The family of late former Chief Justice Renato Corona on Friday (Nov. 4) expressed elation over the decision of the Sandiganbayan to junk the P134-million civil forfeiture case against them.
“Chief Justice Renato C. Corona’s wife, Mrs. Cristina Corona, and their children, cannot contain their happiness and joy with the Sandiganbayan’s dismissal of the forfeiture case against them,” said their legal counsel, lawyer Carlos Villaruz, in a statement.
“They thank God for this wonderful blessing, and to all those who joined them in prayer, and supported them during these difficult and heart-breaking times,” he added.
The lawyer said the family expressed their gratitude to the Sandiganbayan justices who “ensured that true justice and the rule of law would be upheld.”
“This dismissal is very special to the Corona Family,” Villaruz said.
“It has been 11 years since the impeachment proceedings, and 6 years since CJ Corona unfortunately passed away at the early age of 67,” he reminded.
The lawyer said the civil forfeiture case is “the last, among the numerous cases filed against them after the impeachment of CJ Corona.”
“CJ Corona’s family has been in agony and suffered all these years because of these cases and with the dismissal of this last case, they cannot help but feel vindicated since our courts have consistently ruled that CJ Corona and his family did nothing wrong,” he said.
Meanwhile, Villaruz said the family expressed hope “all quarters will accept the decision of the Sandiganbayan, and that they now be allowed to live in peace, and that they no longer be subjected to hate, unwarranted accusations and the trauma of litigation.”
Despite his impeachmentThe family also hope that Corona will be remembered “for upholding judicial independence, the rule of law, and the delivery of justice to oppressed sectors of society.”
The case was filed before the Sandiganbayan due to allegations that Corona acquired ill-gotten wealth while in government.
