(Eagle News) — The House justice committee will subpoena Associate Justice Teresita de Castro and a Manila Times reporter in subsequent impeachment hearings against Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno.
The decision was reached after Larry Gadon, who filed the impeachment complaint, admitted he found out about Sereno’s alleged tampering of a draft temporary restraining order penned by De Castro only through reporter Jomar Canlas and some employees from the Supreme Court.
The alleged tampering is one of 27 acts Gadon said the Chief Justice committed, acts which he said were tantamount to culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, other high crimes and corruption.
Gadon said Canlas had spoken to De Castro herself.
It was Oriental Mindoro Rep. Doy Leachon who moved for the subpoenas to be issued.
“Baka sabihin ng taumbayan, bakit hindi dinismiss? Serious ang allegations, at based sa allegations there must be more or less sufficient grounds. But in order for this to stand for trial, kailangan namin ma-substantiate ang claim,” Leachon said.