Sereno camp denies CJ advised CA justices on legal remedy vs House

MANILA, Philippines — The camp of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Tuesday denied that she told the presiding justice of the Court of Appeals to file a petition before the Supreme Court over a disagreement with the House of Representatives.

Jojo Lacanilao, a spokesperson for Sereno, said that the chief magistrate only discussed with CA Presiding Justice Andres Reyes Jr. the contents of a joint statement they would issue asking the House to reconsider its show cause order to the three justices of a division of the appellate court in order to protect judicial independence.

"The Chief Justice categorically denies that she told Justice Andres Reyes, Jr. to tell the three Court of Appeals Justices—Stephen Cruz, Edwin Sorongon and Nina Valenzuela—who were subject of the show cause order issued by the House of Representatives to file with the Supreme Court a petition for prohibition with application for TRO and that she would allegedly take care of it (“siya na raw ang bahala”)," Lacanilao said in a statement.

READ: Point by point: Sereno answers impeachment complaint

Cruz, Sorongon and Valenzuela were the subject of a show cause order issued by the House after they issued a writ of habeas corpus ordering the release of six Ilocos Norte provincial employees who were detained at  the chamber at the time.

Lacanilao stressed that Sereno did not advise Reyes on a remedy or petition the three CA justices should take. He also denied that the chief justice assured Reyes of a favorable outcome on such a petition by telling him that she would take care of the pleading at the High Court.

"In fact, when the Ilocos 6 appealed before the Supreme Court to stop the hearing before the House of Representatives, the Chief Justice inhibited herself from hearing and deciding the case," the Sereno spokesman said.

Testifying before the House justice committee conducting hearings on the presence of probable cause in the impeachment case against Sereno, CA Justice Remedios Fernando said that the CA supposedly received advise from the chief justice that the three justices should elevate the case to the High Court and ignore the order from the House.

Fernando, who got the supposed word only from Reyes and did not hear it directly, said that this showed a "lack of propriety" on the part of the chief magistrate.

Fernando said that Reyes called them again to another emergency meeting after his and Sereno's first meeting on June 21.

Here, they were informed that Sereno and Reyes had already issued a joint statement and the chief justice would join them for lunch, except the three justices who were the subject of the show cause order.

In the impeachment case filed by lawyer Lorenzo Gadon, Sereno was accused of committing high crimes when she met Reyes and other justices of the CA and advising them on the legal remedy they could file before the High Court.

READ: Sereno tackles ‘Ilocos 6’ row with CA justices