Chief Justice Renato Corona Testifies Before the Senate Impeachment Court

Hubby and I were watching the news and it seemed to us that we were watching a 'teleserye' ...
To all government officials, please walk the talk.

Reposting this Yahoo News... See it HERE.

Corona suddenly leaves impeachment court

(UPDATE 2) After his long opening statement, Chief justice Renato Corona suddenly left the Senate session hall, to the surprise of Senator-judges and the rest of the spectators.

Corona left the court after stating that he will only submit a confidentiality waiver when all 188 impeachment complainants and Senator Franklin Drilon have "signed their own waivers."

“I am humbly asking the 188 congressmen and Senator Franklin Drilon to sign the blank forms and to join me to face the people together,” the chief justice said.

“This is not a manipulation. This is a challenge to public accountability. I am no thief, no criminal, I haven't done anything wrong but I am also no fool,” he added.

Corona camp lead counsel Serafin Cuevas said there might have been a "misunderstanding" and that his client did not walk out.

However, Corona's move apparently got the ire of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile who earlier patiently waited for the magistrate to finish his speech.

"If you are going to disrespect this court, we will make a decision on this case right now," Enrile said, as he ordered all Senate entry points locked.

“With all due respect to the chief justice, we have not yet discharged him!”  the Senate President, sitting as presiding officer, said.

Lead defense counsel Serafin Cuevas said there has only been a “misapprehension” and Corona was probably attending to personal matters and taking his medicine.
Hypoglycemic episode

Doctor Jojo Castillo, Corona's son-in-law said the Chief Justice had a "hypoglycemic episode."

"My father-in-law has diabetes and he wasn't able to take his lunch. He mentioned blurring vision at the end of his testimony," Castillo told reporters, adding that the Chief Justice took medicine and soda.

"That's why he said, 'Excuse me.' He didn't want to faint inside the session hall.," he added.
'I am innocent'

Earlier, the embattled Chief Justice maintained he was falsely accused in his impeachment, as he lamented President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III's "hatred" against him.

He was also seen crying in between statements he issued before the impeachment court.

In his opening statement when he took the impeachment witness stand Tuesday, Corona also spewed tirades against his accusers.

"Ako po ba ay hadlang, ako po ba ay sagabal sa kung ano o kung di kaya'y kanino? So far po lahat ng nakita ko dito...ay hatred, galit sa isang tao," Corona said in his opening statement at the Day 40 of the impeachment trial.

"Bakit po ba ganito na lamang ang galit sa akin nitong kasalukuyang admin ni Pangulong aquino. Ano ba ang kasalanan ko sa kaniya, sa bayan? Wala akong kasalanan sa pagkakaalam ko," added Corona.

Corona said he is ready to dispute every claim made against him and that he doesn't have any bit of fear, although he admitted that he and his family went through hell the past months.

"Ako'y walang takot, walang nerbyos sapagkat siguradong sigurado ako wala akong kasalanan. Wala akong ginawang katiwalian at ako ay hindi nagnakaw sa gobyerno," he said.

"Malinis po ang aking konsensiya. Malinis po ang konsensiya ng aking pamilya, wala kaming ginawang masama, wala kaming ginawang kawalang hiyaan katulad ng pinapalabas sa iba ibang sektor ng media," he added.

"Kalbaryo po. Hindi po madali ang pinagdaanan sa limang buwan na ito. lahat na yata ng kasinungaliangan, lahat ng putik ay itinapon na lang sa amin," Corona lamented.

Corona said whatever wealth he and his family own are results of their hard work and not corruption.

"Ito po ba ay ninakaw sa kaban ng bayan? Ito po ba ay kinurakot ng punong mahistrado? Iisa ho ang sagot diyan. Hindi po. Lahat po ng aming ari-arian ay pinaghirapan sa malinis na paraan at wala naman pong naisiwalat na ginawa kong katiwalian. Walang wala po," he added.

At one point during his speech, Corona was also in tears while relating that all he has now was a product of being frugal.

Dollar accounts
In his testimony, Corona debunked accusations that he owned 82 dollar accounts with $10 million.

He said he only had four dollar accounts as of December 2011 and he even signed a waiver allowing the public disclosure of his four dollar accounts.