(Eagle News) — The camp of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Tuesday stood by its position there was a “lack of evidence” that warrants the filing of an impeachment complaint against her, noting that this should be dismissed and that we should “move on.”
Carlo Cruz, one of Sereno’s lawyers, said this in an interview over dzbb despite testimonies of four former and current magistrates of the High Court that appeared to be unfavorable to Sereno, in Monday’s House justice panel hearing aimed at determining whether there was probable cause for lawyer Larry Gadon’s complaint.
During the hearing of the panel led by Rep. Rey Umali, Associate Justices Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, Francis Jardeleza, Noel Tijam, and retired associate justice Arturo Brion accused Sereno of violating of the en banc’s rules.
Among the issues tackled were Sereno’s alleged “arrogation” of the power of the en banc when she assigned the Maute case to herself and allegedly made it appear that the body had agreed to transfer the trial of the cases to Cagayan De Oro, and her alleged delayed action on survivorship benefits applications, among others.
“Unang una, nagtataka kami kung paano na-consider na in proper substance and form po itong complaint,” Cruz said.
He added there was not enough evidence to warrant the formulation of articles of impeachment against Sereno.
“Siguro dapat idismiss nalang ito and let us move on,” he said.
