(Eagle News) — Sixteen lawmakers endorsed the impeachment complaint filed last month by Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption Chair Dante Jimenez and Vanguard of the Philippine Constitution Inc. president Eligio Mallari against Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno.
1-Pacman Rep. Enrico Pineda, Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone,Yacap Rep. Benhur Lopez Jr., Negros Oriental Rep. Arnulfo Teves Jr., Iloilo City Rep. Jerry Treñas, Manila Teachers Rep. Virgilio Lacson, Biliran Rep. Rogelio Espina, Iloilo Rep. Arthur Defensor Jr., Iloilo Rep. Ferjenil Biron, Abang Lingkod Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano, Iloilo Rep. Raul Tupas, Cebu Rep. Benhur Salimbangon, Aklan Rep. Carlito Marquez, Lanao del Sur Rep. Mauyag Papandayan Jr., Deputy Speakers Fredenil Castro and Sharon Garin gave their endorsement to the complaint on Monday.
This means it can now be forwarded to Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.
The verified complaint will then be referred by Alvarez to the justice committee.
In the complaint, Jimenez and Mallari had accused Sereno of betrayal of public trust through “inexcusable negligence” after she reportedly failed to fill the posts of deputy clerk of court, chief attorney, and two positions for assistant court administrator of the Supreme Court.
They also accused her of charging the travel allowances of her personnel against the High Court’s funds without the approval of the en banc.
Jimenez and Mallari also said Sereno was “culpable” of violating the Constitution for creating a new Judiciary Decentralized Office and reopening the Regional Court Administration Office in Western Visayas without the approval from the en banc.
The complaint of Jimenez and Mallari are apart from the complaint filed by lawyer Larry Gadon only recently.
Twenty five lawmakers endorsed the Gadon complaint, which accused Sereno of failing to disclose her supposedly “excessive lawyer’s fees,” among others.
It also took to task the Chief Justice for her supposed payment of a Land Cruiser, which was supposedly pegged at a lower price.