MANILA — On cross-examination by defense lead counsel retired Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Serafin Cuevas, the prosecution's eighth witness, Giovanni Ng, finance director of Megaworld Corporation (Megaworld), said that he is higher than the vice president of Megaworld.

Shown a deed of sale by Cuevas, Ng admitted that he normally does not meet the person who buys a property, however, he said that Chief Justice Renato Corona was acting as "attorney-in-fact" of his daughter Ma. Czarina Corona.

Ng said that based on his knowledge, Ma. Czarina Corona is of legal age and a permanent resident of the United States.

He admitted though that he was not familiar with the facts surrounding the said transaction.

Hypothetically, the name in the official receipt (OR) may be the real owner of the property purchased.

Ng would not know whether when the property was purchased in "skeletal form" or already habitable.

In connection with the Bellagio unit, he had talked with the marketing people of Megaworld prior to his testimony for today.

"Special power of attorney was granted after last payment on McKinley property," Ng told the Senate Impeachment Court.

On clarificatory question of Senator-Judge Alan Peter Corona, Ng said that assignment means that a certain property is assigned in the name of a certain individual, but admitted that, he was not familiar with legal terms.

Ng said that Renato Corona personally signed the "attorney-in-fact" himself such that in the ORs the name of the buyers are Renato Corona and Cristina Corona.

When the deed of assignment is signed, Ng said, he normally does not personally know the signatories.

It would be P30,525.00 per square meter by dividing the purchase price by the total area of the Bellagio property, Ng said. (PNA)

DCT/PTR