Umali slams Sereno camp for 'deception' on 'wellness leave'

MANILA, Philippines — Rep. Reynaldo Umali (Oriental Mindoro) lambasted the camp of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno for issuing a contradictory statement regarding her leave.

Umali, who leads the justice panel deliberation on Sereno's impeachment case at the House of Representatives, stood by his earlier statement: Sereno was forced to go on an indefinite leave.

"This is a deception. What comes out of her (Sereno) mouth is different. Her spokespersons appear to have been parroting her lies," Umali said.

"We are fed up with her lies. We are fed up with her deception," he added.

Umali was reacting to the statement issued by the camp of Sereno saying that the chief justice has filed a "wellness leave."

Lawyer Jojo Lacanilao, one of Sereno's spokespersons, earlier said it was the chief justice's  personal decision to go on leave. He said that the leave was for the preparations for when the impeachment proceeding reaches the Senate, which will act as impeachment court.

The Sereno camp's statement was in contrast with media reports, and what Umali also said as a "welcome news," that the chief justice was forced to take an "indefinite leave."

READ: Sereno to go on leave starting March 1

Umali earlier said that Sereno taking an indefinite leave "will give her time to reflect on what would be best for the judiciary which she heads."

But facing the panel during the hearing, Umali slammed Sereno's camp for issuing a different statement.

"In other words, majority, if not all of the en banc, forced her to go on leave. That is what I want to clarify," he said.

"There is a continuing pattern of lies and deception that this committee would not want to undergo," Umali added.

The hearing on February 27 is the last of the House justice panel's deliberation on whether Gadon's complaint has probable cause to oust Sereno.

The panel is expected to vote on the said complaint next week.

READ: House panel to vote on probable cause to oust Sereno next week