March 22 Senate impeachment court record

8/2/2019 March 22 Senate impeachment court record

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THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2012 1

Republic of the Philippines

Senate

Record of the SenateSitting As An Impeachment Court

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Pasay City

AT 2:13 P.M., THE PRESIDING OFFICER, SENATE PRESIDENT JUAN PONCE ENRILE,

CALLED THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL OF SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE RENATO C.

CORONA TO ORDER.

The Presiding Officer. The continuation of the impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice

Renato C. Corona is hereby called to order.

We shall be led in prayer by Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson.

Senator Lacson. Thank you, Mr. President.

First of all, let us pray for our Senator-Judge Pia Cayetano who is celebrating her birthday today.

[Applause]

As we suspend the trial today to go on Lenten break, let us pause to atone for our sins

and pray for miracle that can cleanse our souls.

God, Almighty, I know that today I will be praying for the impossible. But I will give it

a try just the same, bearing in mind that You do not expect the impossible from us but wantus to expect the impossible from You.

Grant us, O Lord, even for a second, the supernatural power of being able to read the

mind and feel the conscience of the Respondent standing trial before this Impeachment Court,

we will be spared the agony of acquitting a guilty man or worse pronouncing the guilt of an

innocent person.

And, whatever is the outcome of this trial, we pray that the accuser and the accused, and

all the participants in this painful exercise will learn to forgive and forget all the harsh and cruel

words said and heard for the sake of our beloved country and Your children in this part of

the world.


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2 THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2012

______________*Arrived after the roll call

Basbasan po Ninyo ng mas mahabang buhay at malusog na pangangatawan ang

aming Presiding Officer, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, at ang Chief Legal Defense

Counsel, Justice Serafin Cuevas, upang matugunan nila ang marami pang tungkulin para

sa aming inang bayan.

All these we ask in the Name of Your Son, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

ROLL CALL

The Presiding Officer. The Secretary will please call the roll of Senators.

The Clerk of Court, reading:

Senator Edgardo J. Angara ............................................................... Present

Senator Joker P. Arroyo ................................................................... Present

Senator Alan Peter Compaero S. Cayetano ................................. Present*

Senator Pia S. Cayetano ................................................................... Present

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago .................................................... Present

Senator Franklin M. Drilon ................................................................ Present

Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada ....................................................... Present

Senator Francis G. Escudero ............................................................. Present

Senator Teofisto L. Guingona III ....................................................... Absent

Senator Gregorio B. Honasan II ........................................................ Present

Senator Panfilo M. Lacson ................................................................ Present

Senator Manuel Lito M. Lapid ....................................................... Present

Senator Loren Legarda ...................................................................... Present*

Senator Ferdinand Bongbong R. Marcos Jr. .................................. PresentSenator Sergio R. Osmea III ........................................................... Present*

Senator Francis N. Pangilinan ............................................................ Present

Senator Aquilino L. Pimentel III ........................................................ Present

Senator Ralph G. Recto .................................................................... Present

Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. ..................................................... Present

Senator Vicente C. Sotto III ............................................................. Present

Senator Antonio Sonny F. Trillanes IV........................................... Present

Senator Manny Villar ......................................................................... Present

The President ..................................................................................... Present

The Presiding Officer. With 19 Senator-Judges present, the Presiding Officer declares thepresence of a quorum.

The Floor Leader is recognized.

Senator Honasan. Mr. President, may I ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to make the proclamation.

The Presiding Officer. The Sergeant-at-Arms is directed to make the proclamation.


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The Sergeant-at-Arms. All persons are commanded to keep silent under pain of penalty while

the Senate is sitting in trial on the Articles of Impeachment against Chief Justice Renato C. Corona.

The Presiding Officer. The Floor Leader.

Senator Honasan. Mr. President, I move that we dispense with the reading of the March 21,

2012Journal of the Senate sitting as an Impeachment Court and consider the same as approved.The Presiding Officer. Is there any objection? [Silence] There being none, the March 21, 2012

Journal of the Senate sitting as an Impeachment Court is hereby approved.

The Secretary will please call the case.

The Clerk of Court. Case No. 002-2011, In the matter of the Impeachment Trial of Hon. Chief

Justice Renato C. Corona.

Senator Honasan. Mr. President.

The Presiding Officer. Appearances, the Floor Leader.

Senator Honasan. Mr. President, may we ask the parties and/or their respective Counsels to

enter their appearances.

Representative Farias. Good afternoon, Mr. President. Same appearance for the Prosecution.

We are ready, Mr. President.

The Presiding Officer. It is noted. The Defense.

Mr. Cuevas. For the Defense, Your Honor, the same appearance. We are ready.

The Presiding Officer. It is noted.

The Floor Leader.

Senator Honasan. Mr. President, we are ready for the continuation of the presentation of

evidence by the Defense.

The Presiding Officer. Proceed.

The Defense is still presenting its evidence.

Mr. Cuevas. Yes, Your Honor.


Mr. Cuevas. We are calling to the stand one Ms. Mosuela, our next witness, Your Honor.

The Presiding Officer. Please call her to the Chamber, take the witness stand and swear her

to testify.

Representative Farias. Mr. President, while waiting for their witness, may I make a very short

manifestation, Mr. President.

The Presiding Officer. Go ahead, Mr. Prosecutor.

Representative Farias. In behalf of the House of Representatives, may I greet Sen. Pia

Cayetano a happy birthday and wishing her all the best, Mr. President.


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The Presiding Officer. Yes.

Representative Aggabao. To abbreviate the proceedings, Your Honor. There was marked

yesterday morning one piece of evidence as exhibit for the Defense. To abbreviate the proceedings,

we would not mind going to admissions of fact if the Defense is minded to do so, to abbreviate the

proceedings.

The Presiding Officer. What is the pleasure of the Defense? Are you willing to stipulate?

Mr. Roy. Your Honor, if they are withdrawing their objection to the testimony and they are

admitting the figures on the table, it will be faster.

Representative Aggabao. All right, Your Honor.

The Presiding Officer. Are you willing to accept?

Representative Aggabao. We are willing. We are willing, Your Honor.

Mr. Roy. Then we take it, Your Honor, that these figures are admitted and that the certificationof Ms. Mosuela attests to the truth of these facts as appearing on the summary prepared by

Camp John Hay.

The Presiding Officer. You examine the document and if you....

Mr. Roy. They have a copy, Your Honor.

Representative Aggabao. You are referring to Exhibit 219?

Mr. Roy. That is right, Your Honor.

Representative Aggabao. Yes, Your Honor. We accept.... First, we admit the authenticity of

Exhibit 219. Of course, the content therein, Your Honor, is subject to the best evidence rule.

Mr. Roy. Your Honor, may I clarify. Do you also accept that Ms. Mosuela, the finance officer,

is authorized to attest to the authenticity of these numbers as appearing in the records of the

corporation?

Representative Aggabao. Yes, we admit that, Your Honor.

Mr. Roy. Well, if they admit, Your Honor, then I suppose there is no need....

The Presiding Officer. You accept....

Representative Aggabao. The correctness of the figure, Your Honor.

The Presiding Officer. Just a minute. Prosecution, do you accept the authenticity of that

document, that exhibit?

Representative Aggabao. We do, Your Honor.

The Presiding Officer. You accept the contents?

Representative Aggabao. Subject to the best evidence rule, yes, we accept, Your Honor.

The Presiding Officer. Subject to?


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Representative Aggabao. The best evidence rule, Your Honor, because the subject of inquiries,

the content of this writing, yes, Your Honor, we accept it.

Mr. Roy. Your Honor, this is an entry in the course of business.

The Presiding Officer. The Witness was under oath and I do not think she will perjure herself.

Mr. Roy. Your Honor, but the best evidence amounts to an objection, Your Honor, to the content.

Representative Aggabao. All right. To meet the objection of the Defense, Your Honor.

The Presiding Officer. Either you agree or not agree.

Representative Aggabao. We agree, your Honor. We agree.

The Presiding Officer. All right.

Representative Aggabao. We agree, Your Honor, that the figures are correct.

The Presiding Officer. Then make the proper manifestations, for the record.

Representative Aggabao. Your Honor, insofar as the figures appearing on Exhibit 219

are concerned, the Prosecution accepts them, we admit them. Insofar as the authority of Miriam

Mosuela, the Witness, to authenticate Exhibit 219 is concerned, the Prosecution accepts them,

we admit them.

Mr. Roy. Very well, Your Honor. Then we would like to read into the record that on the

year 2007, the total salary, allowances and benefits, Your Honor,

Representative Aggabao. Then, Your Honor, that would not be necessary because we already

admitted the evidence. The best evidence would be these figures appearing on this document,

Your Honor.

Mr. Roy. Exactly, Your Honor, we would like to put it on record

Representative Aggabao. The danger, Your Honor,...

The Presiding Officer. Gentlemen, you are too technical. It is true, to us, that is the best

evidence that we will appreciate. We just want it to be established in the record. That document is

not recorded. The exhibit number is recorded. So read it into the record. So ordered.

Mr. Roy. Thank you, Your Honor.

We wish to manifest that the document as appearingand can be confirmed by the Prosecution

will show that in the year 2007, the total salaries, allowances and benefits received by Ma. Cristina

Corona amounted to One million three hundred fifteen thousand, seven hundred forty-six pesos and

thirty centavos (P1,315,746.30);

In the year 2008, the total salaries, allowances and benefits received by Ma. Cristina C. Corona

amounted to One million nine hundred fifty-nine thousand one hundred seventy-eight pesos and

fifteen centavos (P1,959,178.15);

And in the year 2009, the total salaries, allowances and benefits received by Ma. Cristina C.

Corona amounted to One million nine hundred fifteen thousand, two pesos and seven-nine centavos

(P1,915,002.79);


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And in the year 2010, the total salaries, allowances and benefits received by Ma. Cristina C.

Corona amounted to Nine hundred seventy-two thousand one hundred forty-eight pesos and thirty

centavos (P972,148.30) showing a total for the period of 2007 to 2010, amounting to P6,162,075.54.

This is what is contained, Your Honors, in Exhibit 219 which the Defense adopts.

The Presiding Officer. All right. Are you through with the Witness? No cross? Are you

through with the Witness, Counsel for the Defense?

Mr. Roy. Your Honor, just to establish that this was actually received by Mrs. Corona,

that is all.

The Presiding Officer. Precisely, are you through with the Witness?

Mr. Roy. I would just propound a question for one point, Your Honor.


Mr. Roy. Madam Witness, your certification on this document, can you explain to us what

this document represents, whose compensation is reflected here?Ms. Mosuela. It is the summary, Your Honor, of all the salaries, allowances and benefits

received by Ma. Cristina C. Corona for the period 2007 to 2010.

Mr. Roy. Can you please tell us what is the connection of Ma. Cristina Corona with the

John Hay Management Corporation during this period?

Ms. Mosuela. During this period, Your Honor, she was the President, the Corporate Operating

Officer, the Chief Operating Officer, she was the Chief Executive Officer and also the Acting

Chairman of the Board.

Mr. Roy.How long were you employed with the Corporation?

Ms. Mosuela. I have been with John Hay Management Corporation since December of 2008,

Your Honor.

Mr. Roy. Do you have personal knowledge of the connection or employment of Mrs. Corona

with the corporation?

Ms. Mosuela. Yes, Your Honor, she was all of the above, Your Honor.

Mr. Roy. Did you serve under her?

Ms. Mosuela. Yes, Your Honor. When I first came in in 2008, I was the budget officer.

Mr. Roy. Can you attest to this Court that you are aware that she personally received this

compensation reflected in the exhibit?

Ms. Mosuela. Yes, Your Honor.

Mr. Roy. No further questions, Your Honor.

The Presiding Officer. All right, cross?

Representative Aggabao. Very, very briefly, Your Honor.



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Representative Aggabao. Madam Witness, do you have a copy of Exhibit 219 with you?


Representative Aggabao. May I ask you to please take a look at these items, Salaries and

Allowances, and I ask you to take a look at Tab D for the year 2007. There is indicated in Exhibit

219 Salaries and AllowancesofP556,605.83, do you have it with you?Ms. Mosuela. Yes, Your Honor.

Representative Aggabao. My question is, how much of this amount constitutes salaries, and how

much of this amount constitutes allowances, if you know?

Ms. Mosuela. It is actually all salaries, Your Honor.

Representative Aggabao. These are all salaries.


Representative Aggabao. And so, therefore, this is the entire amount that was subject towithholding tax. Is that correct?

Ms. Mosuela. Right, Your Honor.

Representative Aggabao. And that would be true also for the years 2008, 2009, and 2010?

Ms. Mosuela. That is correct, Your Honor.

Representative Aggabao. You mentioned that Mrs. Corona was what, the President of John Hay

in 2007, and she was also the Chief Executive Officer, the CEO in 2007?

Ms. Mosuela. That is correct, Your Honor.

Representative Aggabao. And she was also the Chief Operating Officer, the COO?


Representative Aggabao. Would you be able to know when Mrs. Corona joined John Hay?

Ms. Mosuela. Since I was employed only in 2008, Your Honor, I am not very familiar but I have

seen records that she was a Board of Director in 2001.

Representative Aggabao. 2001.


Representative Aggabao. And you would not know, for example, that in 2007, she was first

elected as President of John Hay. You would not know that, would you?

Ms. Mosuela. She was, Your Honor.

Representative Aggabao. She was?

Ms. Mosuela. Yes.

Representative Aggabao. So in 2007, she was elected as President of John Hay.



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Representative Aggabao. And would you know when she stepped down as an employee or

as an officer of John Hay?

Ms. Mosuela. It was in June 2010, Your Honor.

Representative Aggabao. The total as appearing here in Exhibit 219, the total of all

salaries, allowances such as RATA, rice subsidy, uniform, et cetera, amounted to P6,162,075.54.Do you confirm that this is exactly the same amount that she received over the years covered

in Exhibit 219?

Ms. Mosuela. For the given period, Your Honor, yes.

Mr. Roy. Your Honor, I was under the impression that this had been admitted.

Representative Aggabao. One final question, Your Honor. I asked earlier that the salaries and

allowances were made subject to withholding tax. What about the allowances here stated as RATA?

Were they subject to withholding tax?

Ms. Mosuela. No, Your Honor. May I check myself, Your Honor.Representative Aggabao. Go ahead, please.

Ms. Mosuela. These are the amounts she was entitled to, Your Honor, but the salaries will have

to be subject to the withholding tax.

Representative Aggabao. But the allowances, would they be subject to withholding taxes?

Ms. Mosuela. As provided, Your Honor, some are subject and some are not. Just like the fringe

benefit which is subject to 32% final tax.

Representative Aggabao. I see. But with respect to rice subsidy, with respect to uniform, with

respect to medical benefits, with respect to cash gifts, these were not subject to withholding taxes, right?

Ms. Mosuela. Some will be subject, Your Honor, and some will not be.

Representative Aggabao. Last two questions, Your Honor. Included in Exhibit 219

are the amounts received by Mrs. Corona as per diem being member of the Board of Directors.

In fact, the entire amount received over the period of four years is P1,128,139.00. Was this

subject to withholding tax?

Ms. Mosuela. Yes, Your Honor, 10%.

Representative Aggabao. Ten percent. Would you be aware if Mrs. Corona filed a separate

income tax return to cover this?

Ms. Mosuela. I would not be privy to that information, Your Honor.

Representative Aggabao. I guess that will be....

Mr. Roy. Are there more last questions, Your Honor?

The Presiding Officer. Are you through with your cross-examination?

Representative Aggabao. One final last question, Your Honor.

Mr. Roy. Thank you, Counsel.


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Representative Aggabao. I made reference to the amount of P6,162,075.54 representing

the total. This is the gross amount, correct?

Ms. Mosuela. You are correct, Your Honor.

Representative Aggabao. So you did not consider here the deductions such as withholding

taxes or any other deductions for that matter?Ms. Mosuela. It is not yet considered here, Your Honor.

Representative Aggabao. Okay. So this is not the net amount that Mrs. Corona received?

Ms. Mosuela. No, Your Honor.

Representative Aggabao. All right. Thank you very much, Your Honor. No further cross,

Your Honor.


Mr. Roy. No redirect, Your Honor.

The Presiding Officer. Redirect?

Mr. Roy. No redirect, Your Honor. May we....

The Presiding Officer. The Witness is discharged.

Mr. Roy. Thank you very much.

The Presiding Officer. Next witness, but one-minute suspension.

The trial was suspended at 2:35 p.m.

At 2:38 p.m., the trial was resumed.

The Presiding Officer. The trial is resumed.

Defense, present your next witness.

Mr. Cuevas. Your Honor please, we are now ready with our next witness, former Mayor Lito

Atienza, Your Honor.

The Presiding Officer. The former good mayor of Manila is placed on the witness stand.

The Clerk of Court. Mayor, please raise your right hand.

Do you swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth in this impeachment proceeding?

Mr. Atienza. Opo.

The Clerk of Court. So help you God.


Mr. Cuevas. If Your Honor please, may we request permission for Dean De los Angeles,

member of the Defense panel, to be allowed to conduct the direct examination, Your Honor.

The Presiding Officer. Granted.


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Representative Tupas. Your Honor, on the part of the Prosecution, may we request that

Atty. Renato Samonte Jr. be recognized to receive the direct testimony and to conduct the cross,

if necessary.

The Presiding Officer. Granted.

Representative Tupas. Thank you.

Mr. De los Angeles. With the permission of the Honorable Court, the testimony of

former Mayor Jose L. Atienza is offered to prove that early 2001, Basa-Guidote Enterprises

owned, at least, one parcel of land in the corner of Legarda and Bustillos Streets, Sampaloc,

Manila; that Cristina Roco Corona was authorized by the Board of Basa-Guidote Enterprises

to sell such property; that the City of Manila passed an ordinance to expropriate such property,

and pursuant to law, it first offered to buy, and Cristina Corona for and on behalf of Basa-

Guidote Enterprises agreed to sell such property, which would be used by the City of Manila

as a relocation site of its then Sampaloc Market; that Cristina Corona received for and on behalf

of Basa-Guidote Enterprises P34,703,800.00 from the City of Manila for such property.

I manifest, Your Honors, that a subsequent witness will then testify that from the P34,703,800.00,

Respondent Chief Justice borrowed P11 million as stated in his SALN, and which amount he used to

purchase the La Vista property.


Mr. De los Angeles. Thank you, Your Honor.

Mr. Samonte, Jr. Subject to our cross, Your Honor.

Mr. De los Angeles. Kayo ba ang dating alkalde ng Maynila?

Mr. Atienza. Opo.

Mr. De los Angeles. Kailan ba kayo naging alkalde ng Maynila?

Mr. Atienza. Simula po noong 1998 hanggang 2007.

Mr. De los Angeles. Noong kayo ang alkalde ng Maynila, nalaman ba ninyo ang naging

problema ng palengke ng Sampaloc dahil sa MRT project?

Mr. Atienza. Ako ay bagong mayor pa lang noon, bagong halal, nang kami ay pinasabihan

ng LRTA na kakailanganin yung bahagi ng aming pag-aari ng lungsod na kung tawagin ay old

and new Sampaloc Market, sapagkat magtatayo sila roon ng Legarda Station, kayat mapipilitansilang i-expropriat-tin (expropriate)yung property.Iyon po ang simula ng aking pagkaalam doon

sa nabubuong problema na kinakailangan naming harapin, sapagkat iyon po ay palengke. Iyon

ang ginagamit ng buong Sampaloc para sa kanilang pangangailangan.

Mr. De los Angeles. Saan ho ba lugar iyang Sampaloc na palengke?

Mr. Atienza. Doon po sa harapan lamang ng property ng mga Basa. Medyo napapaloob

lang ng konti. Kasi, yung Basa property nasa kantong-kanto po ng Legarda and Bustillos.

But the old Sampaloc market was a bit set back, siguro mga 50 meters from the Legarda Street.

Mr. De los Angeles. Pumayag po ba kayo sa LRTA na ipagbili ang palengke ng Sampaloc?


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Mr. Atienza. Alam ninyo, alam kong makakabuti sa lungsod yong transportasyong iyon,

ano po. Iyon po yung LRT-2 na dudugtong doon sa LRT-1 na dumadaan sa Taft Avenue. So,

alam ko po ang magiging benipisyo ng lungsod sa pagtatayo ng linyang iyon at iyong

pagkakatatag ng sinasabi nilang Legarda Station, sapagkat magkakaroon po ng sakayan at

babaan ang mga taga-Sampaloc na napakalaking bahagi po ng Maynila. Kaya minabuti ko

talagang tulungan ang LRTA makahanap ng solusyon.

They needed the land, humanap po ako ng paraan para iyon ay aming mapagkasunduan, at

matulungan namin sila.

Mr. De los Angeles. Sino po ba ang may-ari ng lupa ng palengke ng Sampaloc?

Mr. Atienza. City governmentpo. Iyon po ay property ng city government, and we were really

in control of the property.

Mr. De los Angeles. Noong sinabi ho ng LRTA na gusto rin niyang bilhin itong lupa kung

nasaan ang Sampaloc na palengke, magkano ho naman ninyo sinabing gusto ninyong ipagbili

itong lupa na ito?

Mr. Atienza. Alam ninyo, pinag-isipan naming mabuti iyon sapagkat napakalaking problema,

eh, ang aming susuungin. Aalisin namin iyong palengkeng luma, eh, samantalang may mga

stallholderspo na umaasa roon, at mayroong mga mamamayang bumibili ng kanilang mga bilihin

doon. You cannot just erase a public market out of existence.

So, the challenge called for an immediate replacement. Hindi dapat maputol po iyong serbisyo

publiko as public markets are public service. One of the essential services of the city government is

to render and operate public markets. So we had to look for a solution right away. Humanap kami

ng maaaring paglipatan noong mga manininda who were already agitated noong kumalat po ang

balita na magtatayo ng Legarda Station doon.

Mayroon ding mga kumontra lalo na ho iyong mga stallholders, na nagsabi: Papaano kami?

Saan kami kikita? Ano, mawawalan na lang kami ng stall nang ganito? I had to assure them

that No, we will not allow the demolition of this public market until we are able to find a relocation

site for you and for the public. Kaya humanap po kami ng lupa agadwithin the vicinity, sinundan

po namin ang prinsipyong minimum dislocation.

Mr. De los Angeles. Nakakita po ba kayo ng kapalit?

Mr. Atienza. Mayroon pong mga ilang potential. In fact, several parcels of land were pointed

out to me by our city engineer and our city architect, my secretary to the Mayor. And ang aking

nakita talaga, very ideal iyung nasa kanto ng Bustillos at Legarda sapagkat iyon po angnapakalapit doon sa palengkeng gigibain.

Mr. De los Angeles. Noong panahon iyon, kilala po ba ninyo kung sino ang may-ari?

Mr. Atienza. Hindi po. I had to direct my city administrator, Col. Antonio Fernando, to

immediately seek out the owners of this property because iyon ho sa tingin ko ang pinaka-ideal, eh.

Iyong iba nasa interior, eh. Mahirap naman magtayo ng palengke sa looban. Sabi ko, hanapin

ninyo ang may-ari niyan and immediately get in touch with them.

Mr. De los Angeles. Sa pagkaalam ho ninyo, nalaman ba kung sino ang may-ari nung lupa

na gusto ninyong makuha?


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Mr. Atienza. After a short period of research ay nakita po nila, owned by the Basa-Guidote

Enterprise or Mercantile. Mayroon pong dalawang kumpanya doon, eh.

Mr. De los Angeles. Noong natuntun ninyo ang may-ari, ano ang ginawa ninyo?

Mr. Atienza. Immediately,pinasulatan ko po doon sa aking city administrator na sabihan sila

para huwag silang mabigla that we have a need for their property at kung maaaring makipagkitasila agad upang maumpisahan ang pag-uusap at maipaliwanag sa kanila ang gamit na aming

kinakailangan.

Mr. De los Angeles. Paano po ba ninyo pinaalam sa Basa-Guidote?

Mr. Atienza. Sa pamamagitan po ng isang liham, alam ko po iyon dahil ipinakita sa akin

ng city administrator ko po, na pinayagan ko.

Mr. De los Angeles. Pinapakita ko po sa inyo ang isang liham na may petsang Mayo 13,

1999.

Mr. Atienza. Tama po, naaalala ko po iyon.Mr. De los Angeles. Maaari bang ipakita? Ano ang kaugnayan nitong sulat na ito sa

inyong sinabi?

Mr. Atienza. Sinasaad po roon ang aming intensyon at pangangailangan ng serbisyo

publiko na iyong kanilang lupa na covered by Certificate of Title No. 76220 ay kinakailangan

po ng lungsod. Kayat, gaya po ng sinabi namin, the earlier we talk about it, discuss the matter,

ay makakabuti po para sa lahat.

Mr. De los Angeles. Iyan ba ang sulat na inyong sinasabi?

Mr. Atienza. Opo.

Mr.Samonte Jr. Your Honor, please, I observed that it is just a photocopy. May we know

from the Defense if they have a certified copy or an original copy of the said document or instrument?

Mr. De los Angeles. We have requested the present, just for proper guidance. We are trying

to get the original and in the meantime we ask for conditional marking.

Mr. Samonte Jr. So, you do not have yet the original?

Mr. De los Angeles. As of now, not yet.

Mr. Samonte Jr. I just want to be clear on that.

Mr. De los Angeles. May I request, Your Honor, that this letter dated May 13, 1999 be marked

as Exhibit 226.

The Presiding Officer. Mark it accordingly.

Mr. De los Angeles. Sinasaad sa sulat before that, meron hong nakapirma diyan sa sulat

na iyan sa itaas ng city administrator. Kaninong pirma ho iyan?

Mr. Atienza.Ito po iyong city administrator nang panahong iyon, Antonio Fernando.

Mr. De los Angeles. Okay. Isinasaad sa sulat ng city administrator na mayroong cadastral

map na kalakip iyang sulat na iyan. Natatandaan ba ninyo iyang mapa na iyan?


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Mr. Atienza. Opo, ito po iyong location nuong lote na aming tinitingnan at hinihingi.

Mr. De los Angeles. May I request, Your Honor, that that cadastral map attached to the

letter dated May 13, 1999 be marked as Exhibit 226-A.


Mr. De los Angeles. Ano ba ang inyong profession?

Mr. Atienza. Ako po ay kumuha ng arkitektura sa USTpero hindi po ako nagpapraktis at

hindi po ako nakakuha ng board.

Mr. De los Angeles. Bilang isang estudyante na kumuha ng arkitektura, nakakaintindi po

ba kayo ng cadastral map and sketch?

Mr. Atienza. Opo. Ako po ay naging National Housing Authority general manager din eh noong

1986 after the EDSA Revolution under President Corys administration.

Mr. De los Angeles. Okay. Ipapakita ko sa inyo itong mapa. Saan dito yung lupain ng

Basa-Guidote na gusto ho ninyong makuha para relocation site ng Sampaloc, Manila?

Mr. Atienza. Nasa kanto po, panulukan ng Legarda atBustillos. Ito po ay dalawang main

avenue sa street ng Sampaloc.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Your Honor please, again, it appears to be a mere photocopy. So, same

manifestation.

Mr. De los Angeles. May we request that that portion of the map be marked as

Exhibit 226-B.

The Presiding Officer. Mark it accordingly. What is the exact name now of Legarda and Bustillos

if there was any change?

Mr. De los Angeles. Ano raw ho ang pangalan ng kalye ng Legarda at Bustillos kung

napalitan na?

Mr. Atienza.Hindi po. Legarda pa rin po.

The Presiding Officer.Ah, Legardapa rin.

Mr. Atienza. Opo.

The Presiding Officer.AtBustillospa rin.

Mr. Atienza. Opo. Bustillospa rin po.

The Presiding Officer. Sige, salamat.

Mr. Atienza. Hindi po kami nagpapalit ng pangalan noong mga panahong iyon.

Mr. De los Angeles.Pakitingnan nga ho uli ninyo itong mapa o sketch at ituro ninyo kung

saan iyong lupa ng old and new Sampaloc market.

Mr. Atienza. Gaya ng sinabi ko po eh iyong old and new Sampaloc market na due for

demolition ay nasa harapan lamang, in this portion.Ito po iyong Basa-Guidote property across,

medyo inward, may setbackng konti from Legarda, about 50 meters away from Legarda.


15/81


Mr. De los Angeles. May I request, Your Honor, that the area that was pointed out by the

Witness be marked as Exhibit 226-C.


Mr. De los Angeles.Nasabi ninyo kanina na inutusan ninyo ang city administrator na sumulat

sa Basa-Guidote noong Mayo 13, 1999.

Sinagot ho ba iyong sinabing sulat?

Mr. Atienza. Wala po eh. Matagal na panahong hindi tumutugon kaya ni-na-nag ko nga po

iyong city administrator ko at napapagalitan ko, sabi ko, Bakit walang reply, walang reaksiyon?

Are they interested or not? Warningan mo. Siyempre, ako po, bilang mayor, I was agitated. I was

being pressured by the LRT people that they were going to take over the public market. There was

agitation among the stallholders. There were, of course, the barangays in the area demanding for a

solution to the impasse.Eh pinagagalitan ko ang city administrator ko. You get action done. Hindi

puwedeng sumulat ka lamang.

Mr. De los Angeles. So, ano po ang ginawa ninyo?

Mr. Atienza. Noong hindi po sumasagot, ang naaalala ko, I went to the City Council andtalked to Vice Mayor Danny Lacuna and asked them to prepare an expropriation measure. That seems

to be the only way we can take hold of the property. Kung ini-expropriate tayo sa kanan, i-

expropriate din natin sa kaliwa.

Mr. De los Angeles. Ano ang nangyari sa pinasulong ninyong....

Mr. Atienza. Umaksyon po naman kaagad si Vice Mayor Lacuna. Immediately, an expropriation

measure was discussed and passed at hinawakan ko na po iyon. And I told my staff, Kung hindi

lalapit iyang mga yan, kasuhan na lamang natin.

Mr. De los Angeles.Ipinapakita ko po sa inyo ang Ordinansa Bilang 7975 na may petsang

Enero24, 2000na hinihingi ko pong mamarkahan na Exhibit 227.

Mr. Atienza. Iyan po ang Ordinansa Bilang7975.

Mr. De los Angeles. Meron pong mga pirma diyan sa ordinansang iyan doon sa itaas na

pangalang Danilo Lacuna. Kanino pong pirma iyon?

Mr. Atienza. Ito po ay pirma niya sapagkat kilala ko po ang pirma ni Vice Mayor. Ito po

namang sa kaliwa, kilala ko po ito, pirma ko po ito.

Mr. De los Angeles. Okay. Doon po sa Attesting Witnesses.

Mr. Atienza.Iyon po ay pirma naman ng aking sekretaryo, si Atty. Emmanuel Sison, at iyongsa kanan po naman ay secretary of the City Council, Atty. Rodolfo Lapid.

Mr. De los Angeles. Bakit po ninyo alam na iyan ang kanilang pirma?

Mr. Atienza. Iyon po ang aming madalas na pirmahan ng aming mga dokumento na

nagmumula po sa City Council.

Mr. De los Angeles. Napuna ko po na isinasaad sa Section 1 ng ordinansang iyan na ang

lupa na i-expropriate ay sa pag-aari ng Guidote Mercantile Corporation. Ngunit ang sinabi ninyo

kanina ay ang may-ari ng lupa na paglilipatan ng palengke ng Sampaloc ay Basa-Guidote

Enterprises. Maaari ba ninyong ipaliwanag ito?


16/81


17/81


Mr. De los Angeles. Did your secretary actually draft the letter?

Mr. Atienza. Opo, immediately.

Mr. De los Angeles. Pinapakita po sa inyo ang isang sulat na may petsang Nobyembre

28, 2000, na hinihingi ko pong mamarkahan na Exhibit 229.

Mr. Atienza. Ito po iyong sulat. Gusto ko lang idiin na in the second to the last paragraph,

I personally asked the secretary to include this: If we still do not hear from you within five (5) days

from receipt of this demand, we shall be constrained to file the necessary complaint of expropriation

against you and take possession of your property upon deposit of 20% of the assessed value thereof.

Mr. De los Angeles. Kanino ho ba naka-address....

The Presiding Officer. Are you marking the document?

Mr. De los Angeles. Yes, Your Honor. We are requesting that it be marked as Exhibit 229.


Mr. Atienza. Naka-address po ito sa Basa-Guidote Enterprises, iyon pong nagmamay-ari

according to the title, and Attention: Mrs. Cristina Corona.

Mr. De los Angeles. All right. There appears a signature at the bottom of that letter above the

name Emmanuel Sison. Whose signature is that?

Mr. Atienza. Ito po ay doon sa aking sekretaryo for a long period of time. Sekretaryo ko

po ito from my vice mayorship.

Mr. De los Angeles. Ano ho ang alok ninyo sa Basa-Guidote para sa lupa nila?

Mr. Atienza. We offered them, of course, the lowest possible that we couldP25,000 per

square meterknowing very well that we had to have a starting point.

Mr. De los Angeles. Ano ho ba naman ang presyo na ipinagbibili ninyo doon sa old and

new Sampaloc market na gustong kunin ng LRTA?

Mr. Atienza. At that point nabenta na namin iyong kabila.

Mr. De los Angeles. Magkano ho ninyo binenta iyon?

Mr. Atienza. Nabenta po namin ng P155 million.

Mr. De los Angeles. At, more or less, magkano ang per square meter na lumalabas?

Mr. Atienza. Hindi ko na po maaalala iyon dahil binili po nila iyon lock, stock and barrel

kasama po iyong lumang palengke na may bubong at mayroong mga stall sa loob. At alam ko

naman na hindi nila gagamitin iyon dahil gigibain nga nila iyon.

Pero pineresyuhan ko ng presyong hindi ibinebenta para ma-delay ng kaunti. Umoo at

nagbayad agad. So, that placed me in another predicament. I have to now get hold of the property

that we are eyeing.

Mr. De los Angeles. Alam po ba ninyo, humigit-kumulang, kung ano lumalabas ang presyo

per square meter nuong old and new market?


18/81


Mr. Atienza.Ang prevailing pricespo roonsapagkat namimili ang LRT, alam ko, we knew

what the LRT people were doing in the area and they were buying properties to accommodate their

requirements. The prevailing price then was between P45,000 to P50,000.

Mr. De los Angeles. Okay. Gaano po ba kalayo itong dalawang lupa na itoitong old and

new Sampaloc Market at saka itong lupa ng Basa-Guidote Enterprises?

Mr. Atienza. Across the street lamang po iyan. Iyong palengkeng luma ay nasa harapan

nitong Basa property. Kaya lamang ay nasa loob ng kaunti iyong old market, may setbackpo.

Iyon ang kinaroroonan ng Legarda Station ngayon, Central Station.

Mr. De los Angeles. Nasabi po ninyo na iyong Legarda Market o Sampaloc Market ay

mayroong bubungan. Ano po ba naman ang nakatayo doon sa Basa-Guidote na lupain?

Mr. Atienza.Mayroon pong lumang gusali na nakatayo na mayroong mga ilang tenants sa

second floor at mayroon pong commercial activities sa ibaba. Kaya, it was a combination of a

residential and commercial use.

Mr. De los Angeles. Mukhang napakababa naman po ang turing ninyo sa lupa ng Basa-Guidote, bakit ganoon?

Mr. Atienza. Mr. President, talaga pong medyo kilala kami noong panahon namin. Kami po

ay nagbebenta ng lupa ng gobyerno, aba eh, sky-high. Kapag kami naman ang bibili ng lupa

ng pribado lalung-lalo na para sa public use na kailangan ng Lungsod, aba eh, talagang rock-

bottom. Kami ay tinagurian ng lahat ng pangalanbarat kung barat pero nakukuha po namin

sa tamang presyo.

Mr. De los Angeles. Pagkatapos po ninyong sinulatan ang Basa-Guidote noong Nobyembre

28, 2000, ano ang nangyari?

Mr. Atienza.Noong 2000 nang ipinadala na iyong sulat, nagresponde na po iyong may-ari.Dumating sa opisina at humingi ng appointmentpo iyong si Mrs. Cristina Corona at akin namang

agad ini-schedule kaya nagkita for the first time.

Mr. De los Angeles. Saan po kayo nagkita?

Mr. Atienza.Sa opisina ko po.

Mr. De los Angeles. Ano ang pagpapakilala sa inyo ni Gng. Cristina Corona?

Mr. Atienza. Sila nga raw po iyong kinatawan ng may-ari ng lupa at handa na po silang

makipag-usap. Nabasa na nga iyong letter namin with finality that we are going to expropriate; we

are going to file the necessary case. At medyo may pakiusap ng kaunti, Huwag muna ninyongmadaliin, huwag ninyo munang ituloy ang kaso sapagkat baka naman mayroon tayong

mapagkaisahan na fair price. Hindi naman po kami kumukontra. Iyon ang kanilang purpose

for the meetingto let us know that they were not against, but they were after a fair price.

Mr. De los Angeles. Sinabi po ninyo na ang sinabi ni Gng. Cristina Corona ay sila ang

kinatawan ng Basa-Guidote Enterprises. Mayroon po ba siyang ipinakitang pagpapatibay sa

kaniyang sinabi?

Mr. Atienza. Iyon po ang aking unang-unang itinanong. Ang sabi ko ay, Papaano po

namin malalaman na kayo ang authorized representative of the corporation? Because we are

talking to the corporation and you are saying that you are the authorized party.


19/81


She submitted to us a Certification of a Board Resolution, stating very clearly that the Corporate

Board assigns a certain Cristina Corona to act for and in behalf of the corporation and to negotiate and

to even accept payment for whatever agreements that we may arrive at. So that was sufficient to

continue meeting with Mrs. Corona to discuss the details of the purchase.

Mr. De los Angeles. Ipinapakita ko po sa inyo ang isang notaryadong Secretarys Certificate

na may petsang Hunyo 19, 1987 na ginawa ni Asuncion Basa Roco, Corporate Secretary ng Basa-Guidote Enterprises. Ano ho ang kaugnayan nito doon sa sinabi ninyong certification?

Mr. Atienza. Ito po iyon. Ito po iyong ipinakita sa amin at aming tinanggap na authorization

ng pagkatao ni Mrs. Corona to continue talking to the city government.

Mr. De los Angeles. May I request, Your Honor, that this Secretarys Certificate be marked

as Exhibit 230.


Mr. Samonte Jr. Your Honor, may we adopt the same as our own Exhibit Eleven H

(HHHHHHHHHHH).

The Presiding Officer. Are you adopting that same document?

Mr. Samonte Jr. Yes, as our own, Your Honor, this early. And the other document which was

not yet marked by the Defense, which is the letter, we would like to mark it now as our own Exhibit

I, Your Honor.

The Presiding Officer. Mark them accordingly.

Mr. Samonte Jr. And the notation appearing on the right upper portion thereof to be encircled

and be marked in evidence for the Prosecution as Exhibit I-1, Your Honor, which reads: Received,

5 December 2000, with a signature on top of the readable portion: R. C. Corona, Your Honor.


Mr. De los Angeles. There is a name appearing at the bottom of this Secretarys Certificate

under Attested by. Can you please read to us the name of that person?

Mr. Atienza. Ang akin pong pagkakabasa rito noon at hanggang ngayon, kasi medyo

malabo, Sister Concepcion Basa; at iyon po namang nasa itaas, Asuncion Basa Roco.

Mr. De los Angeles. Okay. Mayroon ho bang kasama si Gng. Cristina Corona noong

nakipagkita sa inyo?

Mr. Atienza. Kasama po iyong kaniyang butihing kabiyak.

Mr. De los Angeles. Ano ho ba ang pagpakilala nila sa iyo.

Mr. Atienza. Si Atty. Renato Corona, abogado.

Mr. De los Angeles. Kilala ba ho ninyo iyong Ginoong Corona noong panahong iyon?

Mr. Atienza. Hindi po. Iyon po ang unang pagkakataon ng pagkikita namin, bagamat

nababasa ko sa dyaryo sapagkat alam ko na naging bahagi siya ng Presidential Legal Office

noong panahon ni Pangulong Ramos.

Mr. De los Angeles. Sa pagkakaalam ba ninyo ay mayroong katungkulan si Ginoong

Corona noong nakipagkita sa inyo?


20/81


Mr. Atienza. Wala po. Ang pagpapakilala niya sa sarili niya at pagkakakilala ko po ay

he was a private practitioner.

Mr. De los Angeles. Noong nakipagkita sa inyo sina Ginoong at Ginang Corona , ano ho

ang sinabi ninyo sa kanila?

Mr. Atienza. Ipinaliwanag ko po iyong intention ng Maynila na the case will be filed unlesswe come to terms and there is no way that we could possibly let go of that particular property

because ang laki na po ng problema at that point. The stallholders were really agitated na

napasukan na po ng ideological issuesthe government being anti-poor and how can we allow the

demolition of public market for whatever purpose.

Meanwhile, the Sampaloc residents were also becoming very worried about the loss of a public

market. So ipinaliwanag ko kay Attorney Corona, nandoon na siya noon. Ang sabi ko, Wala

kaming magagawa, we will have to go to court. We will expropriate your property and be ready

to face the consequences, but we will take hold of the property to serve the purposes of public service.

Mr. De los Angeles. Mayroon ho bang sinabi si Ginang Corona tungkol sa inialok ninyong

presyo para sa lupa nila?

Mr. Atienza. From the very start, alam ko naman na they were responsible people, realizing

the predicament of the city government and not miscalculating the intentions of the administration. But

they were willing to talk. So, Mrs. Corona was somehow requesting, Baka naman puwede hong

itaas ninyo dahil iyonlamang naman ang aming pakiusap eh, hindi naman po kami tumatanggi .

Mr. De los Angeles. Magkano ho ang ipinapakiusap ni Ginang Corona?

Mr. Atienza. Ang sabi nila, Nagbebentahan naman po dito ng up to P50,000, baka naman

puwedeng iyan po ang gamitin ninyo, diwala na pong expropriation, P50,000 per square meter.

Mr. De los Angeles. Eh ano naman ang sagot ninyo?

Mr. Atienza. Napatawa ako dahil hindi naman ako papayag ng singkuwenta mil

(P50,000.00). Alam na namin ang aming strategy and when we were dealing with them, we had

a game plan and we cannot possibly pay P50,000 per square meter. So sinabi ko flat, No, we will

have to stick to the 25.

Mr. De los Angeles. Ano ho ang sinabi nila sa sagot ninyo?

Mr. Atienza. They will consider it. They will meet and they will again come for another meeting.

Ang sabi ko, Bilis-bilisan ninyo because we can only wait so much.

Mr. De los Angeles. Alam ba ni Ginoong at Ginang Corona na may balak kayong i-

expropriate iyong lupa nila?

Mr. Atienza. Malinaw po iyon. Ipinakita ko pa ho iyong kopyang expropriation eh. And

as a lawyer, angsabi niya, Kung maaari naman, huwag na nating paabutin diyan. Alam ko ang

consequences ng expropriation. He knows they will only get 20 percent.

Meanwhile, we will take possession of the property and the public project will still go up. Kaya

ang sabi ko, Bilisan ninyo ang pag-iisip at kami po namaneh, we will reconsider and we will

consider your request so that we will communicate to you as soon as possible our last and final offer

and you decide from there. Otherwise, we will see you in court.


21/81


Mr. De los Angeles. Nagkita pa ho ba kayo pagkatapos noong

Mr. Atienza. Sumulat muna ako clearly defining our intentions,pumapayag na kaming i-adjust

ng konti iyong presyo, gawin nating P34,000 per square meter, hindi na kami makikipag-usap

from there. And then pumayag naman sila. Sumulat agad. Mabilis iyong sagot nila eh.

Reluctantly, I remember the key word. Reluctantly we are giving in to your price.

Mr. De los Angeles. Nasabi ho ninyo na sumulat kayo?

Mr. Atienza. Opo.

Mr. De los Angeles. Ipinapakita ko po sa iyo ang isang sulat na may petsang Enero 8, 2001

para sa Basa-Guidote.

Mr. Atienza. Tama po. Sapagkat ito na po eh. Enero na poito, Enero8, 2001. Eh medyo

magulo na ang panahon noon. We were in a very restive condition. I had my own backyard agitated

with this issue alone and so therefore, ako na mismo ang sumulat eh. First timepo akong nag-

communicate. Because I thought ako po angkausap na nila, ako na ang sumulat para maniwala

na sila na magkikita na tayo sa korte kung hindi kayo papayag.

Mr. De los Angeles. May I request, Your Honor, that this letter dated January 8, 2001 be

marked as Exhibit 232.

The Presiding Officer. That is the letter to whom?

Mr. De los Angeles. I am sorry, 231, Your Honor.

Mr. Samonte Jr. May we know if that is an original or a duplicate original?

The Presiding Officer. Just a minute. That is a letter from whom to whom?

Mr. De los Angeles. That letter is from the mayor to Basa- Guidote. So the original, YourHonor, is with Basa-Guidote.


Mr. Samonte Jr. May we know if at least that is a duplicate original or a plain photocopy?

Mr. De los Angeles. Mayor, do you have a duplicate original of this letter?

Mr. Atienza. Palagay ko nasa Mayors Office po ngayon iyon. Lahat ng records dito

eh nasa City Hallpo.

Mr. De los Angeles. Okay, we will endeavor to look for that duplicate original for comparisonpurposes.

Mr. Samonte Jr. So that this copy came from the Defense?

Mr. De los Angeles. Yes, Your Honor.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Not from the mayor?

Mr. De los Angeles. No. This copy

Mr. Samonte Jr. I just want to be clarified. Is this very copy, now being marked, came from

the Defense or from the good mayor?


22/81


Mr. De los Angeles. If I am not mistaken, it came from the good mayor.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Himself.

Mr. De los Angeles. Himself.

Mr. Samonte Jr. He brought it over this afternoon.

Mr. De los Angeles. I think that was shown to me when I talked to him the other day.

Mr. Samonte Jr. So it came from him?

Mr. De los Angeles. Yes.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President.

Mr. De los Angeles. Now, there appears a signature above the name Jose Atienza in that

letter, whose signature is that?

Mr. Atienza. Pirma ko po ito. Akin po.

Mr. De los Angeles. Ano ho ang reaction ng Basa-Guidote sa sulat na iyan?

Mr. Atienza. Sumagot na po sila formally. After this letter, they formally accepted the price and

that caused the negotiation.

Mr. De los Angeles. Ipinapakita ko po sa inyo ang isang sulat na may petsang Pebrero 13,

2001 , iyan ho ba iyung sinasabi ninyongsulat na galing sa Basa-Guidote?

Mr. Atienza. Tama po. Ito po ay addressed sa akin atpinirmahan po naman noong Cristina

R. Corona, authorized representative of the Basa-Guidote Enterprises.

Mr. De los Angeles. May we request, Your Honor, that this letter dated February 13, 2001 bemarked as Exhibit 232.

The Senate President. Mark it accordingly.

Mr. De los Angeles. Okay. There appears a signature below that letter under the words

Received original, whose signature is that?

Mr. Atienza. Pirma po noong secretary to the mayor. Siya poang tumatanggap ng mga

communications.

Mr. De los Angeles. And who is he?

Mr. Atienza. Atty. Emmanuel Sison.

Mr. De los Angeles. Pagkatapos noong matanggap ninyo iyong pagsang-ayon ng Basa-

Guidote Enterprises, ano ang nangyari?

Mr. Atienza. Noong pumayag na po sila at natapos iyung negosasyon, eh kami po ay

pinatakbo namin iyung proseso na consummation. The necessary Deed of Sale was directed by us

to be prepared, and our City Legal Office went into action at gumawa na pong draft Deed of Sale.

Mr. De los Angeles. I am showing to you a copy of a Deed of Sale which we would like

to mark as Exhibit 233.


23/81



Mr. De los Angeles. Is this the Deed of Sale that you referred to?

Mr. Atienza. Opo.

The Presiding Officer. What is the date of that Deed of Sale?

Mr. De los Angeles. This Deed of Sale is dated March 26, 2001, Your Honor.

The Presiding Officer. Between whom?

Mr. De los Angeles. March 26.

The Presiding Officer. Between whom?

Mr. De los Angeles. Between the City of Manila and Basa-Guidote Enterprises.

Mr. Atienza. Opo.

The Presiding Officer. Okay. Mark it accordingly.

Mr. de los Angeles. May we make of record that this Deed of Sale consist of five pages

and that the original of this Deed of Sale will be presented by the next witness, Your Honor.

The Presiding Officer. The original is, Counsel?

Mr. De los Angeles. Yes.

The Presiding Officer. The original is...

Mr. De los Angeles. ...is with the next witness, the acting custodian of records of the City

of Manila, Your Honor.

The Presiding Officer. That ought to be in the Register of Deeds.

Mr. De los Angeles. No, Your Honor. I think the original is still with the acting records

custodian of the City of Manila, Your Honor.

The Presiding Officer. Not registered?

Mr. De los Angeles. I am not very clear about that, Your Honor. But it seems that the

Deed of Sale has not yet been registered.

The Presiding Officer. Okay.

Mr. De los Angeles. But I am not sure about that, Your Honor.


Mr. De los Angeles. There appears signature on the Deed of Sale, can you please identify the

signature above the name Jose L. Atienza?

Mr. Atienza. Pirma ko po ito.

Mr. De los Angeles. And, there is also a signature above the name Cristina Corona, whose

signature is that?


24/81


25/81


Mr. De los Angeles. Alam ho ba ninyo kung ano ang nangyari sa dalawang requests at

endorsements na ito?

Mr. Atienza. Opo. Iyon po ay tumakbo na sa proseso at nagbunga na iyan ng

Mr. De los Angeles. Nang sinabi ninyong nagbunga, gusto ho ba ninyong sabihin

naaprubahan ang availability of funds?

Mr. Atienza. Opo. Nagkaroon po ng certification of funds availability that should lead

to the preparation of the necessary checks.

Mr. De los Angeles. Pinapakita ko ho sa inyo ang isang sulat na may petsang Mayo 18,

2001. Ito ho ba iyong sinasabi ninyo?

Mr. Atienza. Ito na po iyong sulat ng city accountant na nagmumula po sa Office of

the City Treasurer and the Office of the City Budget Officer. Tatlo po silang nag-certify ng

availability of funds.

Mr. De los Angeles. Mayroon hong mga pirma diyan, paki-identify ho nga ninyo kung

kanino iyan?

Mr. Atienza. City Treasurer Liberty Toledo, City Accountant Gloria Quilantang, City Budget

Officer Alice Moscaya.

Mr. De los Angeles. May I request, Your Honor, that this letter dated May 18, 2001,

be marked as Exhibit 237.


Mr. De los Angeles. Pagkatapos i-issue ang certificate of availability of funds, ano ang ginawa

ng City of Manila tungkol sa Deed of Absolute Sale?

Mr. Atienza. Nagpirmahan na nga po kami at mayroon na pong perang pambayad.

Mr. De los Angeles. Paano ho ninyo binayaran itong P34,703,800?

Mr. Atienza. In the form of a check of the city government of the City of Manila.

Mr. De los Angeles. Okay. Pinapakita ko ho sa inyo ang isang tseke ng Land Bank

No. 188804 dated June 5, 2001 na may halagang P34,703,800, ito ho ba yung tseke?

Mr. Atienza. Bagamat hindi po ako nakapirma rito, ang nakapirma po rito ay City Treasurer

at yong secretary to the mayor, by authority of the mayor, as he was the signatory to all our payments

at that time.

The Presiding Officer. Who is the payee of that check?

Mr. Atienza. Ito po ay naka-addresspo sa Cristina Corona, ITF (In Trust For), Basa-Guidote

Enterprises Incorporated.

Mr. Samonte Jr. If I am not mistaken, this was previously marked as Exhibit 44 for the

Defense early on.

The Presiding Officer. Are you marking the check?

Mr. Samonte Jr. I have a copy here coming from the Secretariat, Your Honor, which we will

adopt as our own as Exhibit


26/81


Mr. De los Angeles. If, Your Honor, please.

The Presiding Officer. Just a minute.

Has the Defense marked the check as exhibit?

Mr. De los Angeles. Your Honor, what we marked earlier was a xerox copy. But this check

which is now being presented came from the auditing office, Your Honor, the COA.

The Presiding Officer. Of?

Mr. De los Angeles. The Commission on Audit, Your Honor.

The Presiding Officer. Yes. And you are marking it?

Mr. De los Angeles. We would like to mark it as Exhibit 238, Your Honor.

The Presiding Officer. So mark it accordingly.

Mr. Samonte Jr. And for the Prosecution as Exhibit JJJJJJJJJJJ.

The Presiding Officer. Mark it.

Mr. Samonte Jr. for the front portion, and the dorsal portion as JJJJJJJJJJJ-1, Your Honor.

The Presiding Officer. Mark the same accordingly for the Prosecution.

Mr. De los Angeles. May we also request that the dorsal portion be marked as

Exhibit 238-A.

The Presiding Officer. For the Defense?

Mr. De los Angeles. Yes, Your Honor.


Mr. Samonte Jr. Your Honor, may we request for further submarking?

We would like to request that the entry at the back portion thereof, reading, For deposit

to Account 001512-0029-74 in the name Cristina R. Corona, be encircled and be further

marked Exhibit JJJJJJJJJJJ-2, Your Honor.

The Presiding Officer. Mark it accordingly for the Prosecution.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Thank you, Your Honor.

Mr. De los Angeles. Mayroon ho bang katibayan na itong tseke ay natanggap ni

Ginang Corona?

Mr. Atienza. Ay iyan po ay natitiyak ko sapagkat sa opisina ko po nagkaroon kami ng

simple ceremony of agreement na ikinatuwa ng lahat.

Mr. De los Angeles. Mayroon ho bang voucher ito?

Mr. Atienza. Mayroon po atcovered by the necessary vouchers.

Mr. De los Angeles. Pinapakita ko po sa inyo ang isang voucher, ano ho iyong kaugnayan

nitong voucher na ito doon sa inyong sinabi?


27/81


Mr. Atienza. Ito po ang official document that allows the preparation and the release

of the money.

Mr. De los Angeles. Okay. There appears at the bottom of the voucher under Received a

signature, whose signature is that?

Mr. Atienza. Ang tumanggap po ay si Cristina R. Corona.Mr. De los Angeles. Okay. May I request, Your Honor, that this voucher be marked as

Exhibit 239.


Mr. De los Angeles. Tinatawag ko ho ang pansin ninyo,Ginoong Mayor, sa paragraph 2

ng Deed of Absolute Sale.

Pakipakita kay Mayor ang Deed of Absolute Sale na nagsasaad, Simultaneously with the

payment of the said sum, Basa-Guidote shall voluntarily surrender to the city its owners

duplicate copy of TCT No. 76220.Ano ba ang nangyari pagkabigay ng tseke kay Gng. Cristina Corona?

Mr. Atienza. Ang akin pong nakita at sa kaalaman ko po ehay tinurn-over(turnover) po

iyongnakita ko po iyong titulo at tinanggap naman po ng aming City Legal Officer at ni

Secretary Sison.

Mr. De los Angeles. May I request, Your Honor, that a xerox copy of the title, TCT

No. 76220, be marked as Exhibit 240.


Mr. De los Angeles. If, Your Honor please, my attention has been called that a certified truecopy of TCT No. 76220 has already been marked as Exhibit 228-A. So I withdraw my earlier

request.

The Presiding Officer. All right. Exhibit No.

Mr. De los Angeles. Exhibit 240 is withdrawn because the certified true copy of the title

has already been marked as Exhibit 228-A.

The Presiding Officer. Request of the Defense is granted.

Mr. De los Angeles. Binigyan din ho ba kayo ng Tax Declaration ng Basa Enterprises

through Gng. Cristina Corona?

Mr. Atienza. Not personally anymore. Iyong portion na iyon eh it wasMy secretary

and my lawyer already handled that.

Mr. De los Angeles. Anyway, Your Honor, may we mark the Tax Declaration as

Exhibit 240.


Mr. Atienza. Nabasa ko rin po ito at dumaan sa akin. Itopo iyong nagsasaad ng value

nuong lupa na aming binili.


28/81


Mr. De los Angeles. Okay. Pagkatapos ninyong bayaranang Basa-Guidote Enterprises,

ano ang ginawa ninyo tungkol sa lupa?

Mr. Atienza. Immediatelypo ay tineyk-over (take-over) na namin. Atdahil nga po kapos na

kami sa panahon, nabayaran na iyongkabilang palengke, may salapi na po kaming nakalaan

para po roonsa pangangailangan, the first order of the day was to construct an emergency relocation

market para po iyong tatamaang mga vendors doon sa lumang palengke at mawawalan nghanapbuhay ay mailipat namin agad. It only took us about two weeks to build a makeshift

temporary emergency market doon sa bahagi ng property nila Mrs. Corona at agad po naming

dinimolis iyongkanilang istraktura roon. Halos simultaneous iyon. While we were demolishing the

structure, we were also building a temporary emergency market.

Mr. De los Angeles.Mayroon ho bang tumutol sa mganagtitinda sa paglipat ng palengke?

Mr. Atienza. Marami po, pangkalahatan. There was a total refusal to transfer because

they feel they really had a right to the old public market.Naku, ang dami po naming dialogues na

ginanap dahil sa paliwanag kami nang paliwanag. Hindi natin mapipigil iyan at hindi po

mababago ang pangangailangan ng LRT line at ito ay kapalaran ng Sampaloc na iyong CentralStation ay dito mailagay. Hindi roon sa labas ng Maynila at hindi rito sabandang Sta. Mesa

kundi dito sa Legarda and Bustillos, malapit sa university belt, malapit sa commercial area

ng Sampaloc.

It took us a lot of effort. I remember, nag-meeting kami sa umaga,tanghali, gabi. Meanwhile

the radicalization and polarization was happening, iyong isyu sa lansangan ito ay anti-poor measure,

na iyong LRT project is a...maraming mga bintang na useless. Samantalang iyong pangangailangan

nila ang importante. Naiintindihan ko po lahat iyon kaya we were acting with dispatch to address

the legitimate reasons for the objection to the whole project.

The Presiding Officer. What is the relevance of that question to the present impeachment

case?

Mr. De los Angeles. Well, I just would like to ask a follow-up question, Your Honor,

to show that the City of Manila eventually took possession, physical and legal possession,

of that property, Your Honor.


Mr. De los Angeles. So, pagkatapos po noon ay lumipat din po ba itong mga nagtitinda

sa bagong lugar na dating lupa ng Basa-Guidote?

Mr. Atienza. Noong naitayo na namin iyong emergency relocation facilities dahil kailangan

ipakita po ninyo na mayroon silang lilipatang palengke kahit na makeshiftpero mapagtitindahan.

Iyon lamang ang nakakumbinsi sa kanila. At iyong mga informal settlerspo naman na kasali rin

sa gulo, itinayo pa namin ng kaunting temporary shelter doon sa likod po naman noong property.

About 16 families were given temporary shelter there.

Mr. De los Angeles. Magmula noon hanggang ngayon, mayroon ba kayong alam kung

mayroon pong nag-claim diyan sa lupa na iyan?

Mr. Atienza. Wala na po. Definitely, the property was owned by the corporation and the

transaction was respected and honored. As I understand, there was peaceful possession that we

initiated and was never contested.


29/81


Mr. De los Angeles. Okay. Sa COA naman, Commission on Audit, lalo na doon sa inyong

resident COA, mayroon po bang tutol?

Mr. Atienza. Initially, wala po. Dumaan po naman lahat iyang prosesong iyan sa kanilang

pagsusuri. But a year after, lumabas sa report ng isang audit team coming from the central

office of COA, which is normal, and according to regular practices, ino-audit po lahat ng

transaction ng city government, LGUs. Lumabas po sa kanilang report na mayroong orderfor suspension for that particular transaction asking for documents to be submitted before they

act on the contract favorably.

Mr. De los Angeles. Okay. Pinapakita ko po sa inyo ang isang notice ng suspension na may

petsang March 5, 2002. Ano po ba ang kaugnayan nito doon sa nasabi ninyong notice of

suspension?

Mr. Atienza. Kagaya ng sinabi ko po, a year after, a year after the transaction nagkaroon ng

review ng central office at gumawa ng rekomendasyon iyong local COA.

The Presiding Officer. Counsel, what is the relevance of this issue regarding the sale of the

property? There was already transfer of the property to the city, payment to the seller who is involved

in this case.

Mr. De los Angeles. I just want to complete the picture, Your Honor, and this will be my last

question, Your Honor.

The Presiding Officer. Yes, please go ahead.

Mr. De los Angeles. So that, Your Honors, we will have the complete picture.

Mr. Atienza. Gusto ko lamang pong sabihin,Your Honor, Mr. President, although there was

an order for suspension in 2002, every year thereafter, we had been reviewed by the central office2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. Hindi na po lumabas iyong usapin na iyan.

Meaning, I assumed that my people were able to submit the necessary supporting papers

that they were asking, that they were demanding and that removed that particular transaction

from the list of suspended transactions.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Your Honor please, may I move to strike out that last portion for being a

volunteered statement, done without the benefit of a proper question?

The Presiding Officer. Let it remain into the record. But, anyway, as far as this Court is

concerned, whatever is the problem with respect to the transaction between the seller and the buyer

is of no moment here. The fact is that money was transferred to Mrs. Corona.

Mr. De los Angeles. May I request, Your Honor, that the Notice of Suspension dated

March 5, 2002 be marked as Exhibit 244.


Mr. De los Angeles. That will be all with this Witness.

The Presiding Officer. All right. Before the cross-examination, suspension.

Mr. De los Angeles. I am sorry, 241.


30/81


Mr. Samonte Jr. Your Honor, we just like to mark that particular document as Exhibit

KKKKKKKKKKK. Yes, Your Honor, suspension.

The Presiding Officer. Mark it accordingly for the Prosecution.

Before the Prosecution starts its cross-examination, let us have a recess for five minutes.

The trial was suspended at 3:45 p.m.

At 4:14 p.m., the trial was resumed.

The Presiding Officer. The Impeachment trial is resumed.

The Floor Leader is recognized.

The Prosecution will now start its cross-examination.

[Pause]

Is the Prosecution ready to cross-examine?

Mr. Samonte Jr. Yes, Your Honor, we are ready to start with our cross-examination.

But may we make an announcement, a manifestation, that because of the lengthy direct examination

and numerous documents presented through our good Mayor, we might not be able to wind up our

cross-examination and we would need a reasonable time to go over them for further and more intelligent

cross-examination, Your Honor. But we can start now.

The Presiding Officer. You can continue your cross-examination. You have all the time to do this.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Yes, Your Honor, until such time that we have to suspend for the meantime as

we have to go over the other documents.

The Presiding Officer. You want to....

Mr. Samonte Jr. We can start. We will start now, right now, we will start.

The Presiding Officer. All right. You can start.

Mr. Samonte Jr. May I proceed, Your Honor.

The Presiding Officer. Yes, proceed.

Mr. Samonte Jr.Magandang hapon po, Mr. President, and Mr. good Mayor.

The Presiding Officer.Magandang hapon po uli sa inyo.

Mr. Samonte Jr.Dumating po kayo sa hearing ngayong hapon dito sa Impeachment Court ng

sarili po ninyong kusa o voluntarily?

Mr. Atienza. Opo.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Wala pong hiningi ang depensa na subpoena sa kagalang-galang na

Impeachment Courtpara kayo ay dumalo at tumestigo?

Mr. Atienza.Ako po ay inanyayahan. I was invited.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Sino po ang nag-anyaya sa inyo?


31/81


Mr. Atienza. Si Atty. De los Angeles.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Kailan po kayo inanyayahan kaya?

Mr. Atienza.Noong isang linggo.

Mr. Samonte Jr. So, as early as last weekalam na ninyo na tetestigo kayo?

Mr. Atienza. Opo.

Mr. Samonte Jr. At pinag-usapan ninyo....

Mr. Atienza. Let me correct that. Initially, hesitantpo ako to....

Mr. Samonte Jr. Can you just kindly answer my question, Mr. Witness.

Mr. Atienza. Initially, hesitant ako pero nag-decide ako finally to....

Mr. Samonte Jr. And when did you finally decide to take the stand?

Mr. Atienza. Two days ago.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Two days ago. Okay. And no subpoena was issued to you as you

earlier admitted?

Mr. Atienza. Wala po.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Did Atty. de los Angeles explain to you the nature of your testimony?

Mr. Atienza. Vaguely, because I came here on my own volition. I know what I was going to say.

I wanted to tell the truth and nothing but the truth, whatever I know is the truth.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Yes. Thank you for that. Thank you, Mayor. Sabi po ninyo dahil sa

pangangailangan ng siyudad ng Maynila sa lugar na paglilipatan ng mga stallholders naghanapkayo ng lugar?

Mr. Atienza. Opo.

Mr. Samonte Jr.Noong una iniisip ninyo na by way of expropriation.Hindi po ba?

Mr. Atienza. Tama po iyon.

Mr. Samonte Jr. At sabi ninyo nagpahanap kayo sa mga staffninyo?

Mr. Atienza. Tama po iyon.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Puwede po ba ninyong sabihin sa amin specifically sino iyong staffninyo nainyong naatasan for this purpose?

Mr. Atienza. City Administrator Fernando; City Secretary Emmanuel Sison; City Engineer

Magdiwang Recato; City Architect Jun Tablan; and, of course, members of the City Council who are

also equally concerned especially those from Sampaloc.

Mr. Samonte Jr. So, practically, all the high-ranking city officials you have given the instruction

to look for the place to be the subject of relocation and, of course, to find out the owners or the proper

parties that you have to deal with for the purpose of acquisition.

Mr. Atienza. Tama po.


32/81


Mr. Samonte Jr.Meron po tayong tinatawag na due diligence. I hope you understand that.

Mr. Atienza.Medyo po.

Mr. Samonte Jr.Ang ibig sabihin po noon magsisikap kayo na saliksikin lalo na kung sino

ang may-ari, kung may titulo man iyong pag-aaring gusto ninyong kunin by way of expropriation.


Mr. Samonte Jr. Ginawa po ba ninyo iyon?


Mr. Samonte Jr.Inatasan po ba ninyo kung sinuman doon sa mga high ranking officials na

nabanggit ninyo na tingnan nga ninyo kung sino ang may-ari nito?

Mr. Atienza. Palagay ko ako po iyong pinaka-highest ranking official.

Mr. Samonte Jr. I mean,lower than you na inutusan ninyo.

Mr. Atienza. Kasama ko po sila kapag nag-i-inspeksiyon kami sa bandang Legarda,naghahanap po kami ng ideal site.

Mr. Samonte Jr. So, natumbok ninyo po, natukoy ninyo na ito iyong ideal site.

Mr. Atienza. The most ideal.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Which happens to be the property owned by an entity named Basa-Guidote

Enterprise, Inc.

Mr. Atienza. When I got....

Mr. Samonte Jr. Nalaman po ba ninyo iyon?

Mr. Atienza. When I got that impression, wala po akong alam kung sino ang may-ari.

Mr. Samonte Jr.Hindi po ba naging bahagi ng due diligence ninyo para malaman kung sino

talaga ang may-ari ng nasabing propriedad na inyong dapat bilhin o kunin?

Mr. Atienza. Eventually, lumabas po iyong pangalan. Pero when we decided, ito, ideal ito,

wala pong pangalan.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Kailan po ba? Puwede po bang sabihin ninyo sa amin kung kailan ninyo

nalaman na ito na nga ang gusto ninyo? Kailan?

Mr. Atienza. Noong 1999.

Mr. Samonte Jr. So, as early as 1999.

Mr. Atienza. Opo.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Kailan ninyo po nalaman naman sa pagsasaliksik at sa pag-i-exercise ng

due diligence ng inyong matataas na tauhan na ang may-ari pala nito ay isang korporasyon na

nagngangalang Basa-Guidote? Kailan po kaya? Matatandaan ninyo ba?

Mr. Atienza. First quarter na po siguro iyon ng 1999 entering the second quarter at hindi na

po ako iyon. Iyong city administrator namin went on his own to seek the owners of the property and

siya po ang nakakuha ng detalye.


33/81


Mr. Samonte Jr. Pero siyempre po, from time to time, ina-update niya kayo sa kung ano

mang impormasyon na nakita niya.

Mr. Atienza. Noong isusulat na niya iyong intensiyon namin, doon ko lamang nakita kung

sino ang susulatan namin. I did not care kung sino ang may-ari. Ang importante iyong lupa

kailangan.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Opo, wala po tayong quarrel doon kung sino iyong dapat na may-ari na

dapat ninyong malaman.

Ano nga po ulit ang petsa ng unang sulat na pinadala ng tao ninyo?

Mr. Atienza. Palagay ko Mayo.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Puwede po bang mahiram iyong kopya ng unang sulat? Ito po ba iyong

May 30, 1999?

Mr. Atienza. Iyan po.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Na minarkahan ninyo bilang Exhibit 226, Mr. Defense Counsel. Ito poba iyon? Tama po ako, Exhibit 226.

Mr. De los Angeles. Titingnan ko lamang iyong records ko. Yes.

Mr. Samonte Jr. At samakatuwid, nalaman ninyo na ang nagmamay-ari pala nito by that

time, May 30, 1999, na ang sinasabi ninyong administrator ayon sa sulat ninyo mismo ay isang

Ms. Cristina Corona. Tama po ba ako, Mayor?

Mr. Atienza. Iyan po ang nakalagay sa sulat.

Mr. Samonte Jr. At ito po iyong mismong sulat na pinadala ni City Administrator Antonio

A. Fernando.


Mr. Samonte Jr. Bago po ba pinadala ito nakita ninyo na ito?

Mr. Atienza. Iyong sulat?

Mr. Samonte Jr. Iyong sulat. Kinunsulta po ba ito sa inyo?

Mr. Atienza. Iyong sulat kinunsulta sa akin.

Mr. Samonte Jr. So nakita po ninyo ito bago ipadala.

Mr. Atienza. Iyong sulat, oo.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Nalaman po ba ninyo kung papaano pinadala ito sa addressee?

Mr. Atienza. Hindi ko po alam.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Ginoong Mayor,pakibasa nga po ang addressee sa sulat na iyan pati iyong

address niya.

Mr. Atienza. Ms. Cristina Corona, Administrator, Basa-Guidote Enterprises.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Sasang-ayon po kayo sa akin na walang detalye kung saan siya, kung sino

itong si Cristina Corona, saan mismo ang address, number ng bahay, number ng opisina, at kung


34/81


saang lugar, kung sa Makati, sa Maynila o saan. Ito po ay plain na Ms. Cristina Corona,

Administrator, Basa-Guidote Enterprise, hindi po ba?

Mr. Atienza. Opo.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Kapag ito po ba ay pinadala sa koreyo, halimbawa, inaasahan ninyo ba

na matatanggap ito?

Mr. Atienza. Alam ninyo....

Mr. Samonte Jr. Hindi. Sagutin ninyo lamang ako, yes or no.

Mr. Atienza. Palagay ko hindi sa koreyo.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Hindi matatanggap, hindi po ba?

Mr. Atienza. Palagay ko hand-carried iyan.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Hand-carried.May proofpo ba kayo? Tatanggapin ko iyang sinasabi ninyo.

Mr. Atienza. Nakarating po, e.

Mr. Cuevas. May we request, Your Honor, that the Witness be treated very courteously.

Mr. Samonte Jr. I am sorry.

Mr. Cuevas. I do not know why you are picking a quarrel with the Witness.

Mr. Samonte Jr. I am not, I am not. Mr. Justice, I am not. Pasensiya na po kayo, medyo....

The Presiding Officer. No, just an emphasis.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Opo. Nasa cross-examination po ako. Pasensya na po.

Mr. Cuevas. In the first place, the letter has not been authored by the Witness on the stand, Your

Honor. It is by somebody else. How it was drafted, how it was sent to the addressee, it is not within

his capability.

The Presiding Officer. Let the Witness answer please.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Salamat po.

The Presiding Officer. Let the Witness answer.

Mr. Cuevas. Nakasagot na yata.

Mr. Samonte Jr. May I know the last answer?

Mr. Atienza. Ang importante po nakarating.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Hindi, sagutin ninyo lamang po ako kung...

Mr. Atienza. Nakarating ang sulat.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Tinatanong ko po kung ito ay pinadala sa pamamagitan ng koreyo,

naniniwala ba kayo na matatanggap po ito?

Mr. Atienza.Hindi ko po alam kung iyan ay pinadala sa koreyo, kung iyan ay hinand-carry,

ang importante nagkaroon ng resulta. Iyon po ang trabaho ng mayor.


35/81


Mr. Samonte Jr. So, sa pamamagitan po nitong mismong sulat na ito, ito po ba iyong

mismong kopya na pinadala kaya?

Mr. Atienza.Iyan po ang lumalabas na kopya at wala naman akong nakitang ibang kopya.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Sasang-ayon po ba kayo sa akin na sa ordinaryong pagbasa ng sinasabi

ninyong sulat na ito na May 13, wala pong nakalagay rito kung papaano ninyo sinasabingnatanggap ito?

Mr. Atienza. Kasi pagkatapos po nito, iyong city administrator ko ay mananagot sa akin.

Siya po ang managot sa akin, sa aking follow-up sa kanya.

Mr. Samonte Jr. City administratorpo ba o... May kinalaman po ba iyong secretary ninyo

rito, si Attorney Sison, sa pagpapadala nito?

Mr. Atienza. Iyan po sa unang-unang kontak, iyong city administratorpo ang humawak.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Kilala po kaya ni Mr. City Administrator Fernando si Gng. Cristina Corona

para sinasabi ninyo kanina na baka hand carried or personal service ito?Mr. Atienza. Palagay ko hindi ko masasagot iyan sapagkat kung alam niya dapat nasabi

na niya agad sa akin.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Hindi ho ba sabi ninyo kanina walang reply?

Mr. Atienza. Wala po.

Mr. Samonte Jr. So, paano ninyo nasabing natanggap itong sulat na ito?

Mr. Atienza. Siyempre marami pong trabaho ang mayor. Hindi ko po masusundan iyan on

a day-to-day basis. Ang importante nakita po iyong sulat na pinadala at naghintay ako ng

resulta.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Ano po ba ang totoo? Nagkaroon ho ba ng reply o walang reply sa

mismong sulat na ito?

Mr. Atienza. Wala po akong alam na naaalalang reply after that.

Mr. Samonte Jr. So, wala rin po tayong patunay na natanggap ito dahil walang reply.

Hindi ho ba?

Mr. Atienza. Ang alam ko ay hesitant iyong may-ari sapagkat ang report ng city administrator

ay ayaw makipagkita ng may-ari.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Conclusion ninyo po siguro iyon, Mayor?

Mr. Atienza. Siyempre mayroon tayong kanya-kanyang conclusion. Kayo mayroon. Ako

mayroon.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Sige po. Salamat po.

Nagpautos ho ba kayo ng sinumang mataas na opisyal ng inyong tanggapan na halimbawa

nalaman ninyong Basa-Guidote Enterprise, magpunta sa tamang sangay para mag-verify tulad ng

Securities and Exchange Commission. Mayroon po ba kayong natatandaang nilabas na instruction,

O, puntahan ninyo nga ito sa SECpara malaman ninyo kung sino ang mga taong involved dito.


36/81


Mr. Atienza. At this point in time, I will not....

Mr. Samonte Jr. Mayroon ho ba kayong ginawa o wala?

Mr. Atienza. At this point in time, I will not remember the personalities involved. But every week

we have a department heads meeting, this item would come up and reports are being made by the

city administrator. As to the details of how they are doing it, hindi ko na po alam iyon as mayor.Mr. Samonte Jr. Pasensiya na po kayo, pero parang hindi ninyo nasagot iyong tanong ko.

Ang tanong ko po: Mayroon ba kayong nautusan specifically na pumunta sa SEC?

Mr. Atienza. Si city administratorpo ang may hawak nung usapin. Siya po ang tinatanong

namin.

Mr. Samonte Jr. So, wala po kayong mismong binigay na instruction?

Mr. Atienza. Si city administrator po ang aking kausap.

Mr. Samonte Jr. So, naatasan ninyo po ba siya o hindi?

Mr. Cuevas. Already answered, Your Honor.

Mr. Atienza. Alam ninyo, ulit-ulitin ninyo man iyong tanong, pareho ang isasagot ko: the

city administrator acted.

The Presiding Officer. Reform the question.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Yes, Your Honor.

So, dumating po kayo sa dako na nalaman ninyong...Paano po ninyo nalamang si Cristina

Corona ang...

Mr. Atienza. Hindi ko rin po alam. I am not competent to answer, paano mo nalaman?

Ang importante nalaman mo. Iyon ang importante sa akin.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Hindi po. Ang sinasabi ko po, Mayor, pakiunawa lang po iyong tanong

ko. Kasi lumalabas po sa sulat na lumabas sa Office of the City Administrator ninyo na ito po

ay dapat ipadala kay Cristina Corona bilang administrador ng Basa-Guidote.Mayroon ho bang

nakapag-report sa inyo na, Mayor,Sir, dito natin ipadala ito kay Cristina Corona. Mayroon

ho bang ganoong report?

Mr. Atienza.Iyan po ay in-assign ko kay city administrator. He reported to me with this letter.

Mr. Samonte Jr. So, samakatuwid po, wala kayong detalyeng natanggap kung bakit kayCristina Corona nai-address itong sulat na ito? Wala po? Sagutin lang po sana.

Mr. De los Angeles. Objection, Your Honor.

Mr. Atienza. I cannot answer that question by a yes or no.

The Presiding Officer. What is the pleasure of the gentleman from San Juan?

Senator Ejercito Estrada. Thank you, Mr. President.

Attorney Samonte, ako ay sumasang-ayon doon sa sinasabi ng dating Mayor Atienza sapagkat

ako ay naging mayor din ng San Juan sa loob ng siyam na taon. Alam ninyo, once you expropriate


37/81


a property, ang aking ginawa noong araw, ay inuutusan ko lamang ang aking municipal

administrator at ang aking municipal attorney to make the necessary negotiations with the seller,

doon sa may-ari ng lupa.

Kaya sa aking pananaw, sa aking paningin, hindi na siguro trabaho ng mayor ang makipag-

usap doon sa may-ari noong property.At saka palagay ko ay tiningnan lamang siguro ni Mayor

iyong address noong property doon sa kaniyang city assessor. Kaya siguro iyong administratorniya o iyong kaniyang city attorney ang nakipag-usap doon sa mga opisyales ng Basa-Guidote.

Just for your information.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Maaaring ganoon nga po iyon.

The Presiding Officer. Anyway, the Prosecution is making the cross-examination and we

have to give them the leeway to ask their questions for whatever purpose the question is asked,

whether to test the credibility of the Witness or whether to search his real knowledge of the facts.

Let them, give them the leeway to do it.

Mr. Samonte Jr.Maraming salamat po. Kaya ko po naitatanong mayor kasi iyon, ang sabi

ninyo kanina na parang naka-hands on kayo rito dahil pressured din kayo ng LRTA. Kaya po

inaaasahan ko na iyong mga ganoong detalye ay dapat alam ninyo rin at inire-report sa inyo.

May I proceed, Your Honor.


Mr. Samonte Jr. So, natukoy na ninyo na ang property ay pag-aari ng Basa-Guidote,

malinaw na po iyon noong bandang huli?

Mr. Atienza. Opo.

Mr. Samonte Jr. At katunayan, doon sa susunod na sulat na ipinadala noong inyong,this time secretary to the Mayor, Atty. Emmanuel R. Sison, ito po ay naka-address na sa

Basa-Guidote Enterprises, this time with address at 903 Sergio Loyola St., Sampaloc, Manila.

Again, attention: Mrs. Cristina Corona.

So, nito pong November 28, 2000, identified ninyo na po kung sino talaga iyong kinakausap

ninyo?

Mr. Atienza. Opo.

Mr. Samonte Jr. In between these two dates, May 13, 1999 at nito pong November 28, 2000,

bilang mayor at bilang head of the office, may nalaman po ba kayong ibang negosasyon in

between?

Mr. Atienza. Ang alam ko po ay....

Mr. Samonte Jr. Kung mayroon po, kung wala po ay sabihin ninyo lamang.

Mr. Atienza.Ang alam ko po ay si city administrator and after a period of time, a city secretary,

nagtulungan na to try and get the other party to sit and negotiate. Dahil every Monday that item

comes up in our meeting and no development has been reported. Kaya ako po naman ay nina-nag

ko sila dahil kapag hindi po tumugon, we will have to act with more legal force.

Mr. Samonte Jr. So, it is clear that you paid special attention to this particular....


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Mr. Atienza. Of course, yes.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Special attention.

Mr. Atienza. Because of the public service component required.

Mr. Samonte Jr. Almost weekly ay pinag-uusapan ninyo ito?

Mr. Atienza.Lumalabas po iyan kasi mayroon kaming meeting every week.

Mr. Samonte Jr. May sinabi po ba sa inyo si Administrator Fernando na si Mrs. Cristina

Documents

March 22 Senate impeachment court record