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| Chief Justice Renato Corona (in white barong) kiss and make-up with the children of Jose Basa III at the Senate during the continuation of his impeachment trial on Friday. Corona lambasted the elder Basa in his testimony last Tuesday and revealed family squabbles over real estate properties. Photo by Junny Roy, Senate Pool |
MANILA, Philippines - In an apparent family reconciliation, Mrs. Cristina Corona on Friday approached her Basa cousins and relatives sitting in the VIP section of the Senate session hall and hugged and kissed them.
While the senator-judges were in caucus to discuss Chief Justice Renato Corona's unconditional waiver opening all his bank accounts, Mrs. Corona and her daughter Carla Castillo quietly went towards the side where the Basa family members were seated.
The scene was caught on live TV, with Mrs. Corona hugging, kissing and talking to her cousins and other relatives.
The Basas then walked to Corona, who was still on the witness stand, and also hugged and talked to the chief justice.
Five of Jose’s children flew all the way from the United States to attend Corona’s testimony last Tuesday and today since Corona was expected to talk about the bitter family dispute involving the Basa-Guidote Enterprises Inc. (BGEI).
BGEI was put on the spotlight after Corona reported in his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) that he had obtained an P11 million cash advance from the company for the purchase of several real properties.
Corona, in his testimony on Tuesday, said had no choice but to discuss the family feud. He alleged Cristina’s relatives, led by her uncle Jose, swindled away from the entire clan, specifically from their matriarch, a P2.5-billion lot in Libis, Quezon City.
Despite this, it was his wife that was tagged as the swindler in the media, Corona said. He described Jose as a “spoiled brat” and “jobless.”
Later in a press conference, one of the daughters of Jose, lambasted the chief justice and called his statement "foul" since their late father cannot defend himself.