(Eagle News) — Six magistrates are set to testify against Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, who faces an impeachment complaint for alleged betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution.
Atty. Larry Gadon, who filed the complaint, said this in a radio interview a day after Sereno filed her 84-page response.
Gadon also denied Sereno camp’s claims the complaint was based primarily on newspaper reports, which means it is inadmissible in any court of law.
“I have 500 certified documents. Paano masasabing based lang iyan sa news reports?” he said.
He added the complaint has already been examined by 30 congressmen.
“House justice committee na ang nagsasabi na sufficient in form and substance itong impeachment complaint,” he said.
This means Gadon’s allegations against Sereno, such as her alleged failure to declare her wealth, her supposed purchase of a luxury car using government funds, and her move to make decisions without consulting the en banc will be heard by the panel.
A vote of one-third of the 293 members of the House is needed for the articles of impeachment to be transmitted to the Senate.
Members of the Senate will then serve as judges in the trial if the transmittal takes place.
If impeached, Sereno would have been the second Chief Justice to be impeached, after then-Chief Justice Renato Corona.
Corona was found guilty by the Senate in May 2012 after he was found guilty of failure to disclose his real wealth in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.