MANILA - The government asked state prosecutors yesterday to indict for tax evasion disgraced former top judge Renato Corona, who was fired in May over undeclared bank accounts.

The move is part of President Benigno Aquino's campaign against corruption that he claims reached pervasive levels during the time of Corona's political patron, ex-leader Gloria Arroyo.

Former Supreme Court chief justice Corona was accused by internal revenue commissioner Kim Henares of failing to pay about 120.5 million pesos ($2.8 million) in taxes between 2003 and 2010.

"Our aim is good governance as a way of life for everyone, regardless of your status," Henares told AFP.

The complaint filed at the justice department also named Corona's daughter and her husband, whom the tax agency said also misdeclared their incomes, assets and net worth while purchasing prime properties.

"Our case is airtight," Henares said, adding that if convicted, the three could spend between five and 10 years in jail as well as being ordered to pay the tax owed.

Corona described the criminal prosecution as part of continuing political harassment against him that began with his impeachment, while vowing to submit himself to the judicial process.

"I agree with the observation of many that my family's persecution continues," he said in a statement. "We have long expected this."

Aquino's spokesman Edwin Lacierda rejected suggestions the government was singling Corona out for harassment, saying the Aquino government had been actively targeting prominent personalities to set an example and boost tax collection.

"This is not something extraordinary. It just so happens that the personality involved is the former chief justice," Lacierda said.

Aquino, who won the presidency in 2010 on an anti-corruption platform, launched a bruising and sometimes controversial crusade to remove Corona.

He had charged that Corona was illegally appointed by his predecessor Arroyo to protect her from prosecution after she stepped down.

Arroyo was arrested and detained in November on separate charges of vote fraud and corruption, but has since been allowed by the courts to post bail.

The House of Representatives dominated by Aquino allies impeached Corona in December and sent the complaint to the Senate, the upper chamber of Congress.

After more than four months of courtroom drama that gripped the nation, the Senate convicted Corona for violating the constitution and betraying public trust. He became the first chief justice to be fired from his post.

During the trial, Harvard-educated Corona admitted he did not disclose more than $4 million in bank accounts, which he claimed were earned through years of hard work.*AFP

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