(Eagle News) –Lawyer Larry Gadon on Thursday threatened to file charges against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and other Supreme Court officials who played a role in what he said were her questionable acts as top magistrate if she did not resign by March 1.
“I’m urging you to resign by March 1, because if you will not resign by March 1, I will file (the) cases,” Gadon, who filed the impeachment complaint against Sereno, said.
In a statement, Gadon said that in particular, he would file charges against Sereno, retired Deputy Court Administrator Thelma Bahia, Office of Administrative Services assistant chief Atty. Ma. Carina Cunanan, Fiscal Management and Budget Office chief Atty. Corazon Ferrer-Flores, Office of the Chief Justice court lawyer Michael Ocampo for the supposed illegal purchase of Toyota Land Cruiser; against Sereno, Cunanan, Ferrer-Flores, Ocampo, Deputy Court Administrator Raul Villanueva, Office of the Chief Justice Chief of Staff Atty. Ma. Lourdes Oliveros and former IT consultant Helen Macasaet for the alleged illegal hiring of Macasaet; against Sereno, Deputy Clerk of Court en banc Atty. Anna-Li Papa-Gombio, Office of the Chief Justice court lawyer Jocelyn Fabian and Office of the Chief Justice judicial staff head Atty. Czarina Encarnacion Samonte-Villanueva for the alleged inordinate delay in the release of survivorship benefits; and against Sereno, Ferrer-Flores and former judicial staff head Zaldy Trespeses for the alleged illegal use of the Presidential Villa of Shangri-La Boracay if the Chief Justice refuses to budge.
He said if the filing pushes through, it would be “the end of (the SC officials’) careers.”
“I am giving them one last chance before I actually file these cases,” he said.
The House justice panel is holding hearings to determine whether there is probable cause for the impeachment complaint filed by Gadon against Sereno.
