Record of the Senate - Integrated Bar of the Philippines

8 TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012During my presentation, I will present two (2) witnesses who will testify on the decision pertainingto the ownership of the Basa-Guidote Corporation. I wish to state the relevance before we proceedbecause consistent with the mood of the Court, I wish to request for admissions. So if you will allowme some leeway, I wish to point out that—The Presiding Officer. Proceed.Mr. Roy. Yes. Thank you, Your Honor.The relevance of the ownership, of the actual ownership of the Basa-Guidote pertains directly tomatters stated in the SALN of the Chief Justice. It involves the P11 million that was borrowed andrepaid, and it may involve other acquisitions which may or may not have been drawn from the Basa-Guidote funds. That is why we need to present these witnesses.The Presiding Officer. All right, proceed.Mr. Roy. Thank you, Your Honor. May we call to the stand the Clerk of Court of Branch 216of the RTC of Quezon City, Lucita Cristi.The Clerk of Court. Madam Witness, please raise your right hand.Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth in this impeachmentproceeding?Ms. Cristi. Yes, Ma’am.The Clerk of Court. So help you God.Representative Tupas. Your Honor, on the part of the Prosecution, may we ask permission thatAtty. Cynthia Corazon Roxas be recognized to receive the testimony and later on to conduct the crossexamination.The Presiding Officer. Granted.Representative Tupas. Thank you, Your Honor.Mr. Roy. Before I proceed, Your Honor, I would like to invite the Prosecution to admit thecontents—for an admission of the substance of the testimony of the Witness which, incidentally, alsoconstitutes the purpose for which the testimony is offered.The Presiding Officer. Well, you better propound the questions first. If I were the lawyer fromthe other side, how can I agree with you before you open your mouth to ask the question?Mr. Roy. Yes, Your Honor, precisely. So if this Witness—we will proceed with her testimony,first, she will testify that Criminal Cases Q96-68147 and Q96-68148 were heard before the RTC ofQuezon City and these two are cases for libelous publication, entitled People of the Philippinesagainst Jose Ma. Basa, et al., the uncle of Mrs. Cristina Corona; Second,—Ms. Roxas. Just for the record, Your Honor. May I be excused? We will stipulate on thatmatter.Mr. Roy. Thank you.Second, her testimony is offered to establish that a decision of conviction was arrived at in thesetwo cases, dated September 5, 2001. May I have an admission.