Press Release
May 3, 2012

Drilon says he expects Corona to run to SC anew to stop Ombudsman probe on dollar account

Senator Franklin M. Drilon today said he expected Chief Justice Renato C. Corona to again seek the help of his colleagues in the Supreme Court to stop Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales from investigating his alleged 10 million dollar accounts.

"I expect the Chief Justice to run again to his colleagues in the Supreme Court and ask for temporary restraining order (TRO) and prevent the Ombudsman from scrutinizing and revealing his bank accounts in public," said Drilon.

"However, I am hoping that the Chief Justice will not do that since it will contradict his earlier claim that he had nothing to hide as far as his bank accounts are concerned," Drilon added.

Drilon recalled that in an interview with a radio station last March 7, 2012, Corona issued this statement: "I said I will open it in due time and the due time is next week. I have always said there is no problem with my dollar deposits because I can explain it."

Citing the same reason, Drilon said that he was confident that the members of the Supreme Court would not stop the Office Ombudsman from investigating Corona's dollar accounts even if Corona's lawyers would apply for the issuance of a TRO with the high tribunal.

Earlier, former SC Associate Justice and now Ombudsman Morales, acting on several complaints against the Chief Justice, asked Corona to explain his alleged dollar deposits, which according to news reports have an aggregate value of at least $10 million US dollars.

"Instead of trying to block the Ombudsman to conduct its own investigation, I challenge Corona to finally open and explain his bank account when impeachment court resumes its trial next week," Drilon said.

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