Sereno tackles ‘Ilocos 6’ row with CA justices

MANILA, Philippines - Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno has met with magistrates of the Court of Appeals (CA), which is clashing with the House of Representatives over the fate of six Ilocos Norte provincial officials being detained by lawmakers for contempt.

She had lunch with CA Presiding Justice Andres Reyes Jr. and several other justices of the appellate court last June 23 and discussed the ongoing disagreement, an insider told The STAR yesterday. 

The three CA justices of the special Fourth Division handling the habeas corpus case – Associate Justices Stephen Cruz, Edwin Sorongon and Nina Antonio-Valenzuela – did not join the meeting out of delicadeza.

The source, who requested anonymity, said it was agreed during the meeting that the CA justices would seek SC intervention should the House leadership insist on serving the “show cause order” against the three appellate justices.

It was in that luncheon that the justices were told “not to comply with the House processes and immediately file a petition for prohibition before the SC upon receiving the show cause order,” the insider revealed.

It was not known whether the meeting and the plan had the support of other SC justices or approval by the full court, but the source said the magistrates also planned to not allow the House process server to enter the CA premises and serve the order.

Last week, Sereno and Reyes issued a statement calling on the House leadership to reconsider the show cause order issued by the House committee on good governance and public safety, citing its “implications on separation of powers and judicial independence.”

They asked House leaders to instead “avail of all legal remedies that are provided to it under the Constitution, the law and the Rules of Court.”

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez has reportedly rejected the call and told Sereno to discipline the CA justices. 

The House committee called the appellate court “an inferior court” and questioned why it agreed to release on bail Pedro Agcaoili, provincial planning and development officer; Josephine Calajate, provincial treasurer; Evangeline Tabulog, provincial budget officer and Provincial Treasurer’s Office staff Eden Battulayan, Encarnacion Gaor and Genedine Jambaro.

Saying the House and the courts are co-equal, it stood firm on the order for the three CA justices to show cause why they should not be cited for contempt for ordering the release of the six Ilocos Norte officials who are detained in connection with the probe on the alleged misuse of P66.45 million in tobacco funds.

On the other hand, the CA issued a show cause order requiring House sergeant-at-arms Roland Detabali to explain why he should not be cited in contempt for defying the release order and twice rejecting its service. 

House officials have refused to accept the orders and insisted that these were invalid because the appellate court has no jurisdiction over the matter.   

Alvarez earlier threatened to abolish the CA and file a disbarment petition against the three justices.