Three others, including Sereno, also charged
By Meanne Corvera
Eagle News Service
A graft complaint has been filed against former President Benigno Aquino III in connection with his appointment of Maria Lourdes Sereno as top magistrate.
Manuelito Luna of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption and suspended lawyer Eligio Mallari filed the complaint also against Sereno, Judicial and Bar Council executive director Annaliza Ty-Capacite and the JBC’s chief of office of selection and nomination Richard Pascual before the Office of the Ombudsman on Monday.
The complainants argued Aquino and the others conspired to appoint Sereno as Supreme Court chief justice despite her failure to file several of her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth and her failing mark in her psychiatric exam, among others.
To boost their argument Sereno was a “de facto” chief justice, the complainants attached news clippings on Sereno’s appointment and on her alleged questionable acts as chief justice.
Sereno is facing an impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Larry Gadon, and that is being heard by the House committee on justice.