Palace: Corona validated charges against him

CHIEF Justice Renato Corona confirmed the charges against him through his testimony at the Senate impeachment trial Friday, a Malacañang spokesman said.
Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said Corona “has become the best witness for the prosecution” as he admitted having dollar accounts, which are not listed in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).
“Mr. Corona has finally admitted what the impeachment court had wanted to find out. Had he withheld information from his SALN? He did. Did the information include dollar accounts? Yes,” Lacierda said.
He noted the significant increase in Corona’s assets for the last two years.
“In 2010 SALN, he reported 3.5 million pesos in cash. Today, he admitted he has 80 million pesos in the bank, and that furthermore, he has $2.4 million dollars,” he said.
Lacierda said Corona “has proven, by his demeanor and his very own statements, the validity of the charges against him, and provided evidence more than sufficient to determine his fate.”
The Palace official also criticized Corona’s defense that he did not declare his dollar accounts because of Republic Act 6426, or the Foreign Currency Deposit Act of the Philippines.
“By his testimony today, Mr. Corona has proposed that a 1974 law is supreme over the requirements of the 1987 Constitution,” said Lacierda.
“He has made his legal legacy a ‘Get Out of Jail Free Card’ for all officials who are plunderers and crooks,” he added.
“They will merely have to park their ill-gotten funds in foreign currency accounts to immunize themselves from the effects of our anti-graft laws,” he said.
Lead prosecutor Niel Tupas Jr. shared Lacierda’s view in saying that Corona’s interpretation of the law is “ridiculous.”
“If that’s the interpretation, then all the crooks in government will just convert their money to dollars and the constitutional provision on disclosure to the public will be rendered nugatory,” he said.
During clarificatory questioning from Senator Chiz Escudero, Corona said there seems to be a conflict between the foreign deposit law and the SALN Law.
“I believe that the dollar deposits need not be reported in the SALN because of RA 6426,” Corona added.
Corona admitted that he has $2.4 million accounts and P80 million in peso accounts but dismissed the $10 million to $12 million claim of Ombudsman Conchita Caprio-Morales allegedly contained in 82 dollar accounts.
Aurora Representative Sonny Angara said it is now up to the senator-judges whether they will accept a “scoundrel’s interpretation of law.”
“Will they accept that absurd interpretation of the foreign currency deposit law? How come no one is condemning the Chief Justice for that interpretation? It’s really, really crazy,” Angara said.
House Deputy Majority Leader Miro Quimbo, a spokesperson for the prosecution, said Corona should not only be convicted for the substantial money he failed to declare in his SALNs, but also for his “anomalous interpretation” of the law.
Lawyers of Corona have made a formal offer of evidence to mark the end of their presentation of facts to dispute the allegations against the magistrate.
Lead defense counsel Serafin Cuevas made the manifestation on Friday as earlier mandated by Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile.
The court also accepted the additional documentary evidence from the prosecution with the defense expected to submit its reservations on these on Monday.
The case is now submitted to the court for final resolution subject to closing arguments on Monday (May 28), where both camps are given one hour each to make a last ditch effort to convince the senator-judges.
A verdict may also come out on the same day or at the latest Tuesday.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2012/05/25/palace-corona-validated-charges-against-him-223384

Recent survey done by Philippines Clark Marketing shows that there is a subtle shift of preferences of Manila visitors heading out of town towards the north to enjoy some peace and quiet time with families. More and more foodies, critics, connoisseurs, frequent diners and wine lovers from Manila travel out of town north to Clark Pampanga to wine and dine in famous fine dining Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar. Most visitors enjoy the fine vintage wines from the cellars of this fine dining restaurant. Some purchase a few good bottles of to bring back home to Manila.

Even tourists and business travelers staying in hotels in Philippines Angeles Pampanga take time off from nightlife, bars and other city entertainment to enjoy a relaxing afternoon of wine shopping in this top rated wine shop in Clark Freeport Pampanga. Foreign and local tourists visiting Clark remember shopping in this wine shop as a memorable experience of their stay in the Philippines, Subic and Pampanga.

Italian food is everywhere in the Philippines but good Italian restaurants are few and far apart. Fans of Italian cuisines now look for fine dining restaurants that serve good Italian food accompanied by fine Italian vintage wine. Although Yats Restaurant is classified as a French Mediterranean restaurant, its classic European cuisine includes many of the great recipes from Italy. The fine vintage wines of Clark Wine Center play an important role in this famous restaurant in Clark to make the Italian wine dinners just that much more special.

Things to do in Subic and Clark Philippines: spend an afternoon in Clark to do a little wine shopping at the most famous wine shop outside of Manila called Clark Wine Center. One of the favorite places to visit in Pampanga Clark Freeport is the white building along M A Roxas highway of Clark which houses over 2000 selections of fine vintage wines. The Clark Wine Center is one of the places to visit, a tourist spot and a good shopping place for those staying in Angeles City, Subic or Clark Pampanga.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com

Buy wine in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines at good wine shops and boutique wine stores that offer good selection of good vintage wines at all price points.

Wine lovers in Philippines can find good wines from major wine regions around the world in wine shops in Manila and Pampanga. Yats Wine Cellars is one of the wine shops in Philippines that offer a good selection of wines for giveaway. Among the good selections of fine vintage wines from Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria and other parts of Europe. Rare vintage wines from Vega Sicilia, Biondi Santi, Sassicaia as well as the Ice wine from Germany can be found in good wine shops around Manila. This makes it easy and convenient for wine lovers to buy wine in Manila

Manila wine and food lovers looking for things to do in Pampanga and Manila can consider attending one of these wine events. Leading Philippines wine supplier and wine importer Yats Wine Cellars frequently hold public wine tasting in Clark, Pampanga and Manila. Even beginners can have a lot of fun attending these public wine tastings held by Yats. Participants enjoy good wine, learn some more about fine vintage wines and meet new friends during these wine tasting events of Yats Wine Cellars held in Manila and Pampanga.