Says former JBC chair knew about Sereno SALN issue but included her in shortlist of nominees for top magistrate post anyway
(Eagle News) — The camp of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno said Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta, then-acting chair of the Judicial and Bar Council, knew she submitted three Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth since her appointment as SC associate justice in 2010, but went ahead and approved her application for the top judicial post anyway.
Jojo Lacanilao, Sereno’s spokesperson, issued the statement after Peralta, appearing before the House justice committee hearing on the impeachment complaint against the Chief Justice, said that he would have raised an objection to Sereno’s inclusion in the shortlist of nominees for the top magistrate post had he known that her submission of SALNs was incomplete, and did not include, among others, her SALN when she was still a University of the Philippines law professor.
The shortlist was submitted to then-President Benigno Aquino III.
“Mahirap pong sabihin na hindi niya (Peralta) alam na nangyari ‘yun. Mayroon pong kasulatan na isinumite sa Malacañang at siya po ay nakapirma roon,” Lacanilao said.
He said “the fact” then “that the JBC shortlisted the Chief Justice means its members, including (Peralta)… found her documentary submissions complete and compliant with the rules.”
“Justice Peralta should have some delicadeza in not allowing personal disappointments to color his testimonies before the Justice Committee,” Lacanilao said.
The House justice panel is holding hearings to determine whether there is probable cause for the impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Larry Gadon against him.