(Eagle News) — Senate President Koko Pimentel on Saturday, May 12, said there could be a “constitutional crisis” with the Supreme Court decision to declare the appointment of Maria Lourdes Sereno as Chief Justice nullified.
According to Pimentel, this would happen if “in the eyes of the SC,” Sereno was no longer the Chief Justice, but in the eyes of Congress, this was not the case.
He said the next steps of the House of Representatives would therefore be “crucial.”
The House plenary is slated to vote on the House justice panel’s report and the Articles of Impeachment.
If the documents get a one thirds vote in the plenary, they would be transmitted to the Senate, which will then convene as an impeachment court.
“Kasi kung di sila sang-ayon sa desisyon ng SC at tingin nila nakaupo pa rin si Sereno, that is already the start of the clash of SC and Congress,” he said.
“Pero kung sa tingin ng House ay tanggal na si Chief Justice ay wala tayong constitutional crisis dito kasi kung wala itatransmit sa Senado. Walang trial,” he added.
As for Sereno, Pimentel believes she should be allowed to file a motion for reconsideration of the SC decision.
He added the Constitutional Commission could also study “the entire idea of impeachment.”
“Bakit natin pinapahirapan ang sarili natin na magtanggal ng mga opisyal, baka pwede natin padaliin. Available ba ang quo warranto? Ang aking opinyon dapat impeachment,” Pimentel said.
Voting 8-6, the SC, in a landmark decision, granted the quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida, and that sought to have her appointment to the post of Chief Justice nullified.
Calida had argued Sereno did not qualify for the post in the first place because of her alleged lack of integrity when she failed to file her complete Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.
