(Eagle News) — “Lies.”
This was how Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno described on Thursday the allegations leveled against her by lawyer Larry Gadon in an impeachment complaint.
“Dahil sa pagkumpol kumpol na kasinungalingang ito, gusto bang pigilan ang mga reporma na nangyayari (sa hudikatura)?” Sereno said in a short speech at the University of the Philippines-Diliman, where several groups gathered to express their support for her.
Sereno said these reforms in the judiciary included, among others, the introduction of electronic courts, and the revised rules to force those who have debts to pay up.
“Sa hudikatura humihinog na ngayon ang pag-asa…Makiisa po kayo sa judicial reforms..Suportahan niyo po ang judiciary,” she said.
“Those who stand with the truth should not be oppressed,” she added.
The House of Representatives’ justice committee is holding hearings to determine whether there is probable cause for the 27 allegations specified in Gadon’s impeachment complaint.
These allegations include the alleged tampering of a draft temporary restraining order and the creation of a Judicial Decentralized Office.
In Wednesday’s hearing, Associate Justice Teresita de Castro noted that Sereno’s “alter(ation)” of a draft TRO she penned was “ungrossly unprocedural” and was a violation of court rules.
She also said that Sereno’s creation of a JDO in Region 7 was not in consonance with a previously issued resolution by the Supreme Court en banc.
Gadon said the 27 “offenses” were tantamount to a betrayal of public trust, corruption, culpable violation of the Constitution and other high crimes.