(Eagle News)–House justice committee chair Rep. Rey Umali said he would move to stop impeachment proceedings against Maria Lourdes Sereno.
“Ako, ‘yan ang posisyon na ibibigay ko sa Rules Committee na tuldukan na natin ito,” Umali said in an interview over dzbb on Sunday, May 13.
According to Umali, it would be “worse” if there would be a vote in the House on the committee report and articles of impeachment against Sereno, and if these were transmitted to the Senate, which would then convene as an impeachment court.
A one thirds vote in the House plenary is needed for the transmittal.
“Dahil baka magkaroon pa ng constitutional crisis,” he said, echoing Senate President Koko Pimentel’s stand.
According to Pimentel, the crisis could stem from the conflicting stands between the SC, which believes Sereno no longer holds the chief magistrate post, and the Senate, which would presume Sereno still holds the post if it pushes through with the impeachment trial.
“Malamang sa malamang ide-defy nila (senators) yung Supreme Court on this ruling dahil feeling nila sila ang may jurisdiction so we might as well, huwag na nating dalhin noon para hindi na magkaroon ng constitutional crisis,” Umali added.
With a vote of 8-6, the SC granted the quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida against Sereno.
Calida had argued Sereno lacked the integrity needed from applicants to the chief magistrate post.
He cited her alleged failure to submit her complete Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.
