The heirs of the late Chief Justice Renato C. Corona felt vindicated after the Sandiganbayan dismissed the P130.59 million civil forfeiture case filed against them by the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB).
In a statement issued by the family’s lawyer Carlos Villaruz, Corona’s heirs -- wife Cristina, and children Ma. Carla Beatrice C. Castillo, Francis R. Corona, and Charina C. Salgado – “could not contain their happiness over the anti-graft court's decision.”
Former Chief Justice Corona passed away on April 29, 2016 due to a heart attack.
Villaruz said the family members “thank God for this wonderful blessing, and to all those who joined them in prayer, and supported them during these difficult and heartbreaking times.”
"They also give their utmost gratitude to the Honorable Justices of the Sandiganbayan who ensured that true justice and the rule of law would be upheld," he said.
With the dismissal of the civil forfeiture case, which is the last among the numerous cases filed against the family, Villaruz said that the "agony" of the Corona family members has finally been put to an end.
"With the dismissal of this last case, they cannot help but feel vindicated since our courts have consistently ruled that CJ Corona and his family did nothing wrong," he said.
He also said: "The family and various support groups of CJ Corona simply hope that he will be remembered for upholding judicial independence, the rule of law, and the delivery of justice to oppressed sectors of society. With this recent court decision, they are sure that CJ Corona is cheering and smiling in heaven."
In its Nov. 3, 2022 decision written by Associate Justice Arthur O. Malabaguio, the Sandiganbayan ruled that the Corona family was able to present evidence to dispel accusations that they acquired wealth beyond their means.
The OMB accused Corona and his heirs of acquiring properties that are "manifestly out of proportion" to their lawful income and sought the forfeiture of at least P130,587,012.75.
But the anti-graft court said that while the Corona family indeed had "undisclosed assets" based on CJ Corona's statements of assets liabilities and net worth (SALNs), these could not be considered as "unexplained wealth" since the family members were able to prove they had "other sources of funds."
"Such non-declarations or mis-declarations are innocuous mistakes that do not signal the accumulation of unexplained wealth, though they may signify a degree of carelessness," the court said.
While the court commiserated with the Ombudsman in "relentlessly pursuing and recovering" unlawfully-acquired assets, it said the OMB’s pursuit "should not be mindless as to be oppressive towards anyone."
Second Division Chairperson Oscar C. Herrera Jr. and Associate Justice Frederick L. Musngi concurred in the decision.
TAGS: #Sandiganbayan #CJ Corona