Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 2) — The Sandiganbayan Second Division has affirmed its dismissal of the ₱130-million forfeiture case against the late former chief justice Renato Corona and his wife Cristina after the government opted not to appeal the decision last November.
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In its four-page resolution dated Jan. 30, the anti-graft court said it granted the omnibus motion to file a certificate of finality, lifting the writ of preliminary attachment previously issued against Corona’s properties.
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“Considering the finality of judgement in the instant case, it has now become a ministerial duty of the Court to issue a Certificate of Finality and to cause its entry of the same to the Books of Judgments,” Associate Justice Arthur Malabaguio wrote in the ruling.
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Associate Justices Oscar Herrera Jr. and Edgardo Caldona concurred with the decision.
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In its decision dated Nov. 3, 2022, the Sandiganbayan junked the petition to forfeit the Coronas’ assets filed by the government through the Office of the Ombudsman.
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The petition cited Republic Act No. 1379, the law declaring forfeiture of property unlawfully acquired by any public officer or employee.
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The Sandiganbayan, however, said that the assertions in the petition were “misplaced.” The anti-graft court argued that non-declarations or misdeclarations in one’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) do not necessarily point to “unexplained wealth.”
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Corona was impeached by the Senate with a 20-3 vote to convict, citing betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution over violations of SALN rules.
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He died of cardiac arrest on April 29, 2016.
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