng bayan? Papayag ka ba na walang audit ang paggastos ni pNoy sa pera natin? akala ko ba Matuwid na Daan tayo ngayon. Bakit walang transparency sa usapin na ito.
@Humming Bird.
Gaya ng sabi ng dakilang manunulat:
raissa says:
January 12, 2012 at 7:07 am
Give me proof.
I’ll publish it.
Raissa, the proof is they have no proof of disbursements. Can you ask them if they have proof on this matter. I appreciate very your diligence in ferreting out the truth, especially if you could look into billions of people’s money on the hands of one man.
Pati na rin yung intelligence fund at presidential allotment fund of both presidents
the problem is intelligence fund is not subjected to auditing kaya nagiging milking cow yan ng mga nakaupo sa govt
Just do them both. It appears that Pnoy might just want the public to focus their attention on GMA and Corona while he and his croonies partake in some of the spoils themselves while everyone’s eyes are glued on the past administration. It’s a magician’s illusionist trick. Do them both and I bet Pnoy is just as guilty as the rest of them. It’s like the pot calling the kettle black when both of them are
I am NOT focusing on CJ Corona right now because of what PNoy wants.
It’s what I believe is important right now.
A CJ has to have integrity.
I suggest you don’t focus only on Corona. Train your eyes on the big crocodile with P68B unaudited pork barrel in 2011 and P120B in 2012. how did Pnoy spend that big amount of people’s money. Maybe you can start with ABAD.
Give me proof.
I’ll publish it.
Isama mo na rin si GMA in the interest of fairness. investigate mo lang kung saan ginastos ang bilyon bilyon na yan lalong lalo na ang Daang Matuwid.
Leon,
Tingnan mo yung article sa taas ni Raissa. SUPPORTED BY DOCUMENTARY evidence na hinalungkat niya.
Kaya yang mga figures mo, paki-share naman kung saan nanggaling. Kung si Raissa nga na journalist hindi pa nabibigyan ng access sa palasyo, ikaw pa kaya??? Mabuti kung insider/whistleblower ka at may smoking gun ika nga, sususportahan ka pa.
Kaso, dakdak ka ng dakdak wala naman references yang mga numero mo. Saan mo hinugot yan? Sa pw*t mo?
Leon kong may narinig o ibedensiya ka na mayroong mali sa ginagawa ni Pnoy sa kanyang Pork Barrel bakit hindi ikaw ang mag imbestiga, dinadagdagan mo pa trabaho ni Raissa? Tuta ka yata ni corona at arroyo? Tama si Raissa, dapat ang kay arroyo muna at saka kay corona ang focus ngayon kaya maghintay ka? Bulag ka yata Leon, Maliwanag mga ibedensiya pero kapit tuko ka sa amo mong kurapt at sinungaling? Tingnan mo nangyari umatras na ang dalawang abogado ni corona dahil hindi na nila kaya ang baho ni corona? kong walang kasalanan si corona eh simply lang ang sagot, ipakita lang niya ang SALN o resibo nang hinuhulogan niyang penthouse pero bakit hindi maipakita dahil may itinatago? maraming mga tanong dito na dapat ipaliwanag si corona? at ang pagbili nga lang nang murang penthouse ay mali at may kaakibat na conflict of interest dahil itong si corona ay chief justice nang supreme court at ang megaworld bilang seller ay may petition/kaso sa SC…
I agree with Leon that we should also make pnoy accountable for the pork barrel that he allocated for himself. Saan ba niya ginagastos ito. Pangsuhol ba ito sa mga congressmen at senador. O, ibinulsa na lang niya. Remember according to reports, his assets increased by 256% during his first year at hindi pa
kasama yung excess campaign funds. He could have paid more in income taxes.
His mother died.
Or is that only sabi-sabi?
Pnoy assets increased by 256% & Pnoy has a reasonable reason for that? How about thief justice corona? Ipinakita ba ni corona bagkus pinakatago tago pa nga niya at ang abogado niya ay ganoon din ginawa pagkatapos nang mahabang dikasyon ay nailabas din so sino ngayon ang may tinatago basi sa aming nakikita? if l were thief corona l will not stay in the Supreme Court a day longer…Nakakahiya at Nakakdiri na mga naglalabasang ibedensiya…
@jorgebernas, yung pag atras dalawang abogado ni Corona may rason ang mga yan. si former justice hofilena may anak siyang kasama ni Atty Bautista, legal counsel ng prosecution. Medyo may conflcit. Si atty jun francisco naman nakalaban niya bilang abogado si sen manny villar, kaya hindi makakabuti sa defense ni corona. huwag mo namang bigyan ng spin ang mga pangyayari without knowing the facts.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/01/11/12/corona-lawyer-explains-why-he-quit
Tama ka Humming Bird, Umatras ang dalawang abogado ni corona dahil may rason, diba? conflict ika nga? Good Gentlemen. eh bakit si corono bumili nang penthouse sa mega world sa mababang presyo di ba maliwanag na may conflict of interest dahil may nakasalang na kaso ang megaworld sa S.C. parang bigayan ang nangyayari, diba. Saka bakit hindi nag inhibit si corona sa mga kaso ni GMA gayong dati siyang Tauhan/ TUTA ni GMA at ang asawa ni corona tumanggap nang position sa JHMC, gayong bawal? Bakit? at saka bakit si GMA ang nagbayad sa operasyon ni r. corona noong? Gayong bawal? Saka bakit laging fabor kay arroyo mga desisyon ni corona? ang sagot, maliwanag na bayad UTANG????saka TUTA kasi….
knowing megaworld..and how these crooks run the system..buntung hininga na lang ako
Yun ang sinasabi nila. Ang totoong rason nagkagulo sila dahil sinabi sa kanila ni Corona binabayaran niya ng installment yung Bellagio condo. Gusto ni Francisco ilabas ang documento dahil madli naman ipakita yung bank loan document. Saka walang tiwala din si Corona sa kanya hindi lang kay Villar, kay GMA at FG din at si Francisco abogado ni Gov Panlilio na nirekomenda pa siya maging Ombudsman ni Among Ed. Tinanong pa siya bakit hindi ba siya makapaniwala sa sinabi ni Corona. Nung lumabas ang expose ni Raissa lalo silang nagkagulo kaya nagresign na si Francisco nung Martes. Kailan niya inanounce magresign siya, nung Sabado ng hapon lang. Ganun din rason ni Hofilena sa documentong ayaw ilabas ni Corona. Matagal ng alam si Bautista ang abogado, bakit nung sabado ng gabi lang nalaman nagresign siya. ganun din si De los Angeles, napakiusapan lang siya dahil masisira na ang credibility nila dahil walang maisip naalibi sa kanya. Dahil di siya umalis yung 3 abogado kapalit na kinuha, dalawa lang gagamitin Kaya yung babae, plain spokeswoman na lamang muna at sinabi pa maraming abogado nagvolunteer para di halata ang exactong tatlo. Idrawing para madaling maintindihan yung mga numbers. Umpisa sa walong abogado.
hintayin mo ang impeachment proper.
Kung tatagal si Corona sa pighati ng pamilya!
Sa kapal nang mukha ni thief justice corona at nang asawa nito iwan kolang kong tatagal sila sa kahihiyan? kon sabagay wala na yatang hiya mga ito…
I hear that 2 Billion is for the war chest to convict Corona which he will dangle in front of the Senators and Congress people.
Today, Jan 10, Corona filed a motion in the Senate to discipline Cong Tupas for public disclosure of condo. He claimsthe motive was to damage his character to public perception. Delaying technical tactic, old(Cuevas)style.
What character is he talking about? He destroyed it himself by accepting midnight appointment, ill gotten wealth and lapdog of GMA. There is nothing left of his moral character so Tupas has nothing to destroy.
Wonder what charge Corona is going to accuse Raissa? Invasion of Privacy or conspiracy with Tupas?
Signs of desperate and despondent magistrate!
Standard diversionary tactics – focus the issue on something else, deny, deny and deny any wrongdoing and – if all else fails – start slinging mud here, there and everywhere.
Given our public figures and our ‘damaged culture’ – some of that mud is bound to stick and people may well forget the fact that it is Mr Corona on the dock and stands accused.
I have a sneaking suspicion that among the ‘defenses’ Mr Corona will put up is the “fact” that “everyone does it” … he (or his lawyers) may even go Biblical and quote, “He who is without sin should cast the first stone.” Can we really say that there is any one among the Senator-Judges, even the prosecution panel or the defense lawyers who is truly ‘clean’?
I have to agree with Raissa’s comment on the post about investigating P-Noy’s own pork barrel – “Isa-isa lang, mahina ang kalaban.”
Let’s focus on this one first and see it to conclusion. Let’s not allow ourselves to be diverted from the key issue – me kasalanan ba o wala? Inosente ba talaga o hindi? Me ginawa ba o wala?
If it comes out that others in government have done the same thing, then that is something to focus on *after* this issue is resolved.
I don’t think that’s a acceptable defense. Let’s wait for the impeachment proper and
wait for his answer on these allegations. Let’s not judge him right away. A person is presumed innocent
until proven guilty. Don’t go with the mob.
Sinira niya sarili niya pag tanggap sa midnight appointment, proven fact yoon. Ano pa sisirahin sa kanya, wala na. Nagkukunwari siyang malinis, para daw sa pilipinas ang ginagawa niya pero nung tinanggap CJ appointment para lamang sa kanya. Bulol siya ngayon nagpapamukhang santo. Yung nagsasabing inosente pruweba ang midnight appointment, di sana niya tinanggap. Ang batang munti pag tumanggap ng candy sa estranghero malamang mapahamak, kung tumakbo paalis ligtas siya. Dahil munti hindi siya me kasalanan, mali ang turo ng magulang. Si Corona matanda na, binigyan ng candy, sunggab kaagad kasi ganid, walang kaluluwa. Proven yun, hindi innocent.
Another proven fact of his lack of character. Last November, when he rushed coming back from USA for GMA TRO, he was said to be in Las Vegas staying in MGM properties paid by another person. He could prove he paid for the hotel bills by presenting his reservation code number and hotel credit card receipt upon checking in. He does not want to comment. He must waive his right to privacy so those receipts could be obtained. He would not because of his ill character. Dare him to prove his innocence on this fact because one of the receptionists in the hotel is a Filipina who could prove who paid his hotel bill, besides it could be easily accessed.
Corona character worst than maggots based on proven facts.
It is also his right and within his power to present receipts that he bought his plane tickets where he traveled. Show the receipts and name the travel agency. He would not. “Thou shall not lie”; commandments, not rules.
Receiving Holy communion while in a state of pathological lies speaks of hypocrite character.
“in attempts to improve your character, know what is in your power and what is beyond it”, the key words are “improve and power”. Corona is in a state of denial, a psychological malady. Bad combination, sick mind and low character!
@Leon: You do not want people here to judge Corona but you are judgemental in your posts?
“Leon says:
January 10, 2012 at 1:51 pm
But they said they’re transparent and honest. They also claimed they dislike corruption.
Try harder Raissa. You’re doing good in investigating corrupt people. But the most corrupt nowadays is the one sitting in Malacanang. Don’t give up investigating these hypocrites whose slogan is “kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap.”
Also google the application of “presumption of innocence until proven guilty” in law. Hindi literal ang pag interprete niyan!
LOL.
Give me some proof to follow up.
binasag mo naman agad ang trip noong mama, kawawa naman.
may pattern na yang mga ganyan ngayon, innocent until proven guilty daw tapos biblical qoutes. noong christmas naman, may variation, pagpapatawad and world peace because christmas time naman.
May proseso naman tayong impeachment, di ba, net? Bakit di mo muna pakinggan ang side ni Corona bago ka magcondemn? Di ba may presumption of innocence ang isang akusado? tignan mo , yung isang akusasyon nila re judiciary funds bumagsak na. COA declared that there was no irregularities. Hintayin mo munang magpresent din ng evidence si Cj Corona.
8 ang articles of impeachment. Isa lang kailangan pumasa para maconvict, yan ang katotohanan. Bigay na kay Corona yung JDF dahil ang COA kamo bumagsak na. Sinabi mo yun pero di mo sinabi itong dokumento ni Raissa na pinabagsak din yung sinabi ni Cuevas na binabayaran niya ng installment. Nakapiring yata yung isang mata ng babae. Gusto mo panalo sa COA dahil sa news pero ayaw mong banggitin itong expose ni Raissa na news din. Di ba, whats good for the gander is good for the goose. Ibigay mo sa Prosecutors ang graft sa condo pareho ng pagbigay kay Corona sa COA. Hindi mo rin nakita ebidensiya ng prosecutors pero gusto mo pakinggan ebidensiya ni Corona. One sided yata di ba? Kahit dalhin sa kagustuhan mo, ang resulta magnanakaw at walang kaluluwa si Corona.
@ Hummingbird
Tama ka hummingbird mayroon nga tayong proseso kaso sa ginagawa ni thief justice corona na ayaw sagutin mga tanong sa kanya tiyak ako na mayroon itinatago? pinagastos pa ang mamamayan nang malaking pera para lamang maisiwalat ang gustong ipalabas na katutuhanan kaya may naghihintay na pabuyang galing kay satanas si coronang tinik nang lipunan? puro na lang kayo hintay? bakit pa maghihintay kong kaya namann ilabas ang hinihinging katutuhanan? abogado nga si corona at cumlaude pa pero sayang dahil ginamit ang kaalaman sa maling paraan kaya lumalabas na mga baho nitong si cotongrona? ang katutuhanan ang siyang mangingibabaw kaya magligpit ligpit kana coronacorakot….
That’s his right as a citizen. If you feel your right is violated, go to court and seek reprieve. I think that’s not unusual because these congressmen are not following the rules of impeachment. Read Rule 18 of the Rules of Impeachment.
Nasisiraan na lang si Corona ng ulo sa dami ng problema. Di sagutin dinat ipakita resibu niya sa installment sa publiko kung hindi totoo. Ano ang masama dun, yun ang right hindi rights. Paano walang mapakitang totoo kaya naghahanap ng kakampi.Gagastusin pa ang gobyerno sa korte dahil yung pera niya baka bigay lang ni GMA, hindi galing sa sariling kayod. Katotohanan, hindi rules ang dapat sundin.
Patulan na ang lasing wag lang ang sira ang ulo sabi nga. Kaya di siya dapat pakinggan sa senate.
Leon, Bakit kailangan pumunta pa sa korte kong puwede naman sagutin kaagad dahil simply lang ang tanong at simply rin ang sagot? pero kong ang nasabing usapin tungkol kay pagbili ni corona nang penthouse ay may bahid nang kasinungalingan at pandaraya ay napakahirap sagutin kaya minabuti ni corona na manahimik, gets mo? Alam mo Leon para maliwanagan ka, kapag nagsampa nang kaso sa korte? 1.dapat may pera kang panggastos at pambayad sa abogado. 2. Dapat may oras ka at makapaghintay ka sa tagal bago madesisyonan ang kaso. 3. Dapat kilala mo mga judges/justices na may paninindigan at hindi kayang bilhin. 4. Magiging mapanganib at dilikado magingsa mga familya mo etc. etc…Kuha mo? LEON.
I am sure that there are tax/CPA lawyers among the multitude of Ms. Raissa’s readers.
Can any one of you kindly educate us laymen on the feasibility of using Corona’s income tax returns from 2000 to 2010 relative to the issue of ill gotten wealth as well its relevance to the verification/truthfulness of Corona’s SALN, please.
Oops, sorry po Ms. Raissa, presumptuous yata request ko without asking your permission. Ma’am, may I?
Hi Raissa,
This is very informative. great work.
Sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas ngayon lang nagkaroon na ang Chief Justice na ma -iimpeach at isang Batangueno pa. Kung may delicadeza at hindi matapang ang apog nitong si Renato Corona ay dapat na mag-resign na siya nakakahiya at nakakalungkot sa mga kapwa ko batangueno. Naalala ko tuloy noong kumandidatong Mayor ng Tanauan City si Alfredo Corona ( kapatid ni Thief Justice Renato Corona)year 2004 malawak ang naging dayaan sa kanyang katunggali na si Sonia Torres. Naghain ng protesta ( nagpa-recount ng boto si Torres , lumabas na panalo si Torres at nakaupo naman bilang Mayor. Ano ang akala ni Thief Corona makakawala pa kaya siya sa nakahain na walong (8) article of impeachment ? Ano pa kaya ang kanyang ipinagyayabang, sa bagay kasabihan dito sa Batangas “MAWALA NA ANG TAPANG WAG LANG ANG YABANG ” Noong nasa posisyon si GMA bilang Presidente, ipinagmamalaki ni Gloria Arroyo na malaki ang kanyang tiwala sa mga batangueno. tulad nina dating Secretary Nani Perez, DOTC secretary Leandro Mendoza na may kasong plunder, at si Eduardo Ermita na executive secretary. Ay aba thief Justice Corona gising imulat mo ang yong busilig na nakapikit . Iisa lang ang Coronang Tinik sa lalamunan ng bayan na inaasahang matanggal . Mag-resign ka na. isalba mo ang dangal ng mga Batangueno.
Raissa, can you investigate how PNoy spent his P68B unaudited and unprogrammed pork barrel in 2010, just to be fair? This is a mindboogling amount of money to be entrusted at the disposal of one person no matter how honest he is.
Try asking the Office of the President. They should accommodate you.
LOL.
Do you know the President has NOT GRANTED ME an interview?
It’s obvious about the interview but hope they will furnish you documents about PNOY pork. he he he. Keep up the good work.
But they said they’re transparent and honest. They also claimed they dislike corruption.
Try harder Raissa. You’re doing good in investigating corrupt people. But the most corrupt nowadays is the one sitting in Malacanang. Don’t give up investigating these hypocrites whose slogan is “kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap.”
You know, honestly, I have not heard of PNoy asking for money or anything in the same way that I kept hearing horror stories during Arroyo’s time.
Yan ang totoo.
Sa akin, kung may baho diyan, lalabas at lalabas yan. Hindi mo mapipigilan.
Wala pa talaga akong naririnig sa business community na isinasangkot si PNoy.
Kung meron kang marinig, sabihin mo sa akin. Pero dapat SPECIFIC.
I don’t know about pNoy, but I have to agree with what you wrote about hearing stories during FFPGMA time. Although classify as hearsay in courts, I have no reason to doubt the frustration of one of my close friend in the Export/Import industry when he told me of the way FFPGMA’s relatives tried to extort on every step of the way.
I agree with you Raissa. if Pnoy has engaged in monkey business you think mga alipores in GMA hindi ilalabas yan? for sure waiting game yan. For one and a half years, malinis pa rin mga transactions ng administration ni Pnoy.
@Leon
You wrote, “But the most corrupt nowadays is the one sitting in Malacanang.”
Can you please substantiate your claims, otherwise it is just innuendo of a vindictive lowlife embecile.
Pork Barrel kamo? Billiones kamo?
Saang kuwentong kutsero mo na simoy naman iyan?
Nagbigay ka ng kaindak-indak na “… P68B unaudited and unprogrammed pork barrel in 2010, just to be fair? This is a mindboogling amount of money to be entrusted at the disposal of one person no matter how honest he is.”
And then you rough ask Raïssa to investigate your claim. What is that?
Otherwise, you are a fruit cake!
Distraction ka lang. Nag sisilo ka lang ng pangbingwit mo. Lokohin mong lelang mong panot!
Raïssa, inggat ka rito.
Mamaya, dadalawin ka na niyan at aamu-amuhin ka na niyan.
Hoy @Leon, kung mayruon kang tutuong pinanghahawakan, paki email mo na lang sa gmail
email address ni ginang Raïssa.
Atin-atin lang @Leon, HINDI AKO SARADONG maka PNOY.
Pasensiya na Raïssa.
@ Leon
Pilit mo lang nililihis ang usapin tungkol kay corona dahil siguro nakinabang ka sa kanya o binayaran ka para ipagtanggol dito? Sabi ko nga dinadagdagan mo lang trabaho ni Raissa? simply lang ang tanong tungkol kay corona at kaya niyang sagutin dahil napakatalino ni thief justice corona pero bakit hindi masagot dahil may itinatago. napakasinungaling kasi at mandaraya para makapagkamal nang limpak limpak na salapi. Karma na mga nangyayari sa thief justice corona….Puwweeee….
Pasalamatan natin si Raïssa sa gawain na makabayan.
Isang tao lang po siya. Walang bayad ang mga imbestigasyon at artikulo na napagipunan niya dito sa kaniyang blog site.
Sa dami ng problemang kurakot ng pilipinas, mula luzon hanggang mindanao, mula sa datihang mga presidente o kasama ang kasalakuyan hangang mayor ng daan-daang bayan. Marami ang puwedeng pagreportahan.
Kung mayruon pung maungkat si ginang Raïssa, hindi basta-basta niya puwedeng ipalathala ito sa atin lahat. Propesyunal po ang kaniyang gawain. Pinag-aaralan mabuti dahil meron siyang magalang na pangalan na pinangangalagaan.
Kaya, kita naman ninyo ang kaniyang mga kasulatan. Maayos, simple ngunit makatarungan ang kaniyang mga mensahe. May credibilidad at integridad. Hindi manloloko.
Kaya kung maari lang po mga kababayan, paubayaan ninyo ang kaniyang pangsariling oras din at pagiging ina at asawa rin. Wala po siyang bayad dito. Para lang po sa inang bayan etong ginagawa niya, at sa kapuwa niyang makabayan din.
MATUTO PO TAYONG MAKISUYO AT MAKIUSAP.
MAGING MAGALANG DIN PO TAYO SA KANIYA.
Nawa’y pagpalain din po tayo ng puong maykapal, na gaya niya.
Para maging ilaw at asin din po tayo sa iba.
Maraming salamat ginang Raïssa sa iyong mga kasulatang makabayan, at sakripisyo.
PAHABOL:
Kung sasagarin po ni ginang Raïssa lahat ng sabay-sabay, magkakasakit po iyan. At baka dumating ang araw na wala na tayong mabasa na katulad na gawa niya.
BAWAL PO ANG MAGKASAKIT SA BAYANG PILIPINAS. MAHAL ANG OSPITAL AT GAMOT.
WOW!
Salamat.
@ Leon,
Magpakilala kang mabuti at makisuyo ka naman at huwag yong para kang boss na nag uutos sa tauhan mo saka huwag mo nang dagdagan trabaho ni Raissa? isa isa lang ika nga so far wala pa naman lumalabas na amoy tungkol kay Pnoy, Maghintay ka Leon at darating din yan kong may naaamoy na ang taong bayan pero sa ngayon malaki ang tiwala nang taongbayan kay President Aquino. Gets Mo….leon, pusangkalye kalang yata leon…
@Raissa, have you checked if there’s a mortgaged endorsement at the back of the condominium certificate of title. I suppose this a certified copy from the Registry of Deeds. Normally, in mortgaged properties, the property is already transferred to the buyer thru a deed of sale, and then the mortgage contract is annotated at the back.
Yes. There is none.
You should have post that page of the title, Raissa, because if Corona claimed that he’s still paying it by installment, there must be an annotation of mortgage at the back. Please post it just to satisfy our curiousity. Btw, is the document that you have a certified true copy from the Register of Deeds of Makati?
I will.
NO. Taguig City.
I think you should not patol this Leon.. He wants to check on PNoy, but obviously it is a diversion from focusing on GMA and Corona. This Leon glorifies Gloria and puts crowns on Corona. Me sakit sa pangamoy itong Leon na ito. He tries to sniff PNoy baho, pero di niya maamoy ang matagal nang umaalingasaw ang baho ni Gloria. Magkano kaya ang pakinabang niya ke Gloria?
Ok.
So, it’s not a certified true copy? Yes, it is in Taguig. If it is not a certified true copy of title from registry of deeds of Taguig, how sure are that there is no mortgage annotation by megaworld or the bank/ again, on the title there must a certification from Registrar of Taguig that it is a true copy. Apparently, there is no certification. Therefore your document is not reliable.
LOL
Ayan, may umento kana sa handler mo!
Kulang pa iyan sa pambili ng gamot at paospital sa salang dumating ang araw na naghihingalo ka sa sakit.
Siguraduhin mo @Leon, iyong date stamp may initial at tama ang taon.
At iyong papel, siguraduhin mong kapareho ng ‘rim batch’ gaya nuong orihinal, ano?
Iyong tinta, nakuuuu! dapat parehong kulay, haa?
nag hugas ka ba ng kamay?
Iyong finger prints mo lilitaw duon sa papel.
Tandaan mo, cha ang gamitin at hindi barako!
malilintikan tayo niyan.
MAGISIP KA NG DIRETSO, LUMAKAD KA NG MATUWID.
kung hindi, wala kang umento o padagdag sa padasal.
With miss Raissa Robles. It’s more fun in the Philippines.
Since you can’t name your sources, with all due respect what made you think these informations didn’t come from the prosecution team for your own dessimination? Because evryone know that the prosecution are now following the gag order while you and so is the palace are not. Tanong Lang naman po.
It didn’t.
I know where it came from.
Bakit ang mga taong BAD ay ginagawang shield ang God. If you guys still remember, Mang Tonyo (ex-mayor ng Calauan, Laguna) ginawa pa niyang background ang Mahal na Birhen during his interview, si Imelda ay may hawak pang rosary during her trial, si little girl ay nag-request pa ng chapel and ngayon naman si Thief Corona and family ay may nalalaman pang novena. Only in the Philippines. Nakaka-awa naman ang bansa natin. Na pag-iwanan na tayo ng mga neighboring countries natin dahil sa Corruption.
Ano ang sagot mo doon?
Curious ako.
May nabasa ako na ang sabi ay katangian daw yan ganyang ugali ng mga may sakit sa isip at ang tawag sa kanila ay “sociopath”.
Nagkukunwari silang mga magnanakaw na akala natin ay mga maamong TUPA, At ginagamit pa ang DIYOS para kaawaan kaso buking na mga STYLE na BULOK. Naalala ko noon si Pandak nang sabihin niya sa television… ang I’M SORRY….GARCI
Corona’s sky- rocketed ambitions, greediness, arrogance and abuse of power are bringing him down from his pedestal. His speeches from the novena in SC are loud and clear- denial of truth and unacceptance of reality- wherein Mrs Corona’s crocodile tears won’t fool the masa. The stupid and maleducado are the only ones being manipulated to the hilt who shout for support for Corona. He’s hiding under the cloak of “my battle is for the defense of PH Democracy”, meaning: my battle for my SC kingdom, me as the king and the executive and the legislative are my followers. ” Do what I tell you, but don’t do what I do” is his principle. He is really a nasty piece of work. Yet, he would be defended by top lawyers. As they say ” tell me who your friends are, and I will tell you who you are”. Well, people who have the same color flock together. Raissa, time and again, you are indeed an unsung hero for letting us in the threshold of truth. We the netizens award you a medal for bravery and outright honesty. PLEASE continue the good work. We need you now and forever.
as i promised,i will read what you wrote – beginning to end,word for word ,including all blogs.Thank you.
Thank you.
May I recommend this to you –
http://raissarobles.com/2011/06/19/jose-rizal-condemned-political-killings-and-torture-in-his-smuggled-poemmi-ultimo-adios/
Kudos for a great investigative reporting, Raissa!
FYI, I purchased a condo unit in a non-exclusive district of Manila less than half the size of CJCorona’s.
I paid almost 10million pesos yielding 75K per square meter. Also shelled out almost 250,000 for transfer costs.
How in the world can someone get such a good deal? Really makes you wonder. . .
Thank you.
How much was the zonal value equiv of your unit?
Good news: ( Source: The Philippine Star )
The prosecution panel would ask the Senate Impeachment Court to summon Megaworld Finance Director Giovanni Ng, who signed the Deed of Absolute Sale, to testify on the purchase arrangement and the price of the condo unit.
Now i can sleep better
Source: GMA Network
You might be interested to attend this meeting :
A forum on impeachment for students, faculty, and some members of the House of Representatives will be held at the University of the Philippines Tuesday afternoon.
Titled “Forum on Impeachment: Law and Politics,” it will take place at the Malcolm Theatre at the UP College of Law, from 1:30-4:30 p.m. on Jan. 10. Admission is free.
To speak at the forum is House prosecution panel lead spokesman Marikina Rep. MIro Quimbo, as well as deputy spokesman and Aurora Rep. Sonny Angara.
Also speaking is Integrated Bar of the Philippines president Roan Libarios and Constitutional Law professor and Yale Law graduate Florin Hilbay. Dean Danilo Concepcion will be giving the introductory remarks.
Could anyone please told us of what happen during the forum Titled “Forum on Impeachment Law and Politics. at U.P. yesterday dated dec. 10, 2012. Thanks..
Binasa ko lahat ang mga comments at nasabi na yatang lahat ng pula at papuri. This is really the most revealing write-up I’ve read about Corona’s posh condo. Ang dapat nating pag-isipan ay kung papaano maging viral at trending ang blog post na ito. At the moment, I’m sharing it in all social media groups na miyembro ako.
Thank you, Ed.
I appreciate your sharing it with others. Just put a link back to my site.
Done. See my blog post about the issue at http://xicowner.jefmart.com/index.php/2012/01/10/how-cj-corona-got-his-posh-condo/
Thanks, Ed, for providing a link back to my blog
Some just rip off EVERYTHING.
You’re welcome. Let’s keep blogging about the shenanigans of people in power until they toe the line towards ‘daang matuwid’.
You are a fantastic reseacher Raissa. Thank you for writing this article ; you have enlightened a lot of Filipinos on this issue. I hope you keep on writing more articles like this ; well-researched and balanced. Let’s all seek the truth so that it may set us free from ignorance.
a lot of our govt officials are not honest. why only the cj or corona. what about the other govt officials. those congressmen, esp those prosecutors. like Tupas, he belongs to a dynasty. almost all members of his family has positions in their province. politics has been their livelihood.
Hold your horses.
One at a time.
I’m only one person.
Pasalamatan natin si Raïssa sa gawain na makabayan.
Isang tao lang po siya. Walang bayad ang mga imbestigasyon at artikulo na napagipunan niya dito sa kaniyang blog site.
Sa dami ng problemang kurakot ng pilipinas, mula luzon hanggang mindanao, mula sa datihang mga presidente o kasama ang kasalakuyan hangang mayor ng daan-daang bayan. Marami ang puwedeng pagreportahan.
Kung mayruon pung maungkat si ginang Raïssa, hindi basta-basta niya puwedeng ipalathala ito sa atin lahat. Propesyunal po ang kaniyang gawain. Pinag-aaralan mabuti dahil meron siyang magalang na pangalan na pinangangalagaan.
Kaya, kita naman ninyo ang kaniyang mga kasulatan. Maayos, simple ngunit makatarungan ang kaniyang mga mensahe. May credibilidad at integridad. Hindi manloloko.
Kaya kung maari lang po mga kababayan, paubayaan ninyo ang kaniyang pangsariling oras din at pagiging ina at asawa rin. Wala po siyang bayad dito. Para lang po sa inang bayan etong ginagawa niya, at sa kapuwa niyang makabayan din.
MATUTO PO TAYONG MAKISUYO AT MAKIUSAP.
MAGING MAGALANG DIN PO TAYO SA KANIYA.
Nawa’y pagpalain din po tayo ng puong maykapal, na gaya niya.
Para maging ilaw at asin din po tayo sa iba.
Maraming salamat ginang Raïssa sa iyong mga kasulatang makabayan, at sakripisyo.
PAHABOL:
Kung sasagarin po ni ginang Raïssa lahat ng sabay-sabay, magkakasakit po iyan. At baka dumating ang araw na wala na tayong mabasa na katulad na gawa niya.
BAWAL PO ANG MAGKASAKIT SA BAYANG PILIPINAS. MAHAL ANG OSPITAL AT GAMOT.
Reply
Based on my limited experience in buying a condo unit on installment, I got the Deed of Absolute Sale after I had fully paid my installment. Prior to the full payment, what I had was a Contract to Sell, whose date was when I paid the downpayment, that is, at the start of my installment period, The date on the Deed of Absolute Sale was when I made the full payment, which was after about two years. Normally, a Deed of Anbsolute Sale does not indicate if the payment was made in cash, or in check, or in installments.
So, the fact that there is a Deed of Sale dated in 2009 does not necessarily mean that the condo was not paid for in installments, and it also does not necessarily mean that the transaction was done after the pre-seling period. What may have happened is that the condo was sold during the pre-selling period under a Contract to Sell which was paid for in installments and when the all the installments were completely paid, then the Deed of Absolute Sale was executed, and this date could be already after the pre-selling period.
It is in the Official Receipt, and not in the Deed of Sale, where you can see if the payment was made in full in cash, in full in check, or in installments (in which case there will be several receipts). However, the Official Receipts are not public documents, so I guess you cannot have access to those, Maybe you can try to look for a Contract to Sell, which I assume is a public document since it has to be notarized.
Except, Menie, today his lawyer said in Inquirer that Corona is still paying for the unit to this very day.
See –
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/124653/corona-family-hurt-by-charges
@Ms Raissa,
Sharing my personal experience in the real property market in the Philippines, it is a very common practice that the seller and the buyer mutually agree on the amount to be reflected in the ADS (Absolute Deed of Sale). This is also done with the consent of the notarizing lawyer – and done for the sole purpose of reducing the capital gains tax (CGT) which is normally paid by the seller (In your article, you mentioned “witholding tax”,I think they are the same[?]). On the otherhand, the buyer pays the pre-arranged amount which is usually more than what is written in the ADS – this, I believe is what Pedro tried to explain to you in tax savings, 25% etc.. And true, the CGT is valuated through the zonal value and rarely, some buyers also share in paying the CGT. To my knowledge, ADS is just like a receipt which sort-of-certifies that the buyer has paid for the “mechandize” and the cost written there is immaterial to the tax calculation (we know, it zonal value based). There were hectares of land sold by parents to their children only in the amount of few tens of thousand pesos (ADS value) because the cost involved will be more if the lands will be given to the children as inheritance. Bottom line? Tax cut with the help of a lawyer’s notarial powers. I believe, the same can be applied in purchasing condo units. In Singapore,a similar practice of “paper valuation” is also accepted. That is, a third party appraises the property and on top of the appraise value which would be reflected also in the ADS,then the buyer agrees to pay a cash known as “Cash over valuation” directly to the seller. I hope no one will crucify me on this, but I bought and sold a handful of properties around Batangas and Mandaluyong with this seemingly acceptable practice. BTW, Pedro and Danny don’t seem to be so certain about the prevailing zonal value when CJ purchased the condo. I think that one needs clarification.
You’re right about the zonal valuation part.
I’m checking that now.
What Pedro was trying to explain to me was the alleged tongpats – 25% of the potential tax to be paid.
I downloaded the DoF Dept. Order No. 54-97 from BIR website and it showed that land at Brgy. Fort Bonifacio where Bellagio 1 is located has Zonal Value of P100,00 per sq m since 1997.
In “Certain Guidelines in the Implementation of Zonal Valuation of Real Properties for RDO 44 – Pateros/Taguig”, No. 3a says “If the title of a particular condominium/townhouse is a Condominium Certificate of Title (CCT), the zonal value of the land and improvements as one. I take this to mean that the zonal value of CJ Corona’s condo unit to be P100,000 per sq m in December 2009. Am I correct?
Thank you for this.
Will there be lawyers left standing to defend the embattled CJ R Corona even before his Senate Impeachment trial still to start on Jan 16?
Today, 3 of his defense team have backed out. CJ R Corona Defense Team crumbles
I reckon, CJ R Corona would resign before his trial starts.
It would seem that the Chief is not prepared to share his convoluted loot of information to form and strengthen his defense team’s strategy, albeit to support with certainty his answers to the Solon-prosecutors’ Articles of Impeachment.
JusticeCuevas stated that Corona is “still paying installment now”. Cuevas reasoned out that “considering the position of Corona, he did not ask him yet the documents and Corona did not give to him yet”. Cuevas is failing his client. He must realized Corona is a client as a person, not a client based on his stature. Why say something without proof? Supposed it was paid in cash, so Cuevas is a liar.
This condo is in the news for almost 5 days. If Corona has the documents give to the lawyer asap unless he is still cooking alibi and documents. No wonder his other lawyers are backing out with flimsy excuses. They are blameless since a lawyer could not represent the client to the best of his ability if the client is hiding important information.
Hey @Johnny lin,
In the same news conference, SC spokesman [part time?] Midas Marquez said “…[t]hat he is not sure if the 3 will attend the Supreme Court press conference Tuesday afternoon”. Midas didn’t sound so confident.
He added, that “Corona has to have spokespersons because the media and the public have many questions about the trial and related issues.” Will he finally be back as full time SC spokesman?
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/01/09/12/3-corona-defense-lawyers-back-out
Looks like the day of Epiphany are marching slowly but surely.
Until yesterday Justice Cuevas had not received this documentary evidence 1 week before Jan. 16?
Erratum
2 instead of 3 of his defense team have backed out.
Was it a misnomer? “…former Ateneo law school dean Eduardo delos Angeles denied he has quit as lawyer for the chief justice.”
Is it 2 or 3? Make up your mind. They’re pro bono volunteer lawyers. Maybe the other side is offering higher fees — what with PNoy’s 68B unaudited and unprogrammed pork barrel.
@Raissa, to be fair why don’t you investigate on how PNoy spent his billions of pork barrel. Corona’s condo is peanuts.
Except he’s the Chief Justice.
ONe at a time, boss.
I’ll get to PNoy’s pork barrel, too.
dont be distrated by tony. kong pwede sya ang isunod mo na imbestigahan at baka may lead tayo sa mga corruption na nangyayari sa ating bansa. Good job Rai
I’ll take your advice.
thanks.
@Leon
pro bono? lutong makaw na iyan.
2 or 3? parang si @Mel naman ang nagbitaw na magresign sila o lahat.
Sundan mo iyong balita, iyong link, iyong may kulay asul na may mga letra na dadalhin ka sa balita para basahin mo at intindihin mo ng maayos.
Walang utusan dito.
Ang intriga mo, “what with PNoy’s 68B unaudited and unprogrammed pork barrel.”
Eh ano ang nabalitaan mo. Kung may ebidensiya ka, eh di magbukas ka ng sarili mong blog site. duon puwede kang magutos utusan at makikita mo kung anong klaseng mambabasa ang pau-uto sa iyo.
That means you’ll have to ask Raissa to investigate GMA’s use or misuse of her pork barrel too. To be fair but as Raissa said, one at a time. Maybe, GMA first as she was ahead of PNoy in the queue.
hi raissa you are thank you so much for your clinical dissections of this very controversial CJ corona.
raissa,
let’s move on to the cases of Cristina Corona naman. Ngayon lang natin nalaman na hindi lang pala isa ang kaso ni Cristina sa Camp John Hay, meron pa palang nauna.
the mere fact that Cristina did not even bother to reply to the court notices shows na feeling niya untouchable sila noong 2009 at 2010.
i hope you can use your contacts to get a hold of those documents so we can all see naman.
more power!
Tama, dapat na rin imbestigahan itong si cristina corona dahil napakakapal nang mukha at ganid sa PERA nang taongbayan, l could not immagine how cristina mannage to received more than 900,000.oo pesos being pres. & ceo sa CJHC, at last 2010 or 2009 received a total ph. 1.9 million more or less in just one year napakakapal naman nitong si cristina? wala nang dilikadisa, nakakasuka mga pandaraya at pandarambong nito? babae pa naman….
Hi Raissa! Great job pero ingat lang ha. Pero no worry, we’ll pray for you. GOD bless you.
Many people struggling to find decent homes and this crook had this deal under the wraps. Shame on you.
P.S. We should have more people like you Ms Robles. You did a mighty fine job with this article. If only we could use the PhP 14M he stole, este, worked hard for to give decent shelter to those who need it.
This is so sad. People are starving on the streets and struggling to find decent homes. While this sham of a deal was under the wraps… Shame, shame.
Truly, Philippines is a blessed nation because of you. May the Lord graciously reward your wonderful effort. Keep it up. God bless u Raissa.
Thank you, Peter of Arabia.
more power to you
I would like to post more praises, appreciations and salamats for your brilliant works, especially this one, pero na-express na nilang lahat, so ang masasabi ko na lang, ay keep healthy Raissa.
Salamat sa concern mo.
Indeed, there is no perfect crime. Its a pity for us Filipinos to have past Presidents who are corrupt and make even their relatives and friends so rich at the expense of the Government. Now, the last Institution headed by CJ Corona, and he himself is obviously committing the crime, still I find it difficult to believe. Well, keep up the good work & may GOD will always keep u safe.
So long as we LEARN BY HOLDING ALL OF THEM ACCOUNTABLE, then that’s ok.
AGREE!
curious lang ako sa mga court decisions that supposedly favored Megaworld. Paano ang botohan? Was it tight? Was it unanimous? How did Corona voted? With the majority? with the dissenting minority? The problem is, even if Corona votes with bias, the decisions of the SC is a decision of the colegial body and we cannot in anyway punish or even praise the individual justices for their individual decisions. Be that as it may, hopefully the impeachment becomes more than just a “political process” even if it is. It always has to be for truth and not just for what is popular.
Actually he penned the decision in one.
I don’t know how voting went. The SC is very secretive. They have a collegial omerta in place.
OMG, sya pa yung ponente nung isa?
Delicadeza is indeed not found in the DNA of this man and wife. That comes with being unknown to the concept of shame.
Thanks Raissa for this great piece. Keep up the great service you are giving.
Regardless of how he voted, there is still a conflict of interest on the part of CJ Corona. That is one of the point of the impeachment complaint (betrayal of public trust) isn’t it?
I found out a lot from reading this. Talk about informative. Keep up the good work Raissa. More power and God Bless.
kudos to you raissa for searching and telling the truth……..hope you will never get tired of exposing the truth for our country…..
I hope.
But with all of you, how can I not go on?
I just now read a very interesting news article quoting Corona’s head lawyer Serafin Cuevas saying that Corona told him that until now he is still paying monthly amortizations for the Belagio penthouse condo unit.
So, how come the CCT is in his name already and that the Title is not annotated as “mortgaged”? Heavily discounted na, unsecured loan pa? Not to mention underpayment of taxes.
Why do you think?
@parengtony
Half bake iyong Cuevas’ interview news na nabanggit mo.
Here is the rest that is worth completing. “[C]uevas, however, admitted that he had yet to see the documents pertaining to the ownership of the Bellagio unit, saying: “If the Chief Justice was an ordinary person, I would have asked him to give me the documents.”
“But I believe he will give me all those things. We assume that when he told his lawyers that he was still paying for that, it was accurate and true.”
Click here to read the whole news interview.
Serafin Cuevas, a retired Supreme Court justice and now lead lawyer of CJ R Corona took his client’s word in spite of not seeing documentary evidence that it is so.
Ultimong abogado hindi pa nakita ang dokumento na may utang o may pinanghahawakan katibayan na iyon nga ang belagio unit. Sa dami siguro ng luxury units ni R Corona, iba ang tinutukoy niya na may utang at iba pa ang bayad na..
Dahil Chief Justice si R Corona daw at hindi ordinaryong tao kasi.
Sa santong nagbukuhan na, sabay sabay silang mag re-resign.
garabe. hala bira!
Basta nasa likod kita.
Harabara. #1 for FUN.
journalism at its best!!!
Raissa, words are mightier than swords….you are the joan of arc of our times…i hope the remaining upright public officials realize that this is time to rally behind you in fighting off this deadly decease called corruption..keep on blogging, we’ll follow you…!!!
Ayoko ng Joan of Arc.
That’s what Fidel Ramos told us – that GMA was a Joan of Arc.
Puwede, reporter na lang.
LOL!
Raissa, keep up the good work. Let those who put you down prove otherwise. Corona will do everything to destroy you and even threaten you. But you know you’re right, and that’s enough to stand firm. Don’t vacillate. GOD be with you!
I will.
Thanks.
thank you for this article, Raissa! very informative.
Thanks, too.
@Randz
Hey your pics remind me of my friend who is now in the US of A… baka kamukha mo lang.. Anyways, yup I agree with you.. this article of Ms Raissa is very informative indeed!.. Keep it up and God Bless!
Nice article. Now i know…. Mr. Tupaz, Pakibasa nga po ng article na eto.. Thanks!
Very interesting…. Great job Raissa…. Had this been a new telenovela pitted over “Nasaan si Elisa”, I will dump Elisa and cheer for RAISSA.
you can only transfer the title to a buyer’s name AFTER ALL payments are received by the seller. If no FULL PAYMENT was made then the buyer only has the Contract To Sell as proof that he has partially paid + receipts for payments made.
Since the titles are in the Corona’s name then it is clear that FULL PAYMENT has been made.
If payment was made through bank financing then the title will be in the name of the bank not Corona’s and the bank will hold the original Title.
As far as I know (having worked as a housing loan officer in a bank), the bank will require that the CCT be transferred in the name of the buyer-borrower (not in the name of the bank) before the bank fully pays the developer-seller.
Pero will the bank annotate the CCT?
of course! annotation at the back of the TCT will be the holding proof of the bank that that property is mortgaged with them. at any sircumstances they have the right on that particular property.
sinuway ni cj corona ang panglabing-isang utos na” huwag kang magpapahuli”, at least, sinusunod naman niya ang panglabingdalawang utos, “huwag kang aamin”
great work Raissa ! Congratulations and keep up the great work!
john 8:32 makikilala ninyo ang katotohanan, at ang katotohanan ang magpapalaya sa inyo.
GOD BLESS RAISSA . KEEP GOING
Thanks. I will, with everyone’s support.
We will always support truth and justice and people like you, Ms. Vitug and many other crusading journalist!
In the world of Deeds of Absolute Sale pertaining to real properties, such as in the case of Justice Corona’ Condominium, it is a normal, but unspoken, business practice to execute two (2) Deeds of Absolute Sale pertaining to one and the same real property. In the first Deed, the actual selling price agreed by both the seller and the buyer of the real property in question shall be indicated. In the second Deed, for purposes of reducing the tax payable to our dear Internal Revenue collectors, the price is lowered. For example: if the actual selling price is P1 Million – P1 Million shall be indicated on the first Deed while on the second Deed the amount shall be lowered for like, example, P100,000.00 only. This Two Deeds of Absolute Sale is a natural phenomenon and is practiced, for tax reduction reasons, by persons from all walks of life. However, in the case of CJ Corona, you have to take into consideration the fact that he is a public official – a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, that he penned SC decisions favorable to the party who sold to him the real property and that completely changes the color of the picture from grey to black.
I understand that Ayala Land, Inc. does not practice this at all.
And you’re right.
As the CJ, Corona’s business transactions all have to be aboveboard.
Perhaps our dear lawmakers should penalize this practice. It’s like keeping two sets of books.
the chief justice is the keeper of justice in this land…but when he initiates to defraud our government of taxes, what do we call him? …a cheat !!! therefore he should be impeached !!!
Impeachment is way too light a punishment for the damage done by Corona and his cabal of biased justices, they should be jailed not in his Bellagio condo but in a common jail for criminals like him.
Absolutely!!!
more power to you ms raissa and thank you for letting us know these facts
Thank you so much for your very courageous effort to let us know these facts.
I wish more would follow your lead. More power to you Madam!
One observation about Midas marquez, he is supposed to be the spokesman of the supreme court as a collegial body, not Chief Justice Corona’s personal spokesman. The impeachment complaint before the senate is against the chief Justice, not against the Supreme Court. I am wondering why he keeps on defending the chief justice. I believe the chief justice should hire his own personal spokesman to speak for him. If he could afford to pay for those expensive properties, this is one thing he could easily afford.
I’ll ask him when he answers his mobile.
lawyer midas marquez should be investigated as well…it seems his eyes can’t see the obvious and his ears can’t hear the deafening cry of the lowly pinoys…is he for or against corruption ?
you are right. why in the world he keeps on defending cjcorona?
There is nothing to prevent congressional prosecutors from calling Atty Marquez to the witness stand, seeing as how he seems to know a lot of intimate details re finances of Corona. I hope they do. I want to see how slick he really is when he is testifying before the Senate to shed light on how much he knows about Corona, compared to just making his pronouncements before tv cameras. It seems to me he does not have substantial, if any, trial experience before joining the SC, otherwise, he would have shut up since the beginning, knowing he could be called to testify for what he says.
It may be normal occurrence to corrupt BIR personnel but is it legal? If its illegal, Corona will be in deep trouble to claim two deeds. This is where Megaworld has to come clean to their shareholders. No wonder Ayala is not doing if illegal. If the prosecutors have copies of two deeds, touche.
It is highly unlikely that anybody will maintain a book for the first deed in which the actual price is indicated. Usually copies of said instrument is kept as private documents by the parties to the sale. The second copy with the reduced selling price is the one submitted to the BIR and the LRA, together with the other documentary requirements, for the issuance of the Certificate Authorizing Registration and the title. The parties to sale can simply deny the first deed with the actual selling price, and therefore, for all lawful intents and purposes, the transaction is legal.
Kaya nga dapat maghintay na lang tayo ng impeachment proper para makita natin ang mga ebidensya. Hindi yang puro na lang kayo spekulasyon at conspiracy theories.
this so-called practice of executing 2 deeds is, i believe, the precise reason why taxes on real properties, as explained above, are imposed on the selling price or the fair market value, whichever is higher. this way, even if the parties submit a deed that shows a selling price that is way lower than what was actually paid, they will still have to pay high taxes because the fair market value would be theoretically higher. of course, if the BIR would “consider” a different zonal value, that would be another matter..
Tama, Kaya nawala na respeto ko sa CJ corona dahil napakaliwanag nang ginawa niyang pandaraya sa sangkataohan, Siya dapat na magpakita nang magandang halimbawa pero ano itong pinaggagawa niya? Nakakahiya at Nakakadiri at hindi dapat pamarisan? Dapat sa kanya magresign nalang at magpakamatay para hindi pamarisan tulad nang ginawa ni kurapt guttierez na pagresign at pagpakamatay ni reyes., Self sacrifies for the common cause of all…..Dahil “KUNG WALANG KURAPT WALANG MAHIRAP” Kaya kayong mga kurapt Nakakadiri kayo….Napakaganda nang PLano ni Pnoy para sa lahat nang MAMAMAYAN kaya makisama kayo, Tayong Lahat para sa Tagumpay nang Pagbabago…. MABUHAY TAYONG LAHAT at MABUHAY ANG PILIPINAS…
Kaduwagan ang magpakamatay ng hindi pa kumanta. Sabihin nya muna sa publiko ng buong katapangan ang baho ng mga Arroyo @ isauli lahat ang mga ninakaw niya sa taong bayan.
Tama ka McEiSem, Mabuti nga na isiwalat muna ni thief justice corona mga kasinungalingan, pandarambong, at pagnanakaw nang mga kasamahan at sigurado ako na MAABSUWELTO siya sa GALIT nang sambayanan at makakasumpong nang pamumuhay na tahimik at malaya,at sabayan nang pag amin na “WALANG TUNAY NA KALIGAYAHAN SA YAMAN NA GALING SA NAKAW”…
This is a pretty devastating piece of journalism. I don’t know how Chief Justice Corona can defend himself. Thanks Raissa for your work!
If we are in this together, I fear no evil.
Thanks a lot raissa, ang galing at ang tapang mo? mabuhay ka at pagpalain ka…
i do not see reasons why we should fear the few devils in this country…the righteous can be very strong if we stand side by side with each other…we do live our lives to the fullest if we stand for truth and justice…
You’re right.
But we should take care and be cautious
If you need a human shield just let me know and I will be there to protect you. I’m 68 years old, and I’m willing to protect you to let you continue the work you’re doing. Like Heidi Mendoza, you are an inspiration to me.
Thanks, Rod.
In addition: Other journalists can probably help verify the information by interviewing other condo owners how much they paid for their units, and compare it to what Corona paid.
thank u very much raissa. keep up the good work. we need u.
Thank you.
I need you all, too, to stoke my courage and keep me going.
It helps not to write, alone in the wilderness.
i’ve been following ur articles. it’s very imprssive. keep up the good work. i salute you. our country needs someone like u. thank u very much for the infos.
Definitely a steal. I bought a 114sm condo at the BONIFACIO RIDGE at a pre sale value of 8million pesos a 2br condo with one parking spot and another friend bought his at Mckinley place overlooking the whole golf course, 114sm 2br condo with one parking spot for a pre sale value of 12million pesos.Definitely the CJ condo was undervalued.Those condo units were bought when only Pacific plaza, Mckinley place and bonifacio ridge were the stuctures at the Fort.
Good job Raissa! Your blogs are enlightening and well written. This investigative blog about Corona’s ‘affordable’ luxury condo should help prove ng mga kasinungalingan nitong fake Justice na ito.
Salamat and best wishes for the new year Raissa.
Looking forward to a better Philippines.
Me too.
Long live the Philippines.
Possible legal technical pitfall: Articles charge act of “owning” the condo, which is the issue, not process by which it was acquired, which is a different issue. Civil/criminal rules of procedure prevent introduction of evidence not materially relevant as probative of the issue (owning). Facts in your report point to unethical/unlawful process of acquisition of condo. Corona has admitted to owning it, so for the issue of “owning,” no more evidence need to be presented, hence irrelevancy of the facts you mentioned. Corona defenders in Senate will raise this objection and will probably be sustained by a majority, as, whether they are pro-Corona or not, there are plenty of lawyers in the Senate and they will have to sustain that objection, otherwise they will look inept as lawyers. Possible solution: amend Articles to include the charges of 1. violation of legal/judicial ethics 2. graft and corruption. Pretty tricky, will set hearings back, will raise howl in the media, the legal community, and congressional defenders of Corona, but can ultimately be done.
Facts mentioned in your report offer the best evidence by far of removing Corona from office.
Nota Bene: All, I mean all, lawyers in the Philippines know, one way or the other, that things like this have been going on, ubiquitously and pervasively, in the Philippine judicial system. Any pinoy lawyer who says otherwise is a liar
You are right about the impeachment charge being centered on his ownership of the condo, not in the process by hwich he acquired it.
However, an impeachment trial is a political process. While it uses the Rules of Court it really depends on the Senator-judges what evidence to allow and what not to allow.
They might accommodate the process of ownership. Because how else could he own it if he did not undergo the process.
I’d like to ask you and all those who know the law 2 questions – does the SC Chief Justice have immunity from criminal prosecution while in office or could any citizen affected by any of his acts, outside his official functions, sue him before the Ombudsman?
In his column last Sunday, former CJ Art Panganiban thoroughly (and objectively,I thought) discussed whether the conduct of the impeachment trial should be a”lawyer’s trial” or a “people’s trial”. He touched on points of the same nature as Atty gloriadtomas discussed above and also on the points you raised in reply to Atty gloriadtomas. Based on my understanding of his insights, he would allow these facts to be presented.
To my mind, It is clear that the evidences you elaborated and substantiated relative to Corona’s ownership of a “upwards of Peso30 M condo” but undervalued at peso14.5M and taxes underpaid by about Peso0.8M deals with one and the same issue as the “Articles charge act of ‘owning’ an expensive condo in the Fort”. The main point of that impeachment article (#3?) is acquisition of ill gotten wealth. Your evidences proving the manner and process of acquisition validates this wrongful act . And how! Your evidences puts Corona in a deeper hole, I believe, as they show malice, abuse of authority (wang wang mentality), impunity at using the rules of court (which should not apply in this political proceedings) to circumvent the law, and arrogant lack of transparency. The Senate should not
allow Corona to hide these evidences from the true judges – We the People.
true, any evidence may be admitted in the trial, even irrelevant ones, as long as senators agree, but its incredulous to think that corona’s impeachment trial is not going to be a “lawyers’ trial.” raissa is right. just like what i always try to point out, an impeachment is a political process such that a conviction can be based on anything, even on matters not presented in evidence, the rationale being that a vote of conviction is “vox populi,” for after all, congresmen and senators simply act for and on behalf of their constituency. an impeachment is not going to require proof beyond reasonable doubt, not even preponderance of evidence, for conviction.
having said that, does anyone really think that the rules of civil/criminal/special procedure are not going to be extensively and passionately invoked by both sides in the trial? those rules are supposed to apply whenever possible whenever there is a technical question in procedure. look at what’s going on now: corona wants a pre-trial! read the senate rules promulgated for the trial, which resemble civil/criminal procedure. and lawyers shying away from insisting observance of legal procedures? good luck! lawyers will be lawyers, especially if they have the privilege of performing in front of a tv camera. even non-lawyers want to get in on the act. guess why senators wanted to wear those fancy robes at the trial. good thing, i heard that they have decided to forego on that for the trial. they all looked ridiculous at the oath taking
on raissa’s 1st query: are SC justices immune from criminal prosecution while in office? answer: no. no one is above the law. removal and prosecution are two different things. on 2nd query: can any citizen sue a SC justice outside of official functions before ombudsman? answer: no. ombudsman/sandiganbayan process exclusively apply to violation of laws involving public officials and/or acts of private persons in connection with acts of public officials, directly or indirectly. for facts in your report, corona would have to be charged before sandigan, because it appears that, assuming arguendo, he was given a cut-rate deal because of his official position and influence.
ROCK ON!!!
@gloriadtomas
Follow up on question2: please clarify when the sc justice be sued, before or after impeachment? Erap and GMA were charged after removal from office because they were impeachable officials.
Same rule should apply, isn’t it?
judges, including sc & ca justices, can be legitimately sued for any justiciable thing, criminal or civil, anytime, such as for murder or driving while under the influence or breach of contract or even illegal possesion of prohibited drugs. only the president is immune from lawsuits, public or private, criminal or civil, during his term in office, to protect the continuity of governance of the state.
impeachment is a different story, which perhaps you are now very much aware of because of what is happening to corona. impeachment is technically not a lawsuit and is merely a process to remove government offcials removable only thereby. so for example, in the case of corona, if the ombudsman decides to charge him of graft and corruption for his purchase of the bellagio condo, theoretically, his impeachment and a criminal case before the sandiganbayan can exist side by side. of course this cannot be done to a sitting president.
RA 6770 Ombudsman Law Section 21 & 22 accordingly states that Ombudsman after investigation of administrative charges shall refer for verified complaint for impeachment. Then only after conviction thru impeachment constitutional officials including judiciary could be administratively charged under Article XI Accountability of Public Officers Section 3-7.
So impeachment and criminal/administrative charges can’t be side by side.
Also under RA6770 Section 22, it states that the public official and the private entity involved in conspiracy could be charged by Ombudsman. Thus if there is proven illegal transaction between Corona and Megaworld, after impeachment conviction, they could be charged by Ombudsman to Sandigan court.
Nice work on the research but RA6770 is a totally different matter. Administrative charge different from criminal charge in nature, function, and effects. Think of this example: If a SC justice unjustifiably shoots someone in the head and kills that person inside a mall in front of many witnesses and caught on camera, do we wait for impeachment, or administrative process, before he can be arrested after an inquisition? Think of the other possible incongruous consequences. DOJ cant issue hold order because justice cannot be charged? Justice walks around with impunity even after having killed somebody, even attends to his court duties? What an absurd scenario. It is true for murder as well as illegal possession of dangerous drugs, or even a traffic ticket. No one can be above the law.
What are impeachable offenses of justices? Mostly administrative or civil.
Crime is crime. Its not in guidelines for impeachment that is why it was surprising you mentioned above criminal procedures would be invoked by both sides in the trial and justices could be sued for any justiciable thing criminal or civil. I dont think they could be sued for libel for their decision without going thru impeachment, because their decision could fall under culpable violation of constitution.
How could RA 6770 be a different matter when it specifically states the limits of Ombudsman on impeachable officers for graft and corruption. Is graft and corruption administrative or civil or criminal case or combination. I dont know, im not a lawyer. this is the reason I said criminal/administrative and impeachment could not stand side by side because I believe graft is both criminal/ administrative.
I admire your interest in the finer points of the law. There is however not enough space here to answer your mixed bag of questions which cover many different major subjects in Philippine law and jurisprudence. Suffice it to say that there is nothing in the law to prevent an impeachable public official, barring the President, to be impeached and at the same time be, for example, charged with a crime which is the basis for his impeachment, like graft and corruption or murder, etc. What if Corona is acquitted in the impeachment against him? Does that mean he can no longer be prosecuted for graft and corruption at the Sandigan, assuming all the facts Raissa mentioned in her article are true and there is enough evidence for it? Of course he can still be charged. Does the Tanodbayan have to wait for the impeachment trial to be over before she does anything? Technically, no, assuming she has all the evidence she needs to sustain probable cause on the alleged ill-gotten wealth of Corona .
If you are that interested in law, I urge you to go to law school. All you will learn from these discussions about impeachment are but a glimpse of the whole picture. Next best thing is do your own research in law libraries. Good luck!
I am only interested in understanding provisions so that when lawyers say something, we laymen do not have to swallow it as truth because of ignorance. Nobody is infallible. With your question on impeachable officials dismissal of impeachment, the law says I believe they can only be charged once a year.
I beg to disagree with you. Ombudsman doesnt have jurisdiction over their graft/corruption case until convicted by impeachment or retired/resigned from office. You being a lawyer, are you not interested to know more on the limitation of Ombudsman on impeachable officers? I would research more Ombudsman law and Article XI of the Constitution if I were a lawyer like you to arrive at simple answers on complex questions. Continuing education. Isn’t it Sandigan could try non impeacheable public officers charged under RA 6019 & 6713 only upon indictment from Ombudsman? Maybe you could enlighten us more after your research. Obvious criminal acts like murder or rape or similar heinous are punishable, and tried in regular courts, including impeachable officials is understandable. We are talking about graft and corruption, code of conduct and ethical standards of public officials under existing laws for impeachable officials. I did research already that is why I questioned your interpretation. Good luck to to you too.
You are talking apples and oranges. The original question at issue was, more or less: can SC justices be impeached and at the same time be charged in regular courts or Sandigan with crimes of graft/corruption, murder, etc., as the case may be? Please refer to my opinion above. I think you either went to law school and didnt finish or failed the bar, or an attorney already by the way you phrase your sentences. If thats the case if youre looking for someone to argue with in the blagosphere, its not going to be me.
There really was a good reason why the Catholic Church forbade lay people from reading the Bible a long time ago. It could easily be misinterpreted. The law is no different, and without proper training and good acumen, people will arrive at wrong conclusions. Thats also the reason why some lawyers are better than others. I stand by my comments.
ROCK ON!!!
@gloriadtomas
As I opined, Graft and corruption could not be tried until Corona is impeached or else DOJ would have filed it alongside with the House filing impeachment since they could share evidences. If he is absolved, he could not be tried for corruption that is my guaranteed opinion. Murder, because it is high crime, could be filed without impeachment that is why I believe they eliminated these wordings in the 1987 constitution Article XI. They may be apples and oranges but we are talking about different kinds of fruits suitable as fruit drinks, impeachment being the fruit drinks and different charges being the kinds of fruits, when they can be blended together or not as fruit drinks.
The only law subject I took was legal ethics in psychology. I am not trying to debate you neither would I agree with your conclusion that graft and corruption could be tried along with impeachment, without conradicting you based on my understanding on RA laws applicable to it. Corona case is perfect example. Its the right time to research and ask the constitutionalist by lawyers seeking perfection if I were one. My simple understanding of laws allows me not to accept blindly, rationalize better what every lawyer preaches as truth or fact.
The Catholic church was proven wrong in their zealousness when they found out that other Christian sects become more disciplined in embracing their faith with Bible study being the learning foundation, so catholicism introduced bible classes in their parishes. Even if I did not study law or being a full pledge lawyer, it did not mean I should not be interested on legal basics nor should I be disinterested in heavenly bodies because I am not an astronomer. Little knowledge helps in preventing proliferation of victims by snake medicine doctors. In every field there are outstanding practitioners, not necessary limited to lawyers. Nothing personal, more power to you!
Begging to differ regarding the charge centered on ownership. The articles only charge non-disclosure.
Here is that particular article and its explanatory text:
Oops, may padaplis about graft and corruption. But this should be a separate article. Otherwise, it does not properly apprise the Respondent of what he is being accused.
In fact, the last three sentences still refer to the Constitutional provision on disclosure. So clearly, the articles treats of non-disclosure, not graft and corruption.
I believe that is why Tupas and Quimbo are presenting this to the public; because they may not be allowed to present this to the Senate.
It is true, that there is that line I highlighted in the explanatory note, that says that “Respondent is likewise suspected and accused of having accumulated ill-gotten wealth..” But who is accusing him? The articles do not so accuse.
The explanatory note (the Articles call it a “Discussion” is not an accusation). Logical naman di ba? The adjective is not the noun. Similarly, the discussion (explanation) is not the accusation. So graft and corruption is not the issue. Evidence on said issue, therefore, will be inadmissible.
That is precisely the defense of Justice Cuevas.
Can it be amended? Not as a matter of right, because the Respondent has already answered. The House must request leave of court (Senate) to amend its articles.
Minadali kasi.
This Senate is an impeachment court where anything goes, unilke a judicial court.
‘Who is accusing him? The articles do not so accuse”
Of course, obviously the House members are accusing so it is not necessary to specify the names of the accusers. Only when there is an individual complainant the accuser is mentioned as plaintiff which passes thru the other process of verified complaint. Constitutionally, The accusers are the 188 House members, Article XI Sec 3-4. Graft and corruption implied on Article II 2.4 and non disclosure in 2.1 & 2.2.
Actually 2.4 covered both bases on ill gotten wealth because of the absence of SALN. if the condo is in the SALN, what was the source of payment, if it is not, it is non disclosure of ill gotten wealth.
“Accused of accumulated ill gotten wealth” means income insufficient to obtain properties and large sum in bank accounts. What is so hard to understand on the language of Article Ii. It was probably written for laymen like us to easily understand it than being too legalese to conform with legal language since impeachment is a political process and senators are not all well educated lawyers.
Ooops!
@saxnviolins
“ill gotten wealth” graft and corruption yun kahit paano pagbali-baligtarin. Tahe yun kahit paano takpan mabaho ang simoy. Napakasimple lang, walang noun o adjective, semantics defense hindi uubra.
Should the Senate Impeachment allow the presentation of the CJ R Corona’s SALN since he sat as a Supreme Court Justice, the rest is moot and academic.
However true, complete or picture perfect his breakdown lists – it would be a damning evidence of the CJ R Corona’s complicit to enrich himself.
In addition, he usurped his position as Chief Justice of the Judiciary for his personal enrichment, partial court decisions in favor of GMA, and bias decision to favor a select few of people.
IT WOULD DEFINITELY COME DOWN TO ILL GOTTEN WEALTH.
R CORONA has a better chance of twisting the facts in an Ombudsman court than in the Senate Impeachment trial. Removal lang duon. Once the trial starts, whatever evidence, statements or answers mentioned and presented in the Senate Impeachment will definitely be used in the Ombudsman trial.
<Walang panalo si CJ R Corona sa politcal impeachment process.
IF R Corona is indeed smarter than others, he better RESIGN AS SOON AS HE CAN.
On or before the opening trial – Monday 16 January 2012.
The office of the Chief Justice is far more important than R Corona.
His appointment as CJ is not a job for life.
As an appointee, he can be prematurely removed, and have his term terminated by impeachment – or RESIGN.
BUT THE CHIEF JUSTICE OFFICE HAS TO MOVE ON for a more suited and BETTER magistrate who is well worth to be called The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. And not a CJ for the former president GMA and her oligarchs.
Oiii Gising rening!
Unless by Force Majeure, R Corona will check himself into a hospital that the scheduled trial will be moved until he is fit to stand trial. Err his processed supporting documents are complete and in place for recollection.
ERRATUM
“… an Ombudsman court than ” should read, a Sandiganbayan court.
“… in the Ombudsman trial” should read, in the Sandiganbayan court.
@saxnviolins
Naminadali ng House Prosecutors ang Articles of Impeachment?
Kulang sa Proof Reading? Here is the solution.
Enrile said prosecutors could amend an article of impeachment in the middle of the trial, but would have to “bring it back to the House and vote upon it again.”
Good work but I’ll gotten wealth and graft and corruptions are not included in the 8 articles of impeachment.
Which only means I’m not pre-empting the impeachment
But do recall what happened in Erap’s trial – Clarissa Ocampo. Her testimony was not originally part of the impeachment articles.
So you like to be ala clarissa ocampo? LOL
No, not me.
I’m waiting for a Clarissa Ocampo to come out and say – I was one foot away when….
haha…i like you’re statement above…maybe a clarissa ocampo from megaworld will come out…and good job, ms. raissa!
Tanong ko lang kong nasa listahan na ba nang Hold Departure Order itong si Corona? or Watch List Order na? Baka kasi maka iskapo pa eh? Gustong gusto kong makita reaction niya during Impeachment trials, kong paano magsisinungaling at magpapalusot ang matalinong si corona…
LOL! PUtting a CJ on HDO?
Or WLO?
Dapat lang, Baka kasi makatakbo pa, di ba??
@Lino Bruce says:” Wow! Great and detailed investigation! Beware if those paid bloggers of Corona and GMA (those who penetrated Philstar and Inquirer) will get into your site hahaha. We were called once, will be paid but declined.”
Now that you have brought it up, I would like to share my observation from the comments I read in different newspaper sites. Its actually quite easy to spot Arroyo’s and Corona’s paid apologist. They can be classified in the following categories:
1. They repeatedly flood the comments section with inane words in the form of a slogan which they recite like a mantra.
2. They resort to name-calling and include in their rude comments laughter that resembles that of hyenas.
3. They post exactly the same comments a number of times.
4. They divert the discussion by raising unrelated and irrelevant issues and include people that has nothing to do with the issue on hand. They also try to malign people by employing the tactic of ‘ destroy the person if you cannot destroy the argument’.
5. They present arguments that are simplistic, s_lly, naive, and devoid of logic.
6. They display negative, cynical and whining attitude in their comments.
The above categories are by no means complete. Others may want to add.
Deed of absolute sale but Corona replied that he paid installment?
PERJURY!
Tapos ang kaso. Ang problema, which article of impeachment would cover perjury?
On the article where he perjured himself since that was his answer to the article.
The House Prosecutors can use this as an evidence. Thanks Raissa! You did a good job.
You’re welcome.
|Ka nga ng mga Pinoy “patay kang bata ka!”. Itong ebidensya na ito ay malinaw pa kaysa kristal. Takbo, Unjustice Corona habang may oras pa. Pati sana ang mga nakapirma dito ay imbestigahan at umpisahan sa Megaworld, BIR , Registrar’s Office, at iba pa.
Sana.
pustahan tayo . di lang corona ang ganyan . totoo ba ang pinochio story sa mga sinunguling.
With all the reports I am reading now, its time that all those in the Supreme Courts down to
the lowest level of our Justice Department should declare their earnings including their
wifes and husband. All citizen of the Philippines has to file its income tax regardles if they
made any money just like wedo here in Canada. How can we respect those in the Supreme
Court if they don’t delare. As they keep on saying they are independent from theOffice of the
President, The Senate and Congress than they should set example or they will never be trusted
by the PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES. A system similar to the Social Insurance Number (SIN)
herein Canada should be highly consider. SIN is very effective. Once a child is born, he or she
gets a SIN Card to be Identified . Its also very good for the security of the country.
I agree with you.
All justices should.
Are you aware we need a court order to obtain their SALN?
And who made this requirement?
The Supreme Court!
How ridiculously self-serving.
I cannot believe what transpired. First, the constitution said that they should publish their SALN. Then, SC justices changed it themselves to exclude them from declaring it, just like that. How in the world are they allowed to change the constitution? Can anyone cite any part of our constitution that allows our SC justices to amend it? They are law interpreters not lawmakers…and how did the senate and other smart people of the government let that happen. Info would be appreciated. Thank you.
Neat, huh.
They are making some Psuedo-constitutional amendments. This one about the SALN and the other one about the Midnight appointments. Maybe because it has come to their minds that no one will dare question them……
Hmmm.
That’s a thought.
Dapat ibasura na itong, need a court order to obtain SALN of every individual…Parang nag-uudyok ito na gumawa nang mali at itago ang katutuhanan lalo na ang mga ninakaw? Parang protektado pa mga tiwaling opisyal dahil mahirap, matagal at magastos ang processo sa pagkuha nang SALN tulad ni corona et.al.? Bakit kasi kailangang itago gayong dapat ilabas ang katutuhanan dahil ang katutuhanan ang magpapaLaya sa atin…
Ang BIR puedeng bang ipublish yung duplicate ng
official recept (O.R.) KUNG KAILAN, AT MAGKANO
ANG IBINYAD NA TAX.
Dapat.
Sana nga, kaso baka kailangan na naman nang court order para makakuha nang Official receipt (O.R.) sa (B.I.R.)? Sana hindi na dahil matagal, perwisyo at magastos lalo na at mahal ang abogado ngayon.
I second the motion.
bakas papeles at laway lang.
binayaran ba, cash o tseke?
Doesn’t say.
Hmmm.
Hmm. Good question.
Walang nakalagay.
Dapat meron, hindi ba?
Sa standard deed of sale and nakalagay lang tinanggap ng seller ang stated amount. What confuses me is the explanation of one of your resource persons that it is easy for Corona to inject into the documents his claim that he bought the property on installment (in anticipation of the question as to how did he acquire such a large amount of cash assets) by simply providing a”contract to sell indicating an installment agreement with Megaworld”. However, as far as I know, sellers of real property on an installment basis do not transfer title of the property to the buyer until fully paid or, just like in buying a car on installment, title is transferred to the buyer but a mortgage document is accomplished and registered with the Register of Deeds wherein the mortgage agreement and the installment agreement is attached.
I think what my source meant was, CJ has to prove he was paying on installment before he signed the Deed of Absolute Sale – that is, before December 2009. So the installment has to have been running – one year? two years before the sale date.
If such were the case – one to two years installment before December 2009 – then the installment payments would have amounted to peso1M to peso2.5M every month! Oh Wow. In any case, it would not be easy to come up with the requisite documents to prove he was paying on installment.
In this case, he has to prove he paid on installment.
That’s his defense, kasi.
And he also has to prove where he got the money he used to pay the installment payments of P1M to P2.5M (?) per month since I think a CJ’s monthly salary do not amount to that much..
Mas grabe! Baka wala pang perang nilabas, tinawad pa ang presyo para bumaba ang tax.
Pag sinaningtseke binayad,san ang bangko niya? Kapag cash, san bangko dineposito ng Megaworld?
Itong ebidensiyang sinulat ni Raissa at Lahat ng sinasabi natin dito sana basahin ng mga senador para mas dumami iba ibang ideya nila pagdating sa trial.
We need more people like you, Raissa….Your investigative reporting is world-class. I am very impressed how you write these things with clarity and purpose. I hope the House prosecutors hire you as a resource person!
Naaah. I’m not for hire.
But thanks for the thought.
Even if you were for hire, I don’t think they can afford you. Good job! CJ Corona is guilty as charged, in my humble opinion!
Actually, I’m hired as Manila correspondent for South China Morning Post (HK) and Radio Netherlands
I was hired a long time ago by South china Morning Post (HK) to be their Manila correspondent
I enjoy it.
I hired myself to put up this blog.
Good for you! Just be safe. The country needs more of you! More power!
sana magkaroon ng likes at dislikes buttons ang blog site mo! mabuhay ka ms raissa!!!
Hinahanap ko pa yung buttons. If you have any suggestions for the widget, pls send me the link.
Imbestigahan para malaman. DAPAT FAIR LANG TAYO. LAHAT DAPAT NA SA TINGIN NATIN NA MAY KASALANAN SA BAYAN AY PAIMBESTIGAHAN. Dapat lahat na past and present government officials, politicians, kahit anong political party na nagkasala sa bayan ay dapat imbestigahan. Siguro ang iba dyan na matagal na sa kanilang propesyon ay nagkasala din, baka mas higit pa ang kanilang krimen sa bayan sa mga inaakusan ngaun, kaya lang natatago lang ang kanilang kasalanan. Hindi porque kontra politiko ka iibestigahan ka. Lahat dapat ang nasa present and past na mga administrasyon na mga gov’t officials, politicians na sa tingin may kasalanan sa bayan ang imbestigahan.
Pre selling highend condo in cebu 131sm=31M. http://www.cebuholdings.com/1016residences. Cebu is not at par with bonifacio.
Hi Ma’am, I can’t seem to view the article and can only view the comments. Would you have an updated link to the full article? Thank you!
You can try now.
Sorry about that.
I was trying to insert CJ Corona’s decision.
The system wouldn’t let me. So I just placed a link.
Salamat Maam Raissa, maliwanag na maliwanag ang iyong pag-uulat. May mukha pa kayang magsinungaling ulit itong si THIEF JUSTICE RENATO CORONA? Sana P-Noy maimbestigahan at patawan ng pinakamabigat na parusa ang mga KAWATANG KASANGKOT LALO NA YONG SA BIR, makulong, kunin ng goberno ang kanilang nakaw na kayamanan at ari-arian, alisin sa tungkulin and absolutely be banned to serve in the govt and their retirement benefits be forfeited in favor of the govt para maging babala sa MGA KAWATAN SA GOBERNO. Mabuhay ka Maam Raissa.
gratitude or utang na loob k cj corona is what obviously mega world has done that they gave a very pricey condo to cj corona out of the cases he handled and decided in favor of mega world.
transactions like these which involves very very rich businessmen most specially chinese WHO are loathing about bribing their way to any of the courts in the philippines and win every cases because they CAN slap the police, judges and other government official in the land with bundles of bribe money.
Ms. Raisa, expose’s are good BUT the most important thing in these is,CAN WE JAIL the guilty…I hope that cases like these will not take long. If there was no Justice system in PI, i think all of these corrupt people will not live to see another day.. We have a very weak justice system, law and order and seemingly disgusted, disappointed filipino people…GOD BLESS Philippines praying that there will be light on the other side…
I am not sure if your story does justice to your readers. i wish you had named your sources; that would enable us readers to weigh and measure your story. as it is, your article is at best your own opinion on and interpretation of some facts that we already know.
You don’t have to believe it if you don’t want to.
I wish I could name them but they talked on condition of anonymity.
Journalists in the Philippines have a shield law. We are not compelled to name our sources. Not unless a court requires us. Even then, we can choose to go to jail. There are reasons for this in a democracy.
When sources are unnamed, then you go by the reporter’s track record.
I stand on my track record.
By the way, when you say this is all my own opinion you are in effect saying that I’m lying. that I made up my sources – Danny and Pedro. I did not.
But wait a minute. You don’t believe in the documents I presented here? Are they also only my opinion?
wag mo pinag iiintindi ang mga PR nina Corona!
Correct…Mga naka-line-up na yan sa mga tutubuan ng mga tumor sa mukha…dahil mga makakapal…I wonder how these people are able to sleep soundly…CROOKS…
great work & more power to you ms robles!
@liling, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with disagreeing but do your homework, research & be factual in your argument.
Thank you for dropping by.
See you again.
Believe in the documents? In the age of Photoshop? I thought you were something else other than a blogger…
LOL.
As I said you can take it or leave it.
No prob.
liling, you engage in argumentum ad hominem anonymously (behind user name liling), while the person you badmouth consistently stand by her articles and directly addresses issues raised. No wonder many netizens suspect the presence of mercenary commenters. Sa lugar namin may tawag kami dyan… pero wag na lang, sayang oras natin.
if liling posts a document, i.e. marriage contract…i doubt the authenticity of that document. SImply beacuse you are “liling”…but i do believe and trust raissa’s, simply because raissa is a known credible person.
Thank you for your vote of confidence.
to Liling..even the CJ has already admitted that he owns the unit…but if you still don’t believe it, you can verify with the Registry of Deeds if the CCT is registered in his name…in fact, you can request for a Certified True Copy of it…and to Ms. Raissa, I don’t think you would be an irresponsible journalist since you’re hired by 2 international communications companies..I for one believe in you…
@liling you are clutching at straws with your arguments. you were told it’s your right to believe or not believe, end of story. You are like the birthers in the U.S. that no amount of documentation on the birthplace of the POTUS is acceptable or verifiable as they only believe in what they believe or want others to believe.
Maliwanag na TUTA at bayad itong si liling at may sayad pa yata eh, if l were you liling, make an effort to imbestigate if you are doubt? ipa research mo para maliwanagan ka at para madali puntahan mo si thief justice corona kong totoo ito o hindi mga nakalabas na ibedensiya? Sigurado ako katakot takot na kasinungalingan ang sasabihin sa iyo ni corona tapos before we know it, Magpapakamatay na itong si thief justice corona dahil sa kahihiyan at pandidiri sa sarili dahil ninakawan ang mahirap na mamamayan para sa pansariling kasaganaan…Mga PARI at OBISPO nasaan na kayo? Akala ko ba ay GUSTO ninyo nang matuwid na daan para sa Magandang Pagbabago at Pag Unlad nang Mamamayang PILIPINO. Magsalita at Tumulong naman kayong mga PARI at OBISPO para Makalimutan namin ang mga SUV na ibinara sa mga Lalamunan ninyo noon? Huwag maging makasarili, MAGTULUNGAN TAYO…Amen….
Bravo Raissa!. Excellent reply to the non-believer. I give you standing ovation for this.
@liling, People who step on the foot of moneyed and powerful people in this country put there lives in danger.
We have seen witnesses and informants get intimidated, harassed, or even killed by hired goons for less money and lesser issues than this. If you are in the shoes of Raissa’s sources, are you willing to identify yourself? If you answer in the affirmative, then I agree with you.
Liling, it is hard to produce the name of whistle blowers (if they fall in that category). People like Corona still have muscles to harass and harm any source that would implicate him much more from someone who knows exactly how to circumvent and abuse the law.
@liling,
Just as your blog name is shortened or your choice of an alias, your privacy was recognized as part of your comment on this author’s investigative work.
For this particular story, not one iota of reference or resource person are considered highly sensitive or in personal danger. There are no inside info or ‘whistleblowers’ as others followed up your comment. The persons who are privy to the parties involved in the sale and tax assessments didn’t appreciate Raïssa’s journalistic job that neither didn’t return her calls and obliged her for an interview.
The ONLY ‘sensitive’ materials attached to Raïssa’s article are the Deed of Absolute Sale, BIR tax assessment by a BIR Revenue Officer, CAR and Certificate of Titles. I believe these are publicly available if you do your own research or enquiry. Others are publicly available website links that were added by the author.
The author doesn’t even accuse CJ R Corona of illegal or unlawful behavior in this story. Her questions such as “Did he violate Republic Act No. 6713…” and others are mere questions that any educated and learned person would normally ask if given some facts as above.
Raïssa’s narration by presentation of facts with third party statements from professionals (who wish to remain anonymous) in the Real Estate industry leaves the readers, like you & me, to arrive at our own conclusion.
BTW, an opinion is not synonymous as a lie.
An opinion is a matter of fact if qualified by a certified or professional person that supports its statements or arguments with evidences to prove as such.
what benefit could raissa get, out of this blog she shared with us…? can’t we think that the documented papers are enough to send her to jail if these are fake? Ms Raissa has the courage to do this for the benefit of our nation and yet there are a few who would just watch her fight alone for our sake…
@liling nobody will believe you especially you misspelled your name with TI before the liling… We are PROUD of you Ms. Raisa, keep up the good work. We will always pray for your safety..
Corona in his reply to the complaint stated that he and his wife bought a property on installment basis in the same area. But as pointed out in this article, there is a Deed of Absolute Sale and even registration with the Pateros Registry of Deeds.
Could it be that they bought two pieces of property? One on spot cold cash and the other on installment basis? Another question and more importantly: is this or are these pieces of properties declared in his SALN?
Ayayay.
Mas malikot kayong mag-isip sa akin.
Tingnan natin.
Partial googling yield using “megaworld” as search query:
G.R. No. 153310
March 2, 2004
G.R. No. 156200*
March 31, 2004
G.R. No. 166993
December 19, 2005
G.R. No. 162895
August 16, 2006
G.R. No. 181206*
October 9, 2009
*J. Corona included
—–
Of course, the unit may have been a “gift” from Megaworld but may not necessarily have direct benefit to same company. What about the Alliance Global Group, Inc. (AGI) from where Megaworld Corporation originated? How about the other companies like Emperador Distillers, Inc. and Golden Arches Development Corporation (McDonald’s)?
…
Maybe you can help me.
Isa lang ako kasi.
I also have a regular full-time job
I would like EVERYONE to help.
Pls post what you have found and I’ll write about it as a follow-up
Thanks for doing the preliminaries.
I would volunteer my free services, absolutely.
A Deed of Absolute Sale means, it was all fully paid-off, not hulugan…who knows, the money Corona used to pay for this property, came from the Arroyo’s…I always get to connect the two..considering the relationship they have…midnight appointments, the Arroyo’s getting away with cases of anomalies, fraud and plunder…it would have been likened to a sweet pabaon, after Arroyo’s exit to a stolen Presidential seat…Arroyo made sure that Corona is well positioned in government to keep her untouchable no-matter who is in power after her…
Posible. Yung surgery ni Corona si GMA lahat nagbayad ng medical expenses pati ospital
The Deed of Absolute Sale is legit and CCT is valid and the installment payment is quite possible. They may have borrowed from a bank and paid in full hence the DOA. Someone has to check if the CCT is annotated that it is mortgaged to the bank.
There is no annonation. No mortgage.
No annotation.
if there is no annotation on the back of title, there is more reason to believe the bellagio unit was paid for in cash.
the other possibility is that if CJ borrowed money to finance the purchase, another property would have been mortgaged of same or higher loan value, but it is unlikely that banks would allow that since there is no reason to do so. banks would allow the property to be purchased as collateral, and not others, unless there is compelling reason not to mortgage the said bellagio unit to the bank. and as a former banker, i believe there is no such compelling reason.
hence, the fact stays that the condo unit was paid for in full. be that so, then there is ground for CJ to be charged with perjury if he did admit to owning it and stating under oath that he paid in cash.
roving_eye1234@yahoo.coom
Hmmm.
It is highly probable that this was a cash transaction. Or, they would have had some annotation for cheque reference #, etc. Would it not? That’s the typical transaction documentation. If it wasn’t paid in one time cash payment, it should have included in their documentation the schedule of payment.
How about this. Corona may have claimed this apartment as his. But, if he can’t afford it and he has proven his loyalty and trustworthiness, perhaps this unit really belongs to somebody else…whose name shall not be mentioned. Just thought we could use some twist. After all, it’s not everyday that a CJ would be carrying around P14M cash. Somewhere, there’s a bank record of this huge cash transaction. Bankers would have remembered this but then again, transaction of this magnitude happens in the innermost offices of banks.
Palagay ko walang cash na ibinigay si thief justice corona sa Mega World Corp.sa pag acquired nang penthouse condo, baka siya pa ang binayaran dahil sa mga favor na naibigay ni thief justice corona in favor of the mega world corp. case. Bayad Utang or BONUS lang ito palagay ko at LAWAY lang ang bayad…
Baka naman paid in full in paper, but to be paid by installment habang mayruon kasong Megaworld na naka antabay sa korte supreme.
kada pabor sa Megaworld ang desisyon, nakakaltas ang pautang.
Aber, kung matanggal si R Croona sa puwesto, baka ma reposses ang belangio unit niya. Hindi mabayaran o kulang pa.
This is in response to Kamoteboy:
Tama ka na lahat ng opisyal ng gobyerno ay gumagawa ng pagmamanipula upang makaungos sa iba (your own words). But you forgot the eleventh commandment.. that is.. “Thou shalt not get caught”. So, to me, the sin of your idol Corona is not really what he did regarding the condo, etc.. His sin is.. He fought city hall! or shall we say, binagga nya ang pangulo samantalang may tinatago pala siya. Yun lang.
Let me answer your points:
Una: Ninakaw ba nya pambili ng condo? It is not important to legally prove this. Maybe he used your techniques called “pagmamanipula upang makaungos sa iba”.. But the issue is not ninakaw ba nya? Ang issue is.. tumanggap siya ng special favor or arrangements that benefitted him from someone with whom he has possible conflict of interest.
Pangalawa: Ok lang sa Bellagio na mag benta sa Chief Justice.. Marketing coup as you imply… But this is precisely the point why Corona was caught!!`Maybe Megaworld goes around town saying bili na kayo, bili na kayo.. kapitbahay nyo Chief Justice, etc.. Kaya tuloy nalaman ni Niel Tupas na may condo pala si Corona.
Pangatlo: same answer as above.
Pangapat: Of course hindi kasalanan ang may pera at bumili ng condo.. The problem is that Corona has to prove that he got his money cleanly. Ok, I will give the benefit of the doubt.
Panglima: You are quoting the bible on who can cast the first stone.. As they say even the devil can quote the scriptures. .. There is a limit as to the application of this bibilical quote.. If only the sinless can accuse and mete judgment, then let us abolish all the courts as all judges, even Corona, are not sinless. Then anong mangyayari sa society? Exempted ang judicial system sa pag judge. And they don’t just judge people. They have to exhaust all means to make a correct judgment during a trial.
Pang anim: Gamitin mo ang sentido kumon sa mga tanong mo.
I like this…well said…JOM…pag walang isinalang, walang kukulo…kaya sya ngayon niluluto…dahil nagpa-uto sa mamanahing pera at posisyon na ibinigay ni Arroyo…walang lihim na hindi mabubunyag…Corona’s acceptance of Gloria appointing him as Chief Justice, when it’s already beyond the period allowed to make appointments in government, only shows how hungry Corona is to have such a position….atat ba…obvious ba na it’s the only chance he has, kaya kahit na bawal, walang delicadezang tanggapin nya yung position….this alone, dapat maisip na nya, na dapat bumaba na lang sya…coz it’s only gonna haunt him for the rest of his stay in the SC…he would even fight for it, SOBRA TALAGA SA KAPAL, when he knows, dun lang sa illegal appointment, eh reason enough na to impeach him…
Tama ka, ang kapal kasi nang mukha nitong si corona, midnight appointee ni Pandak at alam na bawal ayon sa ating saligang batas pero ginawang tama sa tulong nang mga kurapt na justices sa supreme court na puro appointed ni Pandak, Dapat din imbestigahan mga justices na nagpabor nang appointment ni corona as chief justice kahit hindi dapat? ano ba kayong kayong mga justices nagpaka TUTA kayo para kay corona na maliwanag na TUTA / ASO ni Pandak. Nakakahiya at Nakakadiri kayo…
Hindi ko ngayon malaman kong matalino ba talaga itong si thief justice corona o talaga lang umaboso nang husto, para sa akin kong sinabihan sana ni arroyo/corona si dating chief justice Puno noon na magresign o magretired nang maaga at nang hindi matutulan ang pagka appoint na midnight appointee sa akin kong sakali bilang chief justice dahil kaya naman nilang gawing mga ganoon dahil nakaya ngang magsinungaling sa Hello Garci, Election Fraud diba? Kaso talaga nga, lahat may hangganan? KARMA na tawag dito, di ba Madam Gloria, Abalos, Guttierez etc., Magbago na kayong mga Kurapt na nagpapahirap sa Mamamayang Pilipino…
Good story. Your article mentioned you did not see Corona’s name in the Megaworld Case in the link G.R. No. 156200. Actually it does. Its right on the top portion. That means Corona did not only vote in favor of Megaworld in that case. He wrote the decision (ponente). It gives an ordinary mind a valid reason to speculate: Corona uses his office and writes a decision favoring Megaworld. Megaworld pays him back with a highly discounted condo. That’s precisely what our anti graft laws are trying to prevent: Quid pro quo.
By the way, Corona also wrote a decision in G.R. 124250 (2004) that favored UST. Later UST rewards him with honors. Another quid pro quo, Mr. Chief Justice?
Is there a pattern?
It might seems the good chief justice is skilled in using karmic principles: Use the office to give favor to others. Favors will return tenfold.
You’re right. I’ve put an update and mentioned your name in it.
Thanks for the correction.
Ms RAISSA…
Thank you for all the infos I read in your column/site…it’s very informative…
Thank you for reading.
Come back soon
Baka ang halos 50% discount na ibinigay nang MegaWorld dito sa penthouse sa the Port na binili ni corona ang kabayaran nang ginawang favor…he he he…ano sa palagay niyo?
Bawal na ngayon kumuha ng discount lalo na pag meron kang position s government. Kunwari meron sale a MOA ng mga imported na blanket ska tuwalya galing Dubai. 50% off daw pag member ka ng Judicial Branch or ng Legislative branch. Pakyawin kaya ng mga judges ska mga congressman at senador? nyahahahaha I mean, if I went to a restaurant na meron promotion na 20% off to the first 50 customers kaso Chief Justice ako, pede ba ako magkaron ng 20% off or bawal kasi Chief Justice ako. Yun mga ibang customers lang pede? What???? Grabe naman. hahahaha NO DISCOUNTS FOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. E kaya naman pala kayo kinokotong ng mga Pulis ska mga Traffic enforcers kasi ginugutom nyo at ginagawang pulibi yun mismong mga PUBLIC SERVANTS. MGA GAGO.
Raissa,
Very informative and helpful. Galing!
BTW, it seems Corona is the ponente in one of those cases you linked: “MEGAWORLD PROPERTIES AND HOLDINGS, INC., petitioner, vs. HON. JUDGE BENEDICTO G. COBARDE, in his capacity as the Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 53, Lapu-Lapu City etc….”
Pangalan niya yun nakasulat sa itaas ng page “Decision” and at the bottom after the “So Ordered” ay ang mga pangalan ni sandoval-gutierrez at carpio-morales who concurred and vitug who was on official business leave.
You’re right.
I’ve put an update mentioning your name and corrected it.
Thanks.
very factual report. no color, no politics. excellent!
Thanks for reading.
One of the more controversial but hushed up deals involving the past government was PAGCOR’s grant of a Casino License to Resorts World in Nichols. Genting Berhad Malaysia and Alliance Global are partners in this venture. Alliance Global is the Holding company that owns Megaworld.
The author of this piece could use the resources of the South China Morning Post that is owned by the Kuok family to research the interlocking corporations that own and control this integrated entertainment complex.
Revenues of this complex run to over 10 billion annually. Selling a condo at half price to a Justice of the SC is cheap insurance.
Ethical standards of officials in this country unfortunately allow for this kind of nonsense.
However investigative journalists should go after big game like the Resorts World deal.
SCMP has nothing to do with my blog, though.
It’s also editorially independent from ABS-CBN.
My blog is all sariling sikap.
@J_ag
I think you mentioned Pagcor license because you read somewhere that one of Gentings minority partners is Andrew Go, president of Megaworld. Genting has no direct financial or stocks relation with Megaworld.
Thanks for this another expose’ Ms. Raissa.
This only proved that Thief Justice Corona is a real Thief just like the Arroyos. Puro mga kawatan. I wonder why, what kind of legacies they can give to their grandchildren. Will they say: “Mga Apo, Kawatan ako ng pera ng Kaban ng Bayan, I…… am…….. sorrryyyyyyyyy….”
God Bless Raissa. God Bless Philippines!
Ma’am Raisa, bihira po akong mag-post ng comment. But after reading this article, I can’t help na sumaludo ako sa inyo at sa inyong very detailed information with supporting documents pa. Bigla lamang pumasok sa isip ko na sana po ay maging bahagi kayo sa isang sangay ng ating gobyerno na may pangangailangan ng mga matitinding inbestigasyon. Naniwala po ako na malaki ang maitutulong ninyo upang mabigyan liwanag ang mga bagay-bagay na kailangang mabunyag.
Para po sa inyong kaalaman, ito ang unang pagkakataon na makapagbasa ng artikulo ninyo. Asahan po ninyo na hindi ito ang huli kong pagsubaybay sa inyong mga sinusulat.
Keep it up po. Manatili po nawa ang inyong paglalahad na naayon po sa katotohanan na may kaakibat na katibayan. Salamat po sa inyong makabuluhan at mahalagang paghahayag sa kapanan at kapakinabangan ng ating bayan.
Muli, tanggapin po ninyo ang aking taos-pusong pagsaludo sa inyo at sa inyong gawa. Thanks and God bless po!
Salamat sa pagbasa mo.
Ang tanging gusot ko lang gawin sa buhay ay sumulat at tumulong sa pagpapaliwanag ng mga nangyayari sa bansa.
Ang gusto ko, sa dulo ng buhay ko, ay masabi sa sarili ko na ginawa ko ang maaring gawin ko upang gumanda ang buhay ng nakararaming Pilipino at umunlad ang tunay na demokrasya.
Isang bagay na dapat itanim natin sa mga isipan ng mga naglilingkod sa atin sa gobyerno ay ito – hindi sila nandyan para silbihan ang sairili at ang pamilya lamang, nguni’t ang buong sambayanan.
Maganda po ang inyong adhikain na aking sinasang-ayunan.
Maraming salamat po. Dalangin ko po na kayo at ang inyong mga mahal sa buhay na palaging ingatan at patnubayan ng Poong Maykapal.
God bless po!
Salamat.
I have to admit, hindi ako paladasal, hindi ako palasimba. Dahil una hindi na ako naniniwala sa mga pari, bishops na nasa simbahan. Pero nagdaraal naman ako sa altar ko sa bahay. Umasa ka Raissa, na lagi kang kasama sa panalangin ko para sa iyong kaligtasan at patuloy na krusada sa mabuting gobyerno at mga tao nito. Mabuhay ka, hija. Nawa’y lagi kang ligtas sa sakuna o pakana ng masasamang tao.
Ms. Raissa you really are an excellent journalist, brilliant and very thorough and we need more fearless people like you and Ms. Marites Vitug to expose scoundrels because our country is now one of the most corrupt if not the most corrupt nation in the world!
ms robles , you are brilliant girl….it ‘s about time the country is run by truthfull and honest people….they have thought of the beginning and also of the end…..but along the way , there is that one above who will spoil their plans…..praise the lord….james pastor sarmiento
Thank you, James.
I’m a nerd at heart.
And I also love math. This was one piece where writing and math merged.
This is a battle of evil (GMA’s disciples) and good (People who wants change in PH).
I admire you Raissa. God Speed…
Thank you for reading.
This transaction was already PRE-COOKED before Corona enter into the deal. What a shame!!! Not only was he cheating and manipulating (the taxes every citizen of the Philippines are responsible for) system but he was also a crooked!!! a real one….I was just floored!!! Very informative article Raizza Good job!!!!
Thank you for reading, Juliet.
that’s why it is a great disservice to the nation if Thief J. Corona resigns now because the public would be deprived of the chance to know how rotten some public officials are. Truth is when one works in government he/she can never afford condos (much more pricey ones) no matter how high the position is simply because of the meager salary, unless he/she already came from a wealthy family. Truth is many would work in government so that they can use their position to amass wealth.
I could not agree more. By nature, humans are greedy; however humans are tempered by their conscience which should make them think twice therefore recognize the consequence of their acts. In Corona’s case, I don’t this has any relevance to him. Now sir, you have no choice but to face the music.
So that means anyone in working in Government should look like a very poor person. That’s why a lot of these government officials look at people with money as MAYABANG especially if they came from abroad. Look at some of the cops and the people in other administrative offices. They try to give you a hard time and delay the process of everything simply because kung meron kang kaya, you stay in the back of the line. I think that is not right anymore. In reality, people are just concentrating on Corona while if you look at some government officials all over the Philippines, I can bet you 150% that more the 50% of the people working in government are in some form or another is a deviant and somehow crooked too. Giving favours to friends and relatives. And they do this only to close associates. Corona just happened to be a scapegoat out of everyone. This is really pathetic and truly uncalled for. They should reverse the decision on the case of Cojuangco regarding the 20% stock from San Miguel Corporation which the government alledged Cojuangco obtained from Coco Levy funds while he was a croony of Marcos during the Martial Law era. Ask Pnoy about that.
By your comment ricky,
Naniniwala at inaamin mo ngayon ricky na magnanakaw si corona? LOL…
I really admire your articles, details and particulars are well-searched, will you allow me to say you’re. another Maritess Vitug. I am one of those who are tired of hearing rampant corrupt practices among government officials.Please do more investigative exposes not only about the so-called “bigwigs” at the top level but likewise , about the “plutomaniacs” down in the local level of the government bureaucracy, who are just sitting prettily on their swivel chairs and no-sweat!!!, getting richer and richer “sucking” the blood of their poor constituents.
I will.
Thank you for reading.
Marites and I started reporting almost at the same time in the same reportorial team in Business Day. We were the political team, together with Mila Garcia and Teddy Montelibano
Marites and I started political reporting almost at the same time in the same newspaper in the same team.
We, together with Mila Garcia and Teddy Montelibano, were the political reporters for Business Day right after Ninoy Aquino died.
@Raissa
Is Business Day, Manila Standard now, just curious?
No. Business Day was closed down because Raul Locsin did not want a union.
He opened BusinessWorld. His daughter is running it now.
Hi Raissa,
Well studied reporting, I am a doctor by profession and the way you presented the article is easily understandable. You don’t need the different letters after a name to know that the deal between Corona and Megaworld STINKS!!!
I’d like CJ Corona to explain himself.
He can’t resign. If he does, his resignation cannot be accepted. Section 12, Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
That’s an interesting point you brought up –
Sec. 12. Termination of office. – No public officer shall be allowed to resign or retire pending an investigation, criminal or administrative, or pending a prosecution against him, for any offense under this Act or under the provisions of the Revised Penal Code on bribery.
He can resign. Impeachment is neither criminal or administrative investigation. Besides a justice of hte supreme court being in impeachable official under the constitution cannot be subject to criminal or administrative probe because that would encroach on the prerogatives of the senate which under the constitution, has the sole power to try impeachable officers.
Impeachable officials could be subjected to criminal or administrative charges AFTER Senate impeachment CONVICTION ONLY. Not on absolution because the official is still impeachable.
Resignation before start of Senate trial is acceptable apparently, similar to Gutierrez. After the start of trial, Jan 16, Section 12 becomes effective.
Btw, Davide SC unconstitutional decision declaring Erap deemed resigned was maligned because of this Section 12. Erap did not formally resigned that is why many constitutionalsts did not accept the legality of GMA presidency and criticized her for stealing the presidency 2 times from the motion picture industry.
Great job in your investigative reporting. However, I sense a missing piece that you could’ve done or in the process of pursuing (I hope). You should’ve asked CJ’s neighbor upstairs or downstairs how much they paid for their condos and the assessed tax. Then you have something to compare CJ’s property. His and his neighbor’s condos would practically be identical and should be priced nearly equally. Had you done this missing piece, you would have buttressed your argument that CJ indeed got some favorable treatment as a payback for having ruled in Megaworld’s favor, or something else, and not that his real estate brokers were geniuses in getting him the best deal at 50% market value.
That’s true.
But do you think they would have told me the real score? Do you think I could just knock on their door and ask cold turkey – how much did you pay for your condo?
Don’t you think the statements of the person working in the real property firm are more reliable since he is an independent and neutral third party?
Perhaps you could do it for me?
So long as you treat them anonymously, they’d probably relent. You could tell them that you’d redact their name from their document. That should be good enough to protect their privacy. What’s important is the document has Megaworld imprimatur on it. That makes it an authentic 3rd party document for comparison purposes.
Siguro pewedeng sa office of registry ng bayan na nakakasakop makita ang lahat ng value ng mga properties around the area, particularly Bellagios, pati kung sino sino ang may ari.
Kaya lang baka puro ‘Justices’ ang may ari , di pare parehong discounted ang presyo. Pero ok din na malaman para makita nila kung parehas ang discount nila. Hahahahahay
favorable deals are achieved if “you scratch mine and i’ll scratch yours…” corona as supreme court justice has the power to wield while the megaworld has the resources to yield… that’s the especial relationship between them…I don’t think all the neighbors downstairs and upstairs are enjoying the same privilege.
your next article might as well be who the owners are of the penthouses of the many new condos that sprout the metropolis to find out if the same “mega discount” was given to them. patay ang stock price ni megaworld nito pag lumalim ang investigation.
I’ll see what I can do.
This kind of investigation is usually done by a TEAM , you know, and takes weeks.
btw, i’ve been a lurker in your blog for quite some time. must admit, am really impressed in the kind of research you do prior to your posting. reminds me of what my profs always instill per term papers – be sure of your facts; cite your sources. very UP indeed
Sigue.
Intayin ko sagot nila. Ipost mo, ha.
Tanugnin mo especialy young Market/Zonal Value na binigay kay CJ Corona.
First, CJ Corona is in the pits right now, nowhere to go but deeper..obviously, a lot of stinks coming out and this is just the primer. Oh my, I hope that this guy can still smile infront of the media after D-Day of his reckoning together with his pouting wife and children..Kapalmuks is the right word for this type of very corrupt people.
SECONDLY, Mr Kim Henares of the BIR, MAY I ASK your services in INVESTIGATING one or more of your BIR people who handled the computation, processing and payments of this transaction mired with a lot of ????? marks.. PLEASE KINDLY terminate or kick those who have enrich themselves conniving with and hiding the true payments of this corona condo..IF YOU ARE ONE HONEST government official of the BIR.
THIRD, May all of our prosecutors who will handle this case have the will and the guts to once and for all weed out and eradicate those who have stole, rob and use taxpayers money, that’s US..lowly filipinos and jail them.
Kudos and dozens of red roses for you RAISSA for a well-researched and documented article on CJ’s questionable purchase of condo units at BELLAGIO in the Fort.
Just like the war tactics expertly employed by the german generals in the early part of WWII, the dragnets they threw were slowly and securely tightened on the beleguered armies of the West in the Battle of France. In like manner, solid evidences substantiating the impeachment raps are now slowly surfacing to the delight of millions of pinoys like me who want to see the truth to come out and let the people responsible thereto be penalized in accordance with law.
A great contrast during the GMA’S watch.
I’d be happy with one hectare of land in Tarlac with a modest house, a place to grow ingredients for the kitchen of a little retirement paradise. NCR air quality and dealing with the EDSA “Parking Lot” wouldn’t quite cut it for me. I’d much prefer to be kapitbahay ni Juan dela Cruze.
Far from the madding crowd, as it were.
I think this was a very good thingking excercise to see the various perspective presented by this case. At first glance common sense would say that there was really something wrong or unusual with Corona’s purchase of a premium condo. Later on as opinions come in I realized also that common sense does not weigh much in court but hard facts/evidences that there was really an illegal transaction and in this case I’m uncertain … but again common sense would say that Corona’s credibility would be in question regardless of the outcome because there’s just no way me, or any other individuals would be offered a similar premium condo at such a price if not for a favor or the title accorded to that person. Now for those people whose minds were closed and refuses to respect the views of others…perhaps this portion was not for you and next time feel free to avoid/skip this section.
Exactly…kung me bad blood of a crook ang babasa nito, expect him to be offended or be biased…specially kung me connect ka sa past admin ni Arroyo at nagbenefit ka from them courtesy of peoples tax money…always and always…ang views ng mga taong ganyan eh…sarcastic, negative at insensitive…Kapal Muks Skinned…it’s time we get rid of them…
Ewan ko lang pero we have to face reality here. Nasa Pilipinas tayo. Mula sa Presidente hanggang sa janitor sa palengke ay gumagawa ng konting pagmamanipula para makaungos sa iba. Bending is different from breaking something. Ngayon eto ang tanong diyan.
Unang una. Ninakaw ba nya ang pinambili nya sa condo unit nya?
Pangalawa, kung ikaw may-ari ng Bellagio, Hindi mo ba ibebenta ang pent house mo at cost sa isang SUPER HIGH PROFILE na tao para lang masabi mo sa ibang bibili na KAYA MAHAL ANG UNIT KO DAHIL ANG MGA NAKATIRA DIYAN AY CHIEF JUSTICE LANG NAMAN NG SUPREME COURT NANG BANSANG PILIPINAS? Hindi ba pwedeng ginawang marketing cost muna bago sabihin kaya binenta dahil kaso sila sa supreme court?
Pangatlo. Paano mo nasabing indecent proposal ang presyo ng pagbili ng condo sa murang halaga? Kasalanan mo ba na iyon ang binibigay na presyo sa iyo? Lugi ba ang Bellagio pag binili mo sa murang halaga ang condo unit nila?
Pang apat. Kasalanan ba ang pagkakaroon ng pera para bumili ng isang condo unit? Kasalanan ba na kahit paano ay may naiipupundar ka mula sa dugo at pawis mo?
Pang lima. Sa mga nag aakusa sigurado bang malinis ang kanilang pagkatao? Sabi nga ni Jesus na tinatawag nilang Kristo “Ang unang magpupukol ng bato ay dapat malinis ang kunsensya nito”.
Pang anim. Gamitin ang sentido kumon at uliting sagutin mula sa unang tanong.
Tama ka na lahat ng opisyal ng gobyerno ay gumagawa ng pagmamanipula upang makaungos sa iba (your own words). But you forgot the eleventh commandment.. that is.. “Thou shalt not get caught”. So, to me, the sin of your idol Corona is not really what he did regarding the condo, etc.. His sin is.. He fought city hall! or shall we say, binagga nya ang pangulo samantalang may tinatago pala siya. Yun lang.
Let me answer your points:
Una: Ninakaw ba nya pambili ng condo? It is not important to legally prove this. Maybe he used your techniques called “pagmamanipula upang makaungos sa iba”.. But the issue is not ninakaw ba nya? Ang issue is.. tumanggap siya ng special favor or arrangements that benefitted him from someone with whom he has possible conflict of interest.
Pangalawa: Ok lang sa Bellagio na mag benta sa Chief Justice.. Marketing coup as you imply… But this is precisely the point why Corona was caught!!`Maybe Megaworld goes around town saying bili na kayo, bili na kayo.. kapitbahay nyo Chief Justice, etc.. Kaya tuloy nalaman ni Niel Tupas na may condo pala si Corona.
Pangatlo: same answer as above.
Pangapat: Of course hindi kasalanan ang may pera at bumili ng condo.. The problem is that Corona has to prove that he got his money cleanly. Ok, I will give the benefit of the doubt.
Panglima: You are quoting the bible on who can cast the first stone.. As they say even the devil can quote the scriptures. .. There is a limit as to the application of this bibilical quote.. If only the sinless can accuse and mete judgment, then let us abolish all the courts as all judges, even Corona, are not sinless. Then anong mangyayari sa society? Exempted ang judicial system sa pag judge. And they don’t just judge people. They have to exhaust all means to make a correct judgment during a trial.
Pang anim: Gamiton mo ang sentido kumon sa mga tanong mo.
Bossing,
Medyo malabo ang mga sagot mo. Hindi ko idol si Corona. Ayaw ko lang sumakay sa bandwagon ng mga salita muna bago mag isip.
1) Para que na nilabas ang pagkakaroon nya ng condo sa bellagio? Hindi ba para magbigay ng impresyon na kaya may ganyan yan kasi ninakaw ang pinambili? Hindi ba importante legally na mapatunayan kung ninakaw ba ang pambili o hindi? Paano kung ikaw ang sinasabihan na kaya ka nakabili ng computer dahil nagnakaw ka?
2) Sinagot mo ng slogan ang tanong. Ang Bellagio ay minamarket sa high end na market. Hindi ba kasali si Corona sa mga High Profile na tao? Kunwari ikaw ay nagbebenta ng ice candy, hindi mo ba ibebenta ng halos palugi ang isang ice candy mo sa anak ni Sharon Cuneta para sa karapatan na ipagsabi sa iba na sa akin na kayo bumili ng ice candy dahil anak lang naman ni sharon cuneta ang umuorder sa akin nito.
3) Getting the chief justice as an owner of a unit in that place has a bigger ROI than spending tens of millions of pesos in marketing costs. Nagbibigay sya ng karagdagang valuation sa property mismo.
Sa mga kaso ba ng Megaworld sa Supreme Court anong klaseng pabor ba ang binigay ni Corona dito? Anong mga argumento ang ginamit para pumabor sa megaworld? Kailan ba nabili ni Corona ang condo unit at kailan naman ang kaso ni megaworld sa supreme court?
4) Kinontra mo din ang sagot mo sa unang tanong.
5) Sa totoo lang minsan dapat binabasa ang mga kasunod ng mga salita lampas ng headline.
Tama na hindi appropriate sa isang mahistrado nang supreme court na makakuha ng isang bagay pero may kapalit na pabor. Pero sana naman saliksikin din naman ng maigi ang mga paratang kung ito ba ay may basehan o wala.
Naranasan ko ng maparatangan ng mga kapitbahay na myembro ako ng sindikato dahil hindi ako lumalabas ng bahay at madaming magagarang sasakyan ang namamasyal sa bahay ko. Pina baranggay at pulis pa nga ako dahil sa suspetsa nila na baka nagbebenta ako ng drugs. Sa bandang huli nalaman nila na consultant ako at mga kliyente ko ang pumupunta sa bahay. Bandang huli muntik ng nasira ang reputasyon ko at muntik pinalayas ng aking mga magulang dahil sa mga nasira at ninakaw na gamit ng mga nang raid sa bahay.
Malabo ang katwiran mo na promo price ang pagbenta ng megaworld para ika nga magamit na bilang marketing via celebrity endorsement. Alam mo kung bakit malabo? Kasi BAWAL po sa isang SC justice na tumanggap ng ganyang deal. Alam nila yan. Pareho silang pwede makulong dyan. At
kung sasabihin naman na walang malay si Corona sa tunay na presyo ng condo unit na iyon eh talagang mapipikon ng mabuti si Juan de la Cruz.
Kong wala kang kasalanan maabsuwelto ka kamote boy, Ang kasalanan mo ay hindi ka nakikisama sa mga kapitbahay mo kaya napagkamalan ka nang kong ano ano? Palagay ko consultant ka ni thief justice corona kaya ka ganyan?
tama
Ang mga rason na ganito ang dahilan kung bakit palala nang palala ang sistema at buhay nang Pilipino. Ang masama pa, ganun din ang tinuturo at pinapakain sa pamilya nila kaya dumadami nang dumadami ang lahi nang ganitong pag-iisip.
I am referring to the comments of Kamoteboy not of Jom’s.
Obvious ba, kasing kamote ka ng subject in question…hahahha….ikaw, nasan ang SENTIDO KUMON mo…or do you even know what your talking about…??!!!
12th Commandment : SHUT YOUR MOUTH!!! THOU SHALL NOT TALK ANYMORE…!!! DUH
it is appalling to note that there is one who don’t know how to use common sense. Raissa is not accusing corona of stealing peoples’ money…did she?…and why is this camote jumping into conclusion that there is no evidence that corona is a thief ? ..and he brags about not saying something without thinking first…and he’s just doing the exact thing..
CJ has more things to say & defend. with is article i don’t CJ can deny. everything here is presented.
the way i read & analyzed…there is really mistake committed along the way. I’m an accounting major graduate and i have exposed to these kind of transactions.
CJ should look for good lawyers as what sen. Meriam announced.
CJ has more things to say & defend. with this article i don’t think CJ can deny. everything here is presented.
the way i read & analyzed…there is really a mistake committed along the way. I’m an accounting major graduate and i have exposed to these kind of transactions.
CJ should look for good lawyers as what sen. Meriam announced.
Reply
Diyos ko naman! Pakiayos mo naman sana ang sulat mo bago ilathala, hehehe. Cge, accounting major grad ka na. Kaya ipakita mo. Tsaka wala tayong “sen. Meriam” sa Senado, hijo. Merriam-Webster Dictionary, meron ata, hehehe.
I think It’s high time to retyrn the DEATH PENALTY. I don’t know why the Catholic Organization(CBCP) is against it. They are deterrence to evil doer,corrupt public officials.
I am a deadman catholic but I hate this hypocracy attitude. Had it been there before,former Mayor Sanchez is already a candidate. Bishops,Priest are all evildoers and supporter of evil.
Where are they after the CDO desaster ? why they can’t help…because they have no profit to gain ..they can’t extract money for all those multitude of dead.
Raissa, do you allow out of topic comments?
Sometimes.
Depends.
At the outset, I’d like to congratulate Raissa Robles for this article. This is the best investigative report I have ever read. The format and outline is a formidable model for journalists. If only publishers can use it even for scoops.
The freedom of Information CONCEPT can use this procedural paradigm well. It would be very difficult for lawbreakers to refute the logic_the events, the information sources, the manner the information were gathered, verified and documentation in this article. My goodness, students of law and jorunalism can learn so much from this report.
Power absolutely corrupts and the Arroyo couple bestowed all their political and financial beneficiaries with their kiss of death. Pnoys efforts is pure and simple. What is wrong must be corrected at all cost. Never mind the legalities as in this country, the line between what is legal and what is moral has been deleted as the moral underpinnings of many of our laws have all been distorted and misrepresented.
Whether Pnoy and his team can win all the major cases before his term ends, remains to be seen but a door is open for him to be hailed as the hero in his father’s (and or country’s) dreams.
Can you please make an investigation on the condo buildings around Makati. There’s hearsay about the Binays accepting a unit each time a residential building is made to “speed-up” things a bit around processing their papers in the city government. I think it’s true. They virtually own Makati, those devils.
I won’t comment on this at this time.
I think mahirap i pin down si Binay. That rambotito is a shrewd operator. Unlike the naive Coronas, I am sure Binay used dummies in all these free condo un its.
And speaking of Binay when he was still the mayor of Makati, I discovered how corrupt his “clean air” movement was. I have been a victim of his corrupt system. Unfortunately , its out of topic so I can’t share here. He is black – inside and out.
So does that mean, everyone else like Carpio and Pnoy team is off limits and just concentrate on Corona and GMA? Let the others get away with murder and looting while everyone’s eyes are just glued on Corona and GMA? And that’s what you call justice? Where’s the impartiality? I thought journalists are supposed to be unbiased? I also heard from someone that SWS and Pulse Asia social networks are the allies of Pnoy because he has friends and relatives working there so everytime they do a survey, it is guaranteed to always be in favour of Pnoy or will always put a negative slant on Pnoy’s enemies. That’s definitely like Marcos who also manipulated the media and made people believe that he was some sort of war hero before.
I never said that.
All I’m deAling with HERE AND NOW is the Chief Justice.
Or does that not bother you at all, what he did?
I apolize Raissar. I know you are at the present moment just dealing with the latest most popular talked about news which is the impeachment of CJ Corona but for the sake of fairness and editorial integrity, shouldn’t we give CJ Corona the benefit of the doubt? Where is the presumption of innocence? Are we a country where a person accused is “guilty until proven innocent”? Don’t we have the legal due process of the law where anyone that is charged or accused is considered “innocent until proven guilty” in a court of law? The editorial comment should always be impartial in all fariness so that we can give both the accused and the accusers ample time to speak and defend themselves. Everyone is so judgemental and I hardly doubt that it is even WORTH the trouble to be a Politician or Government Official because like everyone is saying if you work for the government, you barely can afford anything unless you are the very wealthy. If the very wealthy and greedy became the only ones who ran for government and got elected, what would happen to most of the laws enacted? Laws will be made to favour and suit the needs of the very rich and elite. Which also includes the oligarchs like Carpio himself who someone said comes from a very wealthy clan and the likes of Lopez, Osmena, Aquino (of the Cojuangco clan), Marcos-Romualdez, Arroyos, etc etc. The poor will suffer even more if this ever happened.This is why I try to be moderate in my views and try not to judge people immediately just because of a negative comment made from some people I don’t even know. These people might actually some disgruntled people who Corona may have made a decision on from a previous case and they lost the court case because of Corona’s decision so now they are trying to get even with him by spreading rumours and possible dirty accusations that no one actually knows who is telling the truth and who isn’t. Most third hand information is already exagerated 10 times more than what it origianlly is. Hearsay evidence like a “he said, she said” testimony will NOT stand in court. It is unreliable and extremely difficult to prove in court.
I WOULD LIKE THIS TO HAPPEN …ASAP…WALA AKONG TRUST KE BINAY…MAHILIG YAN SA TRANSACTION NA MERON SYANG COMMISSION…UNIT PA SA ISANG BUILDING ANG HINDI SYA TATANGGAP??…WAY BACK WHEN HE WAS MAYOR OF MAKATI, TUMANGGAP YAN NG MILLIONES IN RETURN, (ACCORDING TO THE MAN HIMSELF WHO TRANSACTED IN THE BIDDING JUST SO THEY WILL WIN THE BID) , FAVORING THE COMPANY WHO WILL PROVIDE SERVICES ( I CAN’T MENTION THE EXACT PROJECT INVOLVE TO PROTECT THE PERSON’S IDENTITY)….MORE SO KUNG TATAAS PA ANG POSITION NYA…AS HE IS ASPIRING FOR THE PRESIDENCY COME ELECTION SEASON, I HOPE MABUNGKAL NA RIN ALL HIS KABULUKAN PARA NAMAN HINDI NA UMABANTE PA SA MATAAS NA UPUAN ANG MGA KATULAD NYA…BABALIK LANG TAYO SA OLD SYSTEMA …FROM PRESIDENT DOWN TO THE LOWLY GOV’T WORKERS…MGA LAGAY SYSTEM AT PALAKASAN NA NAMAN…HE BELONGS TO THE PAST 3 ADMINISTRATIONS, AND HE’S THE ONLY ONE LEFT, EAGER TO PURSUE THE TOP POSITION…DON’T YOU SMELL SOMETHING FISHY IS GONNA COME UP AGAIN…??
unbelievable. this things happen in our judiciary…
let the impeachment begin so that more anomalies will be exposed.
i’m sure patikim pa lang itong condo issue na ito.
Ang mga prosecutors pinipigilan magsalita tungkol sa Impeachment. Nakakatulong sa public discussion yung ginagawa nila, marami sa atin nga dati walang pakialam. Akala ko ba gusto ng senado na maging
involved yung mga tao dito sapagkat nakasalalay dito ang integrity ng isa sa haligi ng bayan. eh di sige balik arista na lang ang pagusapan natin. Nakakatakot pa rin sa Pilipinas hindi ka basta basta puwedeng magsalita ng salungat sa mga nasa poder at mapapahamak ka. To think ang nagwarning at nagalit dating implementor ng Martial Law ni Marcos. Hanggang ngayon pa ba, dapat pa rin tayong matakot miski magsalita lang?….bakit?
This is the advice of former Senator Rene Saguisag to Corona,( source: Malaya )
“Corona has already lost half of the battle with his impeachment by the House of Representatives,
the impeachment trial in the Senate would only open a can of worms that could further destroy his reputation and impair his credibility as Chief Justice even if he were acquitted”
Therefore, resign, Corona, now or before January 16th
@keanleogo
Hardest fact to accept is when you are a loyal servant, always behind the scene, suddenly thrusted in the frontline and everything you struggled for towards success, dignity, integrity crashes down on you, bringing down family pride, all because of loyalty. The questions that keep haunting the conscience day and night; what mistakes did I commit to deserve such hatred and vilification by the people? Shall I resign or keep fighting? Shall I capitulate and kneel in front of my enemies or defend my honor? Despite the success of being CJ, what legacy will I leave? How will history portray me, hero or villain? Will I be the first CJ to be impeached? How will my grandchildren react when they learn about me in school? What is best for my family?
These are some of the dilemma grinding the gray matter of Corona’s brain while pondering resignation. Tough decision, typical for any human trapped in the web of dirty politics. A true statesman will eventually realize, what is best for the country and the people is also good for the family. Remember what Sen Lugar advised Marcos, “cut loose and cut clean”! Corona’s quest begins to crumble, one of his lawyers has decided to withdraw. Seeing the writings on the wall, retreat is the best move, “to the victors, the spoil, to the vanquished, the remaining dignity”. Gutierrez is enjoying her life, watching with amusement the circus she once traipsed into. Corona should follow her footsteps.
@Johnny Lin,
And to think that he is also a Batangueno like the flamboyant Ferdie Topacio, well , CJ might be fighting a losing battle but he may fight till the end. In Batangas, we have a punch line that goes like this: Magkapitpitan na ng ba_ag , hindi ako susuko.” LOL, I just wish that kabayan Ferdie will be willing to donate one of his gonads 
. They are campmates anyways.
Unfortunately mate, CJ has balls and Tia Merci has none
@baltazar
Topac, the Nazitlog, destroyed the myth of Batangueno pride Corona must follow another mate Ed Ermita, Exec Sec of GMA. He has been very silent, so far he is not yet in the radar of PNoy. His favorite singer must be Kenny Rogers,”know when to rise, know when to fold”. I have to find ways how to find you in Singapore when I go to Venetian, have a toast with you, seems your fun with to paint the town.
“know when to raise…” ,mate. I like your comment though.
It’s like a poker game. CJ Corona might be giving everyone the poker face. If you have an extremely good hand, you certainly act as if you are scared but keep raising the stakes and pot. Those overly confident may suddenly lose everything they put into the pot if they are not careful. Try watching POKER All Stars and you will see what I mean. Poker is a bluffer’s game.
Poker or sad face? Raissa showed Four Aces with the Absolute deed of sale; no way Corona could show Royal Flush in his hand unless he cheats with his own Ace card. I don’t have to watch WSP because Im a professional gambler too. He he he!
@ Johnny Lin
I appreciated your thoughts. I always read your comments in this Raissa Robles blog site.
@keanleogo
Thanks, I do follow yours too, just thinking loud what I posted above. Keep tracking. LoL
I just finished reading Trillanes speech and he was saying that his vote will have more value based on what the people think what is best for the country aside from considering evidences presented.
It won’t only open a can of worms for Corona. I would like to challenge all the journalists to open up the bank accounts and expose the properties of everyone in Congress, the Senate, all the mayors in the Philippines from every city, all Governors, all Police officials, all customs agents, all BIR agents, all Prison guards, all PNP officials and their lackeys, pratically everyone from the VP all the way down to the janitor and let’s see who is truly clean. I bet a lot of dirty laundry will be exposed. Corona was just a scapegoat while everyone who works in government would really try to keep their mouth’s shut this time. It’s really just a lynch mob that’s ruling the government now.
As usual, the thoroughness of the article is commendable.
I just wish somebody from Corona’s camp would stand up and offer explanations. Or baka naman wala talagang explanation para dito. Methinks pag sinubukan nilang magpaliwanag e lalo lang silang lulubog.
This impeachment trial is going to be peppered with legalities — yun lang naman usually ang panlaban ng mga kriminal na nasusukol na e.
hay naku, raissa, how i wish all the real estate dealings of all top officials (for starters) would be subject to the same scrutiny. if the chief justice can be impeached for not paying the right taxes or getting a discount from a developer/property seller, i wonder how many senators would be left standing if the same exacting standards were applied to them.
You’re right.
@qwitzach, it might be difficult to undo what was already done. My hope is that if Corona is found guilty, it will be a big deterrent for others to do the same. This will be a big help in making our government clean.
Based on the SC link you gave, you wrote you cannot find CJ voting, but based on your link, it seems he was ponente in this case:
THIRD DIVISION
[G.R. No. 156200. March 31, 2004]
MEGAWORLD PROPERTIES AND HOLDINGS, INC., petitioner, vs. HON. JUDGE BENEDICTO G. COBARDE, in his capacity as the Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 53, Lapu-Lapu City; JUAN GATO, in his capacity as the Sheriff of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 53, Lapu-Lapu City; SERECIO MATTHEW B. JO AND IDA HENARES, respondents.
D E C I S I O N
CORONA, J.:
This is a case involving the failure to pay the balance of a real estate broker’s commission.
You’re right.
I’ve updated and put a correction mentioning your name.
Thanks.
At first, I don’t know what is the connection of this condo thing to the impeachment case. Until I read your article here.
Thanks for explaining the nifty details. Learned a bunch. The Impeachment Court will question CJ Corona for this purchase. And its not fair priced.
Dapat hindi lang yung mga officials na maiimpeach ang kinakalkal ang SALN at properties nila. Dapat lahat. From national to local. That is – if they really want to bust corruption.
Keep up the good work.
Chief Juctice Corona is just being consistent in his behavior. First, he allowed his wife to stay in the board of JHMC after his appointment in SC in spite of obvious conflict of interest. Second, he accepted if not sought the appointment as CJ of SC notwithstanding the clear constitutional prohibition on midnight appointments. Third, he accepted from UST the conferment of Doctor in Civil Law, summa cum laude with no dissertation and with obvious violation of residency rules. Fourth, he bought a penthouse unit from Megaworld at a very special discounted price which raises legal and ethical questions. All of them smack of unethical behavior.
UST is I believe an independent university. There is a saying here in North America about rules and decision making. “HE WHO HAS THE GOLD, MAKES THE RULES” Which is true. Without your employer, you don’t get paid your salary. You don’t have a salary, then you don’t have money. You don’t have money, then you can’t pay your mortgage, you can’t pay your rent, and you can’t eat because you don’t have money to buy food. So there is the reason for that saying. “HE WHO HAS THE GOLD, MAKES THE RULES.” The University does not rely on government subsidies or assistance to survive. They have their own rules.
this is by far the most indepth and the most comprehensive blog entry about an issue that I have ever read in my entire life as a netizen. This post deserves an award.
I congratulate my friend Raissa, for this wonderful, wonderful piece of research! Continue doing great things for the Filipino People, ma friend. You rock!
Thank you.
A nerd likes to hear she rocks.
But I would also like to thank those from whom I obtained the documents. Without the documents, this piece would not have been written.
Today’s Inquirer (Jan
says that one of CJ’s lawyers (Ernesto Francisco) is resigning.
I love how Jan zero eight (Jan 08) came out. (Sorry, just had to say that)
New Code of Judicial Conduct, Canon 4, § 1 – “Judges shall avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in all of their activities.”
http://www.scribd.com/doc/37835601/The-New-Code-of-Judicial-Conduct
Judicial Discipline and the Appearance of Impropriety: What the Public Sees Is What the Judge Gets
http://review.law.umn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/McKoski_MLR.pdf
RAISSA FOR PRESIDENT! RAISSA FOR PRESIDENT! RAISSA FOR PRESIDENT!!!
Nonsense.
di ba mainam, mag-vice muna, hehehe, pero sa totoo lang, bayani ka hindi lamang sa marami mong mambabasa kundi sa buong lahing pilipino. mabuhay ka!
Salamat sa pagsuporta mo.
Mi favortism ba d2, Raissa? Pag comment ko, “NONSENSE” sau. Pag sa iba “SALAMAT SA PAGSUPORTA MO”. Huhuhuhu!
Depende sa sinabi mo.
At the end of the day, the questions are:
What is the value of this pricey condo to 2nd impeachment article?
How did Corona afford to buy it from government salary?
Did he report it his SALN?
Will the senators vote conviction based on SALN non disclosure if Corona could not answer source of wealth?
Others like How the taxes were calculated becomes a problem for BIR and if needed refer to DOJ and Ombudsman. Megaworld could answer to their stockholders and deprived buyers if charges were filed.
Heavily discounted price because Coronas were savvy real estate negotiators and Megaworld dealt in good faith without any favor expected? The answer lies in the saying “if it’s too good to be true, it’s too good to be true” sabi nga, “sabihin sa lelong mong panot”
@Johnny lin
Howzat if Mega World Property issues a media statement that it is a private corporation, and that it reserves the right to sell its unit(s) at a price at their own choice and to sell it to whoever they wish at cost or even at a loss (way below market value).
Its the same with the UST’s media statement regarding the ‘special treatment’ it accorded R Corona (doctorate degree, summa cum laude). They are a private EDUCATIONAL institution (autonomous HEI) and can interpret its rules at will, or bestow a summa cum laude title to whoever it wishes to. After all, they are the oldest Asian university of 400 years, and the biggest Catholic University in the world. They set the standards, so to speak. And certainly Not Illegal.
Immoral or sinful? The confessor can deal with that. “Go and sin no more… [ps, don't get caught next time]”
Negosyo kasi, kailangan mag invest sa tao. Gaya ng sabi ng mga nakakaalam, ‘Its who you know (connection), and NOT what you know”. Look at Atty E Mendoza, by a mere letter to the Supreme Court, a previously decided with finality case (s) was changed ex parte in favor of Mendoza’s clients. Hindi nagpatulo ng pawis.
Like many ex presidents of the Phils. (erap, gma, including Marcos), they go to E Mendoza for Legal representation because he knows something what the ordinary filipinos don’t, and he’s got what it takes to win a case. May (mga) kilala sa hukuman para maging hukom NILA. di ba?
Its an investment, they’ll reap the fruits later on. AND SO THEY THOUGHT…
@juan de la cruz
Every business including mom&pop store has the right to make a profit and sets its price, though price setting has limits based on price gouging law. Private corporations can set their own based on approval by the private owners. Public corporation officers have different guidelines because they have to consider the interest of their shareholders, the buying public, because they could be sued if their business decision resulted to loss in profit by the company. SEC also governs the ethical and business practice of publicly traded corporations including their officers.
UST is a different story, it is a private entity. Agreed, it could change their rules. Problem was Corona was not the only student in that doctorate class. Did UST inform all the students of their rules and when, before enrolling or was it changed only during the time when Corona had to submit its dissertation. UST would not answer these questions. If the rules were fairly applied and informed to every student at the same time, there is no problem.
Anywhere, its who you know works as long as the action conforms with the law and those caught violating are put in jail. Incarceration is the key.
One of two reliable methods in arriving at the fair market value to a condo unit is the amount it was insured for by the unitholder- that is Corona – plus his share of the common elements adjacent to the unit of the condomium policy colectively held by all unitholders. Insured value should always reflect the amount which the Insured is bound to lose if the property is lost – and should ideally be no more nor less.The other means is thru the bank who financed the deal. What is their valuation of the security held as collateral. If they extended a loan, for example, of P10 M, the property should be valued at least double the amount or P20 M. If it was a universal bank that enjoys a good credit rating, chances are their security valuation practices reflect a very conservative margin that will hedge them against the risk of a bubble.This gives credibility to their valuation.
@Pickers in Markham
Good point, dito malalaman kung bayad sarado o hulug-hulugan ang bayaran.
Maaring masangkot ang bangko o tao na nagpahiram kay CJ R Corona, baka mayruon na namang uuod duon espesyal para lang kay Chief.
At malalaman din kung anu-ano ANG MGA COLLATERAL, at ‘declared income’ na ginamit ni Mr & Mrs Corona para makautang sa bangko, o kaya kung may ala ‘iggie’ ang may sasalo kay Renato.
Mayruong paper at electronic trail dito ang mga proceso nila.
Gaya ng sulat ni Raïssa, ang pampublikong pasabe ni CJ R Corona ay hulugan, ngunit ang dokumentong legal ay isang bayaran lang.
Wow! Great and detailed investigation! Beware if those paid bloggers of Corona and GMA (those who penetrated Philstar and Inquirer) will get into your site hahaha. We were called once, will be paid but declined.
oiii tutuo?
Another hot and raw news for Raïssa to investigate and share it someday.
Paid bloggists to sway public opinion.
I’d be interested in proof and names, just like any journalist would be.
Otherwise, it’s just opinion. And there are billions of those floating around.
Right back at you.
mahirap talaga ang proof and names sa internet journalism kasi user name at email address madali lang magimbento ng kung ano-ano at kahit gaano kadami pwede.
@pang kape,
what kind of animal is a bloggists?
Andami ko ngang napapansin na ganyan. Yung parang walang sense na ang sinasabi. sana man lang yung ni-hire nila e me sense magsulat at magsasagot.
Maybe Ms. Robles would like to consider looking into these paid commenters/bloggers. I think that would be interesting. Or matagal na talagang kalakaran yan at ngayon ko lang napansin.
The Deed of Absolute Sale is not really reflective on the whether the property was undervalued because this was bought as a pre-sell (while it was still being built). I remember that in April 2005, they were offering 2 bedroom units at 9.158 million plus a 25% discount. This might be reflected in the Certificate of Sale. The Deed of Absolute Sale is only given after the turn-over of the property which may be way after 5 years of waiting for it to be completely finished and turned-over.
Please read carefully. The transaction was made in 2009 past the pre-selling period. They paid it up in 2010.
Pre-selling condo’s are usually sold at more than 50% off (pre-build or pre-construction) to get enough buyers and to raise enough capital for bank finance. Banks usually agree to this when there is about 70% buyers interested before financing is released to start construction. Once the building or tower is half way done and the structure is established, the selling price goes up about 30% then after the project is completed, the price just escalates from there. It is possible to buy a luxury condo at for example $100,000 dollars pre-construction price but after completion of the project, the unit will cost $200,000 after the first year of being established then after 5 years it climbs to $250,000 maybe even $275.000 depending on the location if it is a desirable area. After 10 years, the unit will reach a peak of $600,000 dollars which is triple the amount of what it was worth after it was built. Especially if the location and area becomes more developed like malls, restaurants, bars, upscale homes, etc etc.
Hello, did you bother even reading my article?
Even at pre-selling price, the condo in question was already around P80,000.
CJ Corona got his for less than pre-selling price – at around P40,000 per sq m.
I’m not stupid you know.
Raissa, I READ your article. But did you read some of my explanations? I can give you one example scenario that I have seen here in Canada. I know three people who work in the real estate industry here. One scenario, a real estate agent was selling a unit (luxury condo). A potential buyer wants an expanded condo (combination of two units) and was willing to pay the extra money for adjustments to the standard construction of the units per floor. This was a pre-construction price sell since the builder has NOT started building the condominium from the raw land. It is located in a very desirable area where posh luxury homes and ritzy malls and shops are nearby. The buyer pays the downpayment and keeps making monthly payments due to him but after a year and a half of construction, he decides to back out of the deal. He loses his payments already. So now the real estate agent is left with a condo unit which has been altered to the specifications of a previous buyer. Half the payment was already made which the previous buyer forfeited because it was stated in the contract that if he decided to forfeit after the unit has already been developed then he loses his downpayment and monies already paid into the deal. So the Real Estate agent now is faced with a new problem of trying to sell a unit that is not similar to the other units being sold and because it is a larger unit, there are fewer buyers that can afford to buy this. So he calls a friend who might know someone interested in this special unit. The friend introduces someone who might be interested so the new buyer was told that since the unit was special and was just recently released for sale because a previous buyer defaulted, he is given a big discount, since this is a one time offer, this offer is only good for 24 hours. The potential buyer accepts the terms of the contract and purchases the condo for the discount price of 50% less the buying price. The developer still makes money because the previous buyer already paid half of the money, and the real estate agent already got his commission from the previous deal and now he is making another commission on the new buyer on the same property. Did you get that scenario? Just because CJ Corona is a judge or anyone working in government for that matter does not mean they are NOT allowed to get deals or discounts. Stores offer discounts to shoppers, restaurants give discounts to diners, Hotels offer discounts to customers, airlines offer discounts on certain flights on certain dates. Don’t judge someone just because they got a discount. Everyone gets discounts everyday but that does not mean they are corrupt. A discount is a legal transaction between buyer and seller. It is a legal process and has nothing to do with corruption. If the unit was given for free then I would worry about Corona but getting a good deal on a condo purchase? it happens all the time. Try looking for luuxry condos in Florida now that are close to foreclosure and you will see foreign investors buying units at 50% to even 70% off the ticketed price. That is the real estate market in the United States. Some houses in Michigan are even sold at more than half their original value. $800,000 dollar homes can be purchased for $250,000. Think about that. There are places in Las Vegas that used to have million dollars homes but are complete ghost towns now and malls are boarded up and empty because everyone forefeited on their mortgage because no one can pay since they all lost their jobs. Wait until they blame Aquino for losing track of his job as president and most people become homeless, and the banks start to see a lot of foreclosures there. It could happen.
This is not Canada.
this is the Philippines.
For instance, the vast difference bet Canada and Manila. In Canada, high cabinet ministers take the commute by subway to work.
In Manila, high officials never go by bus.
I admire the combatants in this issue. Like that Ricky de la Torre. Only thing is Ricky’s arguments/rejoinders are mostly “SCENARIOS” [or suppositiions, fantasies, theoriticals] contra Raissa’s HIGHLY DOCUMENTED presentations. Which carries more weight. You the reader be the judge.
I admire the combatants in this issue. They are mostly erudite and knowledgeable. Like that Ricky de la Torre. Only thing is Ricky’s arguments/rejoinders are mostly “SCENARIOS” [or suppositions, fantasies, theories] contra Raissa’s HIGHLY DOCUMENTED presentations. Which carry more weight. Readers, YOU be the judge.
@Ricky De La Torre. Tama si Madam Raissa. Bobo Lang nag maniniwala sa mga pinagsasabi mo. Ang bobo mo… Nagpapagamit ka sa mga corrupt.
Great piece Raïssa.
Your investigative work has opened up a can of worms in the high end residential building industry. The droll of minimizing property tax payments have gone up to the Chief Magistrate. If it were Juan de la Cruz doing the same evasion, it wouldn’t raise an alarm or solicit media attention this far.
I guess the special treatment by Megaworld for the cost of the Bellagio Unit to CJ Corona is at cost – or close, even to back date the market value to the off-the-plan period. Maybe as a favourable transaction where the vendor can future-collect or ‘gift’ in advance for a matter before or past his sala. Talk about innuendo… GMA does a gift giving too.
As for the Corona-Bellagio controvery, the heat is on the BIR Revenue Officer & other examiners, and Mega World Property. Their past ante dated property transactions would be put into scrutiny. The Solon-Prosecutors can summon documentations to prove whether it was a legal or legitimate transaction.
As for CJ R Corona, the heat is on him that minute details of his personal assets and liabilities would unearth other peoples’ favouorable connivance with similar gov’t officers and real estate industry players.
He may rather resign in due season to avoid incriminating himself further and other people.
Whereby it can also put the OTHER high end residential building industry’s business practices into investigation in-aid for legislation for an industry wide regulation.
The House of Representative can launch a parallel enquiry into the industry.
Great work Raïssa! THANKS.
I also have the person from whom I obtained the documents to thank for.
Thanks.
Cj’s goose is cooked!
In the first place, there should have been a price list for all the condos at Bellagio 1 at the time Corona entered into a contract to purchase. From there alone, it will be clear if Corona secured the condo at a very favorable price. If it is significantly below the price list, then it is conclusive there was favor given to him by Megaworld.
Further, Megaworld should be asked to provide evidence of sales of condominiums with their actual sales prices for comparison, and should be made to explain the reason/s therefor. Furthermore, the BIR should be able to bring up the records of all actual sales and their respective sale prices and taxes paid for all the condos sold. These will be a prima facie evidence if Corona secured their condo at a significantly low price. Even further, Megaworld is in the business of selling property, and to have sold at a substantially low price to Corona would have only meant something was going on between Corona and Megaworld which must be investigated to get to the bottom of it.
The government cannot interfere in private business.Investigating into what should be a fair price is a useless exercise. What the BIR should focus is establishing the fair market value for tax purposes, without consideration to the price agreed between the seller and buyer. In industrialized countries, independent property assessment firms – usually not-for-profit, private enterprises – do this with their cadre of property assessors, real estate consultants, architects/builders, accountants and economists. If a rate payer challenges the valuation, he must contend with these propessional valuation experts in court.
It’s true that government has no business meddling in a PRIVATE transaction. Either someone sold something at a loss is of no concern to the government if the persons involved are both private. BUT in this case, one of the parties is not a private person, a government official, not only a mere employee, nor a mere judge, but THE Chief Justice of the Supreme Court!!! Then there is the law that says no gevernment official shall receive undue favors or advantage if there is a potential conflict of interest (my paraphrase of the law). In this case, there is every reason to dig deep into this transaction. The matter of unexplained wealth is another story. Baka pwede rin imbestigahin ni Raissa..?
Yun ang lalabas sa impeachment trial.
No not really. I work with someone who’s cousin is a top sales person for the condos being built beside MOA. Mr. Sy’s company and he is buying a unit with 30% discount and this is even after the construction had already started and is halfway done. This guys is NOT a chief justice or even a government employee. So why is everyone thinking that Corona got a deal because he was a CJ? My co-worker bought a unit with 30% off. What’s the freaking big deal? If you know people, it does not necessarily mean you are asking to get a return favour. It just happened his cousin could get him a deal plus his cousin’s employee discount. So what? He’s corrupt? People are just foolish to think something is going on. This issue has gone too far and Pnoy lost track of what is important about being the President. After his term, what happened in the Philippines. The GDP went down, more people lost jobs, investments left the Philippines, all the college and university graduates turned into prostitution because there are no decent jobs around that pay well. And the whole country is ridiculed to shame
The case of CJ reminds me of my PA 209 under Prof. Naz specifically on the article, “The Good Commissioner”.
If I were to teach PA 209, maybe I can make use of the author’s article after a rational assessment that the facts were true.
I love to see the methodology used by the author, call it the Delphi technique.
She must have interviewed them x number of times to yield the same conceptual results.
However, they should only be interviewed separately.
Yes, I did interview them separately.
But I only used the technique called interview. I had to get back to them several times as other quesitons cropped up.
They were very patient with me.
How can this person (corona) can attend Holy Mass and at the same time lie??
EVEN THE POPE AND PRIEST ARE ANTI-CHRIST WATCH “DEVIL INSIDE” THE CASE OF MARIA ROSSIE HAVE NOT BEEN SOLVED UNTIL NOW. THE POPE DECLARED NO EVIDENCE OF DEMONIC COLT. PHILIPPINE JUDICIARY OUT-CRY THE NEPUTISM OF JUDICIAL SYSTEM FOR A DECADE OF LOPEHOLES IN ANY BRANCH OF THE GOVERMENT FROM THE BARANGAY TO THE NATIONAL . AS LONG AS “THE CORONA ” AND THE JUDICIARY HAS NO ETHIC . I LEARNED THIS THING WHILE I WAS IN THE PHILIPPINES IN MY COLLEGE DAYS. THE GRANDPARENT (THE JUDGE) ASK HIS GRANDSON (THE NEW LAWYER) HOW IS YOUR CASE THE GRANDSON??. HE REPLY IT WAS OKEY GRANDPA!!. THE GRANDPARENT TALK BACK ! WHAT DO YOU MEAN OK?. THE GRANSON SAID I WON THE CASE THE GRANDPA. THE JUDGE GRULED TO HIS GRANDSON . YOU’RE A DUMB IDIOT YOU LET YOUR CASE CLOSE??. DON’T YOU KNOW WHERE I GET TO SEND YOUR FATHER AT THE LAW SCHOOL YOU DUMB HONEST LAWYER..
Wala bang editting dito sa blog na ito?
Bakit?
Raissa you’re absolutely brilliant, how I wish I could share your entire article to all friends.
You can send them a link to my site.
And for your internet-challenged friends, just print it out for them – like what was done during the dark days of Martial Law,
Nabili ang mamahaling penthouse, Dec 16, 2009. Midnight appointment niya sa CJ, May 2010. The condo was enough reason to reject CJ appointment, masarap ang tahimik na buhay.
Bobo o ganid? Pareho, masamang kumbinasyon! Huli ang pagsisisi.
Check yesterday’s latest video pictures of Corona and wife during the first day of Novena in Supreme Court, very telling facial haggard appearance, toil of deep seated problems and sleepless nights aside from bickering between each other who to blame? Proof: Cj did not assist wife going down the steep steps of CJ on way to the mass. “Picture paints a thousand words”, Bread sings.
I like your points…”masarap ang tahimik na buhay.’ …”Bobo o ganid? Pareho, masamang kumbinasyon! Huli ang pagsisisi”.
Maraming palaisipan tungkol kay Corona, lalo na at Ateneo Law, Harvard Master’s Degree (Wag na lang ang PhD). Pero di ba ang ugat parang walang ibang pinagmulan kundi mga Arroyo? O mas maaga pa duon?
Hahahahaha Thief Justice! I like!
Yung iba naman kung maka comment ang haba.. Di nalang gumawa ng sariling article.. Hello “good negotiator”? E kung nanenegotiate pala e bakit yung property lang niya ang 50% off?
Yung isa naman sabi in order daw yung stamp something at nagbigay pa ng formula hahaha e sympre chief justice yun tsaka hindi naman yun yung issue.. Ang issue eh bakit niya nakuha yung unit niya ng 50% off?
Ang sinasabi lang ng author ng article na to eh, “may something”…
Ang gugulo niyo!
I think ang gagamitin nilang alibi is Mrs Corona is using her income for the installment/full payment for the apartment..
When a government employee neighbor could afford buying expensive items, the higher salaried private business employee aghasts with astonishment. In real estate parlance, cost is always related to “location, location, location”; In towering condos cost is related to “views and nothing but the view”. All condo prices in the Philippines are higher by high floor and corner locations whether situated in The Fort or EDSA. In all indications, Corona’s penthouse is at premium cost. How could he afford it, is fair question equal to, how did he do it? Corona has constitutional obligation to answer the former but not the latter. In this case, a senator on impeachment does not need a law degree to make the right decision in terms of probability, one logic the mind of Joker is equal to Leon or Panday or Noted.
How did that guy put it, years ago? “Some people are smarter than others?”
Offhand, I cannot see anything blatantly or patently illegal about the transaction.
So what if the price he paid for the unit is 50% of the market value – Corona can always claim that it was the price Megaworld offered him. Or that he – or his wife or his real estate broker or someone – was simply that good a negotiator in that they were able to get the property at a price that others did not.
It may be a ‘steal’ – but he wasn’t doing the ‘stealing’. For all we know, the P14.9 million he paid (or is supposedly ‘still paying, on installment’) is the actual valuation of the unit … which means that the other unit owners could claim to have been defrauded by Megaworld, since they had to pay much higher prices than Mr Corona. (Isn’t that the concept behind ‘property bubbles’ – that prices are so grossly overinflated due to various factors but, in the end, the actual value is much, much lower?)
Bottomline, Mr Corona can claim innocence in the transaction – “I only paid what was offered to me. Why should I be blamed for something I had no knowledge of?” Plus, of course, the all-important statement – “It was a bargain, so I went for it. That’s what any right thinking person would do – why shouldn’t I take advantage of it?”
Moreso since, as you pointed out, Mr Corona has no involvement in any cases before the Supreme Court where Megaworld was involved. It is possible that such an occurrence will happen down the road, if these cases go before the Court en banc but he can always recuse himself in the future (if he has a future on the court, that is).
Megaworld cannot really be held accountable for this also – property pricing is their baiiwick and their right. They can always say that various considerations went into the final costing of the property which was sold to Mr Corona – and why should they be held to account for something that is solely their responsibility? They’re the seller – anong pakialam natin kung ibinenta nila yung pag-aari nila sa mas murang halaga?
For us to ascribe ulterior motives to them is unfair especially as there is nothing that can be pointed to as being patently illegal about it.
About the only person who can be held accountable will be the BIR person who did not follow procedures … but, as I recall, Revenue District Officers have a wide latitude in terms of their decisions as to how much to tax anyone. We can always ‘suspect’ that something underhanded was going on, but absent actual proof of wrongdoing, the most that can probably be done is to slap the guy with an administrative case for sheer incompetence or for losing the government money or something …
As I said, there would seem to be nothing blatantly – or even patently – illegal about the transaction, if one follows the LETTER of the law. Mr Corona was simply ‘smarter’ than others … or Megaworld simply afforded him certain privileges and advantages because of his position but there is no ‘intent’ to make use of said position to their advantage.
By the way, we also have here a clearcut reason why the Supreme Court refuses to make their SALN available for public scrutiny – there is nothing patently illegal about the whole transaction, except what exists in the ‘dirty minds’ of people, who will impute wrongdoing or ulterior motives to a straightforward business transaction.
You may ask, what about the spirit of the law? As someone once said – ‘spirit na nga, papansinin mo pa?’
And what about delicadeza? Again, a lawyer once told me, “There is nothing in the lawbooks about delicadeza. Neither has Congress legislated anything about delicadeza.”
Finally … about ‘Caesar’s wife’? Did Caesar even have a wife?
Sorry for the cynical sarcasm … but I can just see what may well become the “Corona Defense”: “I followed the LETTER of the LAW … there is no such thing as the ‘spirit’ of the law because there is nothing that can prove the existence of the spirit.”
Congress legislated delicadeza, conflict of interest, RA 6713 Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public Officials specifically Section 7(d), acceptance of gifts. The discount was a gift from transaction which is more of the fact than unproven smart negotiation. RA 6713 Section 2 defines gifts to public officers including judiciary.
Oh, well… they (the SC justices) can very well exempt themselves again (from this Code of Conduct) just like they did exempting themselves from publicly exposing their SALNs…
…and also from “midnight appointments”…
They overabused their infallibity, thus the time has come for the people,the real power, to rise against their infidelity
Lahat nang midnight appointees ay mga TUTA ni Pandak, Nakakdiri kayo….pati mga justices na sumang ayon sa appointment nang mga midnight appointees ay kurapt din dahil ginawang tama ang mali ayon sa saligang BATAS? ano ba naman kayo mga justices nang Supreme Court nagpaka TUTA kayo kay Pandak…Pati nga mga OBISPO namin noon nagpaka TUTA din kapalit nang SUV….Puwweeee…..
There was NO Gift. It was a legal transaction. He was offered a unit with a discount. A discount is not considered a gift. Anyone can get a discount. Stores offer shoppers discounts. Grocery stores offer discounts every week with daily specials. Restaurants offer discounts to diners. So why would Mr. Corona be any different than you or me? Outside of his work, he shops and goes about his business as a civilian. He obviously acts as a civilian wearing normal clothes when looking at condos or shopping for clothes or food. He is no different than you or me. Why would you think a discount is a gift? that is just totally ignorant and ridiculous.
While the private sale may survive a legal challenge, I believe it could expose Megaworld to a potential anti-discrimation lawsuit (assuming a statute exists in the Phil books) from other condo owners.The former has to prove that sale of the unit to Corona has given them “added value” that equates to or exceeds the price paid when combined. The gov’t also has the right to reasses the value and charge the approp taxes. Delicadeza cannot be legislated as laws cannot be based on morality. The CJ nor any judge has a direct mandate. In the aggregate, they become first class citizens and it is therefore incumbent upon the Senate to ‘regularize’ the imbalance by setting a lower bar when establishing their culpability.
Not really again, anti-discrimantion is something you need to understand because let’s say What if Mr. Corona was NOT the only person who received a discount. What if during that day, they had several units that some potential buyers decided NOT to purchase. For example, one person wanted to buy a unit that has 303 SQ meters. Megaworld says, their units are sub-divided on each floor with only certain specifications and the largest 3 bedroom unit they have is 180 sq meters. So the buyer says, what if you combine 5 single units to make it into 303 sq metres and make it with only three bedrooms, a large living room and a large dining area and a very nice large kitchen? So Megaworld agrees. The buyer pays the downpayment and continues paying to the first year. After the unit was already built, this buyer decided to BACK OUT of the deal so he is penalized half of the payments he already made. So now this unit is available to someone else. Mr Corona happens to be looking around the Bellagio and was speaking to a salesperson who informed him of a unit that suddenly became available because the previous buyer backed out of the deal. The sales person offered the unit at a discount because the previous buyer had already paid for one year on the unit plus the downpayment so technically it was almost paid in half. Corona says “hey, that’s a good deal but can I think about it?” The sales person thinking, it would be hard to find another buyer that would want a big condo because most buyers only look for two bedrooms and one bedroom units, suddenly tells Corona, “Sir, this discount is only a one day sale because of the previous buyer backing out. I cannot guarantee you this unit will be available again and if it will be also available at the same price kasi sir, ibabalik namin sa inventory ito and our managers will re-price this again.” So Corona calls his wife and tells her of this fantastic deal for a three bedroom condo so they decided to sign and buy the condo at the offered discount since this is an opportunity that could not be passed up. Now what are you going to say in court if this is what actually happened? I know this kind of deals do come up once in a while and it is not normally available to everyone but IT DOES HAPPEN.
But not everyone of those who received a discount during that day was a Chief Justice who had penned a decision in 2004 in favor of the seller.
so you mean to say that if that person was not a Chief Justice then it is ok to get that discount? What are you implying? That if someone works for the government they are NOT entitled to a discount? I’d like to see what happens to a cop when he goes into a shop that has a SALE that says everything for sale at 25% off ticket price. Then he tries to buy an item and is denied by the store a discount because he is a COP and because COPS are government employees then he is NOT entitled for a discount. That kind of reasoning does NOT make sense. A discount can be offered to anyone regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, status, etc etc. It is NOT discriminating. You mean to say you are discriminating CJ Corona for getting the discount? come on. Where is your sensibility? That is just absurd.
If someone works for the gov’t, then he would have to be wary of any hefty discount.
He seriously has to ask himself –
bumibili ba siya ng isang bagay o binibili lang ba siya ng nagbebenta sa kanya?
Ricky: have you heard of conflict of interest and ethical standards of public officials. Since you are fun of quoting US and Canadian laws, do you know that USA SC justices are criticized when they socialize with their clients who practice in SC or executives of companies with pending cases in SC or talking to registered lobbyists. They could not even drink soda with them even if the meeting is accidental, including their immediate families.These justices live hermit lives. They very seldom give interviews. Corona was entitled like any consumer to receive discounts in buying property but since Megaworld has pending cases, he should have taken the high road of morality. His position not only demanded, its part of his independet integrity. If not for that reason, even if he paid the condo for a dollar only he would not be criticized at all.
You smell fish in this transaction from a 100 miles! Megaworld is a corporation run by hard nosed businessmen. Corona cannot outsmart these RE people in their turf, unless there are vested interests or “commercial” benefit from that transaction..or, they will have to answer to their stockholders. If the Coronas are that smart in real estate, Mrs. Corona would not have worked for John Hay but just focused on real estate.
Megaworld may not have cases per se but maybe if you look deeper, who the prime shareholders of Megaworld are… As many businesses are buried under layers and layers of protection, including numbered corporations. This transaction could also be some “insurance” for hot or potentially hot cases now or in the future. Are the Zamoras part of Mgaworld? May be they can help, give you some enlightenment on this transaction. If I were GMA, it will be very smart of me to make sure that I get a piece of this prestigious, prime RE investment opportunity as well.
Once again Raissa, you have provided a solid investigative work. I am praying for your and your family’s health and safety. You are so courageous and you are a woman with incredibly big B…S. Keep well.
I’m sure his lawyers will be able to find loopholes for everything but that is not even the point anymore. The man was already impeached by the house and more importantly, despised and untrustred by the people (his employers) of this country. I think he is done; kaput.
I’m really amused by your facetious and sophomoric arguments. Amidst all the beautiful words you have written, there is something missing — common sense. Raissa mentioned that she talk to two experts in the field and they say that the price given to CJ Corona is ‘a steal’. And the basis for their assessment is not only Belagio I but also other properties of the same category. If we use common sense, it’s obvious that special accommodation was given to Corona by Megaworld. For what reason only them knows.
Maybe on the surface there is nothing blatantly or patently illegal about the transaction. But, if somebody knowledgeable about the matter will dig deeper, the truth will come out. And this is what I expect to come out in the impeachment trial. But morally, the transaction stinks.
So you mean to actually say that NO ONE ELSE CAN GET A DISCOUNT EXCEPT FOR JUSTICE CORONA? You mean to say that NOBODY can get discounts like that except a Supreme Court Justice? What kind of drugs are you smoking? Are you drunk? People get discounts all the time. Stores, restaurants, bars offer discounts all the time. Condo’s offer discounts sometimes on a per unit basis and sometimes also under certain circumstances. Like size or unit outlay sold at a larger discount because it is harder to sell than other units. Why would a Supreme Court judge be different than others? Do you think that just because a person is a SC Justice then he or she should NOT shop looking for discounts? That they are NOT allowed to accept discounts because of their position in government? That everyone else is entitled to a discount but NOT CJ Corona because he happens to be a SC Justice? You have a very malicious mind and your intense hatred of a person does not stem from because he was normal like everyone else but just because he was rumoured to be accepting a bribe or alledged to be corrupt by the media without even being tried in court. You are definitely biased with your accusations.
that is not an excuse mr.. Gil.
the point is, He works in the Supreme Court and his position even without speaking demands attention and consideration.
that is not being smart., that is being manipulator and user.
tama, kaya nag bigay ng magandang discount si corona sa property na binili, pwede rin kasi nilang gamiting marketing asset si corona sa sales ng megaworld, bakit ba kasi pinakikialaman kung binigyan ng malaking discount si corona, eh mayaman naman si megaworld. karamput lang yan sa may ari ng megaworld
Raissa, the doc stamp calculation appears to be in order assuming the taxable base i.e. fair market value does not exceed the selling price of P14,510,225. Here is the calc as per section 196 of the tax code: Pesos 14,510,225 / P1,000 taxable unit x P15.00 per unit (or the equivalent of 1.5% of unit) = Pesos 217,653.38. He paid slightly over the calc at P217,665.00. The term ‘fair market value” is a bit tricky as it is pretty subjective. A ‘friendly’ sale transaction will almost always result in the distortion of real market price if the parties were total strangers. Sometimes, a celebrity or high-profile customer may get a break as being counted as a customer or one of the tenants increases the overall value or profile of the entire property. The seller gets something of value in return. The publicity the Bellagio I is getting now only increases its profile which could affect in a positive way the value of the property. I have a feeling it would be a bit difficult to pin the CJ down on this unless there was an undue intervention in the sale from the “powers-that-be” .
Coronas deserve kudos for this creative real estate investing. Maybe they are students of the Trump Institute. Who knows? On another note, establishing the property’s market value is not as tricky because there are market comparables in his building. If he is assessed at that amount for that property, if I were a unit owner in that same property, I would have every right to appeal to BIR to ensure that my unit is taxed the same if not less. His unit should have the highest tax because it is the prime unit — penthouse and corner unit with incredible views. So, given the real estate environment recently, how much is the tax assessment/payment for his property recently? Whatever is the established value for his property now should be the basis for his property tax.
How many more transactions like this are out there. BIR should also have a strategic audit on properties like this. I have a strong hunch that the government is skimmed more than we could think of. Pls collect those money to help fund our hospitals and schools.
Determining the ‘fair market value’ (FMV) is not tricky as it seems. Sec 6(e) of the Philippine Tax Code authorizes the BIR Commissioner to determine the FMV. The FMV can be the FMV as determined by the Commissioner (BIR zonal valuation) or the FMV as shown in the schedule of values of the Provincial and City Assessors. The higher value of these FMVs determines the tax base wherein the tax shall be imposed. Based on the documents, I would believe the zonal valuation as indicated in the BIR’s website would be the valid FMV that will be compared against the selling price indicated on the deed of sale. From the looks of it, there is gross undervaluation of the FMV which consequently grossly underpaid the tax. I see a tax evasion case on the horizon considering that the undervaluation resulted to more than 30% underdeclaration of income which violates Sec 248 of the Code.
This is going to be a very interesting and controversial impeachment proceeding.
talking about Cesars’ wife supposedly being virtous, eh si PNoy naman kaya ano ang nangyari sa divestment niya nang share niya sa Hacienda Luisita??
Raissa, bakit wala yata akong nakikita kahit na katiting na imvestigasyon dito?
unang una legal ba na mag divest nang stocks considering that Supreme Court returned the lands to the farmers?
divest in what manner, pinagbili? pinamana sa iba? binalik sa farmers?
aber, magkano ang binayad na tax, binigyan ba nang discount?
hindi ba kung ang transaction ay properly done, di credito pa ito sa kanya, dahil if proven na tumatahak siya sa daang matuwid ay magandang ehemplo ‘yan
alam mo Raissa ang issue sa Hda Luisita ay so dear to my heart
am 63 yrs na in March
nuong early 1960s tumira kami sa Hda Luisita
mga farmers nuon restive na pero sila ay may nasisinag na pag asa dahil sabi nila maghintay lang tayo at ang mga mata nila ay nakatutuk nga sa 1968 at mapapasakanila ang lupang sinasaka nila dahil sa land reform program
the rest is history, eka nga pagupo ni Cory ang lupa ay naging papel in form of stocks
ngayon pag upo ni PNoy lupa hawak pa rin nang mga Cojuangco Aquino kamag anak Inc
if that is not the height of impunity, i really don’t know what is
ano ang sense natin sa justice as a nation na pinabayaan nating mangyari ito??
Pls read my pieces on Hacienda Luisita. I want GENUINE land reform:
http://raissarobles.com/2011/11/25/hacienda-luisita-pres-cory-aquinos-unfinished-business/
http://raissarobles.com/2011/08/15/sws-survey-showed-urgent-and-special-need-for-cojuangcos-to-redistribute-hacienda-luisita-to-farmers/
http://raissarobles.com/2011/08/15/sws-dr-mahar-mangahas-confirms-doing-land-reform-survey-in-1987/
http://raissarobles.com/2011/08/12/secret-sws-survey-told-president-cory-most-filipinos-want-hacienda-luisita-land-distributed/
Ms Embry, and after reading Raissa’s pieces please tell us here you rejoinder. Kung hapi ka o ano. O kung ano pa ang comments mo. OK ba? Thanks a lot.
Maria Elizabeth Embry, ayan. Bigyan mo ng valuable time to read the pieces of Raissa to awaken you of your toilet comments. Wh don’t you, Maria Elizabeth Embry, do your own investigative work to find out what you are searching for. Put up of shut up. Kudos to Raissa !!
Thanks.
amen!
Madam,
You sound like you’re pro-Corona or pro-Gma — something I don’t get.
We can be anti-Pnoy AND anti-Corona at the same time. It doesn’t have to be an either/or situation.
Or we can be just pro-good governance, period.
This Hacienda Luisita issue is ongoing, and a lot of people are hoping that this pans out well.
Trial by publicity… Why can’t you just wait for the impeachment? Let the guy have his day in court, after all I am sure you are confident of conviction just like PNoy… See the comments of people in this blog? Some post things as if they know what they are saying…. Tsk, tsk, tsk… “journalists”
You speak like a presidential decree.
Do you have the force of law behind you?
You want citizens to shut up and not be concerned and involved in this very serious matter?
Ano daw? Wait for the impeachment before speaking our pieces/thoughts? So you mean, pag luto na ang sinaing at saka namin gagatungan? Wow, watta novel idea! Hahaha!
Uhm, does my reply really warrant such accusation of shutting citizens up? By all means, they can be involved in this serious matter, at the proper time when the impeachment starts on January 16… Is it really that too much to ask to let evidences such as this come out at the proper forum and at the proper time?
Is it always in the same of getting scoops that you put aside your journalistic morals where you know very well (i am sure) that evidences like the ones you have posted here should be brought out in the proper forum?
You know very well that the accused will only speak about this at the proper time. Do you think Tupas and his posse are right in divulging evidences like this to media prior to the impeachment trial which is sure to start on January 16? Do you honestly think they didn’t break any rules?
I didn’t get this from Tupas.
Could you answer your questions? I’d be interested to know.
Corona Came out in a specially arranged speech at the SC to say that the reason for all of these is because Pnoy wants to be a dictator? Did he wait until the impeachment trial? Marquez called a press con to say that his boss can afford to buy penthouse condo units at Belagio? Did he wait until the impeachment trial? Joker arranged a so called phone interview to say that Pnoy s maneuvering to become a dictator and that public opinion should not be a basis for senator-judges in casting their votes. Did he wait?
As former CJ Art Panganiban explained in his last column, the impeachment trial is not a lawyer’s trial but rather a people’s trial – ultimately the people decides to fire out corona or let him stay as chief justice. Thus they need to be informed by well meaning journalist like Ms Raissa . And we should all be happy that they are getting involved. Just like Joker Arroyo, you want to push out the participation of the people, why?
Malamang gusto nila itago mga BAHO ni corona para tuloy ang ligaya nang mga kasabwat na magnanakaw? Bakit ayaw nang mga senators/ judges na ipaalam sa Media at nang malaman nang taongbayan? Kami ang BOSS kaya ang gusto namin ang dapat Masunod gaya nang sabi ni Pnoy? at Paano magiging dictador si Pnoy samantalang pinakikinggan niya mga hinaing namin na Boss niya? Mabuhay ka Pnoy at Mabuhay ang PILIPINAS….
@maverick
OPINION MATTERS.
OF the interests of the public.
BY investigative reporters or journalists where people IN THE KNOW (e.g. gov’t insiders) can bring before the people how public office, gov’t officials or civil servants use their office in probity, either they discharge their services above board or peddled for self grandiose.
FOR it is only in websites like this where we can put forward our opinions to be read.
Besides, the moderator of this site do filter the OPINIONS before release.
Even if Opinion is personal against her person, not necessarily subject related.
Before Xmas the criticism against anti Corona was PNoy wanted to control the judiciary, dictator, acting worst than Hitler and Castro. It did not work. After Christmas it was why are they demonizing Corona and dragging Mrs Corona and UST to impeachment issue. It did not work again. By New Year they wanted to gag not only the prosecutors for revealing the premium penthouse but also trying to clam down the netizens.
Why not confront the issues and make them false and unbelievable. Also show evidences contradicting the perceptions against Corona. If there is nothing to offer the best move is let other netizens enjoy their freedom of speech. It is still a free world and whatever is expressed here is immaterial to the actual senate proceeding anyway. Fretting is useless. Politicss is food for thought in all of us and fortunately impeachment is a political process, barely legal, according to former SC justice Artemio Panganiban.
To fellow netizens, DAYUM, SOCK IT TO THEM
What you are witnessing is third world ‘democracy’ at work and play. The emphasis is on ‘play’
A feeding frenzy of the uninformed using the unethical practices of the media to convince the unconcerned how they should think, and cloaking the ‘results’ in ‘people power’!!
Its definitely more fun to watch the political intrigues/ telenovelas in the philippines, and it makes for great case studies, but sad that time, effort and money is devoted to playground politics and personal vendettas rather than the real issues at hand, which demand more creative/strategic thinking and a genuine commitment to the country and to change, rather than a parochial perspective driven by self interest and maintaining the status quo.
People have clearly even lost sight of, or more likely, ignorant of, the fundamental impeachment issues as they pore over the detail/minutae/gossip that is fed to them, and as they act as barrack room lawyers. Human nature, but in the main, irrelevant, unless the process is being run as a popularity contest and then all hope is lost.
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing as so many comments here and elsewhere exhibit.
The process and outcome is predictable but it will take 4 months of grandstanding and media advertising to reach it.
Then the real fun will begin.
You know, I did not understand what you really tried to say.
Pls. get to the point.
i agree with you raissa…i can’t understand either …it’s nona sense !!!
yeah i agree ; please don’t beat around the bush
I agree too. The article is typically one side. Meanwhile, the manila standard just released information about Justice Carpio who supposedly declared his SALN recently. He apparently owns a much larger penthouse in Makati about 800 Square Metres. The source estimated the cost of a fully furnished 350-square-meter, four-bedroom unit at the Avignon Tower at between P17 million and P19 million, bringing the value of Carpio’s 800-square-meter penthouse suite to at least P38 million. Carpio apparently is the Senior Associate Justice that Pnoy wanted to replace CJ Corona for the position of Chief Justice. I bet if reporters really tried to be fair then they try to also find out properties and assets owned by all 188 congress people, especially the prosecution, as well as finding out all the properties and assets of all the Senators, and everyone else involved in this witch hunt against Corona. I believe you will really find out the real truth to this saga and why they are after Corona. The more dirty laundry is revealed about the other side, then the more even the game will be. I don’t think everyone is playing with a full deck here and I am so sure and positive that Pnoy is just as dirty and corrupt as everyone else in that group. He just has not yet been exposed. The dirty work is done for him by people (Kamag-anak Inc.) working underneath him or working close by to protect him including the media people (who I have heard from sources that he has plenty of close friends and even relatives working in that industry)
I agree.
The side of truth and accountability.
If Justice Carpio also has hidden wealth, by all means I’ll try to dig into it. Help me out.
Thanks for the information about Carpio. But CJ Corona’s sin is not getting a condo that he can afford. This article is pointing out that he got it for a huge discount and such low taxes. And Corona had decided in favor of Megaworld years earlier. Corona, who reported a networth of some P14million likewise said he bought the condo on installment basis. But he already got a deed of absolute sale.
Would you rather want this information suppressed first pending investigation of all the rest to be fair? I would rather have this truth out first because he is in the hot seat. Such call for fairness is tantamount to keeping the truth about Corona away from public knowledge.
If you have something about Carpio, then let it out. Let’s see if your sources are as solid as the sources now coming out against Corona. But don’t use fairness as an issue against people doing their work on exposing Corona.
The penthouse is owned by Atty Ted Laguatan, a San Francisco lawyer and writer for Philippine Daily Inquirer. Carpiio lives in than condo while practicing law with The Firm before being appointed SC Justice.
NONA, Tagalogin mo na lang kaya? No one here speaks/read Yiddish. Hehehe.
Pagpasensyahan ninyo na si Nona. Naapekto negosyo niyang club/ bar dahil karamihan sa kliyente niya mga contratista ng gobyerno. Walang negosyo kay PNoy ngayon. Gibberish salita kasi siya na lamang nainom ng alak niya.
Nasabugan kaba noon new years eve o sabog pa hanggang ngayon? Hindi kita maintendihan?
Nona is one of the goddess-commentators in one blog site where she is so much pampered, such that whatever she comments, the whole blog staff including a “hottie” named Ilda will bow down
. Sorry Nona, you know that site I’m talking about which is full of garbage bloggers. They call everybody opposing their ideas a “member of the yellow tard” or “yellow mob”. and they will threaten you to be spammed if you would persist on criticizing their ideas ( ie criticizing Corona, GMA et al). And yes, they are also Raissa’s detractors. Nona, in this site are more simple thinkers and no-nonsense commentators. Me too, I can’t connect to what you are saying.
who is trying who? this is a piece of investigative work done with pure intentions for the country, its people and its systems. why not reveal your true colors through a meatier, more significant comment? and please, i pray thee, never underestimate the minds of the people who converge on this site.
In the US, when a US justice gives media interview he is frowned upon by his colleagues and the public. They live like hermits, limit their social activities including to families. Apparently, in the Philippines hermit kind of life started to be rampantly violated during Narvasa. This is also the same CJ when SALN was prohibited from public distribution. The SC justices are not only models of propriety, conflict of interest, and integrity, they are the gods of such, right on the top shelf in the altar of moral purity. Corona lately has been showing hoimself as a very religious person, receiving communion and pious. Is he really free of sin when taking the “Body”? Or display of hypocrisy?
Currently, Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum is in the news because of rising popularity in his bid. When he was a senator in Pennsylvania he was charged for violation of ethical conduct similar to what Corona faces now. He obtained a mortgage to buy his house for a very low interest from a company with government transactions. The charge to him was law violation to equal access by the consuming public. He lost the next election before the ethics charge was finalized.
Undoubtedly, Corona got a sweetheart deal. The question is who were involved? If Megaworld is a public company, the shareholders were cheated thus the person who approved the sale must be revealed. The government was cheated so the BIR official involved must be investigated. The buyers may have a case against Megaworld, Bellagio owner, fraudulant price quotes. Again, if Megaworld has shares sold in US DOW or NASDAQ, marketed their properties in the USA and US citizens bought, Megaworld and its officers could be sued in the US by the shareholders and buyers for trading violations. They are in big time trouble courtesy of Corona. Their stocks value could be affected if sued due to the cost of US litigation or settlement with SEC and buyers.
Corona and Megaworld cheated the government violating RA 6019 Sec 3&4, respectively. Corona with his government salary could not afford to buy the condo for cash, not even by installment based on his 2002 SALN and salary including his wife income from John Hay, unless they made a killing on their perks or bribes? SALN impeachment article has the sharpest claw for senate conviction, the evidence now is very strong. It is also a probable cause for Sandigan graft charge after impeachment, similar to what happen to Erap plunder case (EDSA 2). Based on law, Corona is not allowed to resign after the senate trial starts on Jan 16.
very well spoken and enlightening opinion.
I salute you.
Unbelievable.
A high end,exclusive condo, he claims an “apartment”.
Pay in full, he claims still pay in “installment”.
No wonder, he did not sign his reply to the Senate.
If I were in his shoe, i will resign stat.
Is there no discovery phase in the trial? The tax assessor, developer, agents, etc. can all be deposed. CJ will be compelled to disclose his SALN thru a subpoena, and that would apply to his spouse.
Si Midas Marquez sa Bel-Air Makati naman nakatira? How much kaya ang declared value ng property nya? Maybe he will describe it as a low-cost housing area, like Corona’s “apartment”. These crooks better find people who they can fool with!
Putek. Walang hiya singungaling. Paano installment and absolute sale na? Niloloko talaga tayo nitong si Thief Justice!
MATAGAL NA! WALA KA BANG BALITA? HAHAHAHA!!!
I hope you investigate Maidas Marquez (supreme court spokesperson / Corona”s spokesperson – being paid by filipinos ) too
Among other friends, we shared links re this great investigative article to Atty. Batuhan via Facebook. He is a Cebuano volunteer lawyer in the impeachment prosecution panel. He said they are looking into this lead and lining up witnesses. How can Corona wriggle his way out of this? Better resign na lang.