Corona admits to having $2.4m deposits

Manila: Supreme Court chief justice Renato Corona appeared for the second time for his impeachment trial despite a medical emergency that saw the head of the judiciary being rushed to the hospital Wednesday afternoon.

Corona has been accused by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales of maintaining at least $10 million (Dh36.7 million) in at least 82 foreign currency accounts, but during the session yesterday, he said while it is true that he has dollar deposits, they contain $2.4 million.

Yesterday, assisted by his wife Christina and his lawyers, Corona entered the Senate session hall and asked for forgiveness for abruptly ending his testimony.

"I'm really humbly asking for forgiveness to the Senate, to the prosecution, the Filipino people and to my defence team because they really have no knowledge that it's going to happen," Corona said.

"I am here against the orders of my doctors and my better judgement. But it is my obligation to explain after it was cut short by my medical condition," Corona told Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and the 21 others.

Corona explained that he had felt dizzy and dis-oriented as his blood sugar levels had suddenly dropped.

The chief justice is being impeached on charges of betrayal of public trust, committing unconstitutional acts and not being truthful in the statement of assets he submitted to the government.

During the proceedings yesterday, Corona allowed the impeachment court to open his peso and dollar bank deposits.

He dared the 188 members of the House of Representatives who impeached him last December to do the same.