House panel excludes non-members from Sereno hearings
The House of Representatives Committe on Justice voted to exclude its non-members to participate as they tackle the impeachment proceeding against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. AP/Aaron Favila, file
MANILA, Philippines — After almost an hour of discussion, the House of Representatives Committee on Justice voted to exclude non-members of the panel to participate in the hearings over the impeachment complaints against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.
After the panel voted 30-3, non-members of the committee will only be allowed to attend the hearing, but not participate in the impeachment proceeding.
Reps. Edcel Lagman (Albay), Antonio Tinio (ACT party-list), Emmi de Jesus (Gabriela) and Carlos Zarate (Bayan Muna party-list) are among the few non-members present at the hearing on Wednesday.
Lagman, a non-member of the justice panel, implored before parts of the position paper he wrote to support the motion filed by Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno to allow her counsels to cross-examine witnesses.
The panel has yet to issue a decision on Sereno's appeal.
However, Deputy Speaker Gwen Garcia (Cebu) raised that "only members be allowed to speak" for a more "expeditious" impeachment proceeding.
Dinagat Island Rep. Kaka Bag-ao, a member of the committee, said that having more voices join the proceeding with allow the panel to get "better intonation."
The justice panel led by Rep. Reynaldo Umali (Oriental Mindoro) put into vote Garcia's motion, which effectively excluded Lagman and other non-members to participate in the proceeding.
After the voting, Lagman approached Umali and exchanged smiles before the Albay congressman left.
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