Sereno camp on House panel vote: Disappointed but not surprised

MANILA, Philippines — The House justice panel's articles of impeachment still to do not constitute an "impeachable offense," one of the spokespersons of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno said.

 

"The committee report, as predicted, sets forth matters that are either contrary to evidence presented to the committee or manifestly biased or one-sided, and that fail to rise to the level of impeachable offenses," lawyer Josa Deinla, one of Sereno's spokespersons, said in a statement.

 

She added: "The vote was how we expected and anticipated the proceedings would be punctuated at the Committee on Justice."

 

With a vote of 33-1, the House of Representatives justice panel on Monday morning, approved a draft of the impeachment articles against the chief magistrate.

 

Sereno is being indicted for six charges that the panel says constitute corruption, betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of Constitution and other high crimes.

 

READ: House panel approves articles of impeachment vs Sereno

 

Deinla added that Sereno has been "eagerly awaiting" for the impeachment proceeding to reach the Senate, where they hope they can be given a "fair trial."

 

According to Rep. Reynaldo Umali (Oriental Mindoro), chair of the House justice panel, the committee's findings are "anchored on strong evidence, documentary evidence and testimonies that will stand trial" and are "rooted in the findings of psychological and mental disorder of Sereno."

 

Umali cited the findings of clinical psychologist Geraldine Tria, who appeared as a resource person in the hearing. Tria said that she would not recommend Sereno as chief justice basing on what she heard in public and closed-door hearings at the House, and what she read on news reports.

 

Tria has not personally interviewed, or interacted with, Sereno. Representatives of the Judicial and Bar Council said at hearings that the psychological assessment is not a ground for disqualification of an applicant to a judicial post.

 

The Psychological Association of the Philippines has alread warned against so-called professional recommendations built on weak grounds or inadequate methods.

 

READ: Psychologists' group slams 'misuse' of psych test in Sereno impeachment 

 

The chief justice has gone on indefinite leave from her office starting March 1. She has also dismissed repeated calls for her to step down and has instead insisted that she should be given her day in court to refute the allegations against her.