But Associate Justice De Castro calls out Sereno in same event: “That’s sub judice”
(Eagle News) – “I will not yield.”
Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno had this to say on Thursday, barely an hour before the House Committee on Justice, voting 38-2, found probable cause to impeach her.
“The oath that I have taken is to protect the Constitution, the independence of the judiciary, and to take a stand for every judge whose freedom of conscience I have consistently done my best to defend. All kinds of lies, threats, harassments, and bullying have been thrown my way. But I will not yield,” she said during the the 23rd annual convention seminar and 30th anniversary of the Philippine Women Judges Association at the Manila Hotel.
She said her situation was not different from the situation of judges, especially of women and other employees who were being harassed.
For instance, she said that the House Justice Committee’s denial for her to cross-examine witnesses and resource persons in impeachment proceedings was “nothing but blatantly unfair.”
“And I have pounded on the necessity of making the political branches understand that… they must respect our independence. And that we must defend that independence with all the strength of our convictions. Judicial independence will not come to us on a silver platter,” she pointed out.
According to Sereno, this was the reason why she “must fight to have (her) day at the Senate.
“This fight is a fight for judicial independence. For the right of every member of the court to confront her accuser face-to-face in a trial type proceeding, where all allegations can be challenged and all lies can be unmasked,” she said, reiterating that her complainant and detractors have failed to come up with evidence that warrants her impeachment.
Sub judice
But Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo De Castro, who was also present during the event, was unimpressed.
De Castro hit back at Sereno, saying it was improper for the Chief Justice to tackle the issue during the occasion.
“I’m very sorry that the Chief Justice has taken this opportunity to discuss the matter which is sub judice. We have given her all the courtesy and I sincerely hope that she should not have dealt with a matter which is pending with the court,” she said.
The House justice panel is expected to hold a hearing on Wednesday, March 14.
During that hearing, the panel is expected to tackle the committee report and the Articles of Impeachment that will be voted on in the plenary.
If the report gets votes representing one-third of the entire House, the chamber will then transmit the impeachment complaint to the Senate, which will convene as an impeachment court.
On Thursday, the House Committee on Justice also ruled to declassify the results of Sereno’s psychological test and all that was discussed in its executive session on February 27, 2018.
Panel chair Rep. Reynaldo Umali said the documents and testimonies during the session can be used as evidence against her in what could be a looming impeachment trial at the Senate.