By Michael Punongbayan (The Philippine Star)
MANILA, Philippines - Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, stressing that she will not resign from her post, lashed back at Chief Justice Renato Corona yesterday and denied his allegations that she allowed herself to be used by the present administration.
The retired Supreme Court justice called Corona a “certified liar” in a hastily organized press conference at the Office of the Ombudsman.
“That is not true, never ever,” she said of the accusation. “Has he proven me wrong or have I proven myself on the right track? I am only doing what is expected of me.”
Saying she will not resign, the Ombudsman also denied asking for a higher retirement pay before she left the judiciary and revealed that her retirement fund was actually cut to half by the chief magistrate.
“I hope he has a conscience. He asked me if I have a conscience, yes, I have a conscience. I hope he has a conscience and as clear as mine,” she said, effectively answering Corona’s allegations in his testimony before the Senate impeachment court.
Morales said the accusation that she has a grudge against the Chief Justice because she asked for a big retirement fee and was not given one was a lie.
“It’s not true, I did not ask for it. I suffered in silence. I knew that he reduced it to more than one half. I never asked for reconsideration. Bahala siya,” she said.
Morales said she does not know why the Chief Justice had that impression.
“And he knows that, we were together for almost nine years. If he is honest he will realize that I was never ever the tool of anyone,” she added, answering the accusation that she allowed herself to be used by the Aquino administration.
On claims that the Anti-Money Laundering Council report that she used in her testimony was not authenticated, she said Corona should call the AMLC.
She said the AMLC automatically records bank transactions when the amounts involve P500,000 and up.
“Why don’t they call the AMLC,” she said, noting that she received the report from no less than the AMLC executive director “with the imprimatur of the AMLC,” which is composed of the central bank governor, the Securities and Exchange Commission chair, and the insurance commission chair.
Morales admitted that she never liked press conferences and she has been evasive to media but she decided to come out “because I feel that I have been maligned.”
The Ombudsman even admitted that she has one dollar account in the Bank of Philippine Islands (BPI), which she reported in her statement of assets liabilities and net worth by declaring the peso equivalent.
Asked to comment and asked what she would do if Corona gets acquitted, she said she doesn’t have to do anything but when asked if Corona gets convicted, she said “Amen.”
Morales said the separate case filed against the Chief Justice before the Office of the Ombudsman is still being pursued which “can be subject of further investigation and if warranted it could possibly be the subject of a referral to the House of Representatives for possible impeachment procedures in December when the one year ban expires.”
MANILA, Philippines - Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, stressing that she will not resign from her post, lashed back at Chief Justice Renato Corona yesterday and denied his allegations that she allowed herself to be used by the present administration.
The retired Supreme Court justice called Corona a “certified liar” in a hastily organized press conference at the Office of the Ombudsman.
“That is not true, never ever,” she said of the accusation. “Has he proven me wrong or have I proven myself on the right track? I am only doing what is expected of me.”
Saying she will not resign, the Ombudsman also denied asking for a higher retirement pay before she left the judiciary and revealed that her retirement fund was actually cut to half by the chief magistrate.
“I hope he has a conscience. He asked me if I have a conscience, yes, I have a conscience. I hope he has a conscience and as clear as mine,” she said, effectively answering Corona’s allegations in his testimony before the Senate impeachment court.
Morales said the accusation that she has a grudge against the Chief Justice because she asked for a big retirement fee and was not given one was a lie.
“It’s not true, I did not ask for it. I suffered in silence. I knew that he reduced it to more than one half. I never asked for reconsideration. Bahala siya,” she said.
Morales said she does not know why the Chief Justice had that impression.
“And he knows that, we were together for almost nine years. If he is honest he will realize that I was never ever the tool of anyone,” she added, answering the accusation that she allowed herself to be used by the Aquino administration.
On claims that the Anti-Money Laundering Council report that she used in her testimony was not authenticated, she said Corona should call the AMLC.
She said the AMLC automatically records bank transactions when the amounts involve P500,000 and up.
“Why don’t they call the AMLC,” she said, noting that she received the report from no less than the AMLC executive director “with the imprimatur of the AMLC,” which is composed of the central bank governor, the Securities and Exchange Commission chair, and the insurance commission chair.
Morales admitted that she never liked press conferences and she has been evasive to media but she decided to come out “because I feel that I have been maligned.”
The Ombudsman even admitted that she has one dollar account in the Bank of Philippine Islands (BPI), which she reported in her statement of assets liabilities and net worth by declaring the peso equivalent.
Asked to comment and asked what she would do if Corona gets acquitted, she said she doesn’t have to do anything but when asked if Corona gets convicted, she said “Amen.”
Morales said the separate case filed against the Chief Justice before the Office of the Ombudsman is still being pursued which “can be subject of further investigation and if warranted it could possibly be the subject of a referral to the House of Representatives for possible impeachment procedures in December when the one year ban expires.”
