House to wait for final ruling on Sereno ouster

MANILA, Philippines — They will play it safe. 

Allies of President Duterte in the House of Representatives will most likely wait for the final ruling of the Supreme Court on the unprecedented ouster of chief justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno before they decide on the fate of the impeachment complaint against her.

“Perhaps the best thing to do is for us to wait for the finality of the SC ruling,” Oriental Mindoro Rep. Rey Umali said over the weekend.

Umali was referring to the tribunal’s 8-6 verdict invalidating Sereno’s 2012 appointment based on her failure to comply with substantial requirements. 

Umali said the House leadership has not taken up the matter officially, but pointed out the issue will definitely be discussed with Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas when they resume session tomorrow. 

Alvarez lauded the SC for its historic ruling, where it ousted Sereno in a quo warranto case. 

“Well, I think the rule of law prevailed and I think the SC interpreted it correctly. This only proves even more that the rule of law is prevailing in this country and the SC made the correct decision,” the Davao del Norte congressman said. 

For his part, Fariñas – another lawyer in the House – agreed with Umali on the matter. 

“The committee on rules will wait for the final resolution of the SC on the matter of the appointment of respondent Sereno, before it brings the matter for consideration of plenary,” the Ilocos Norte congressman said. 

“Under our rules, the committee on rules has 10 session days from receipt of the report of the committee on justice to calendar it for consideration by the House. We only have nine session days before we adjourn sine die,” Fariñas added.

Fariñas explained the “sole purpose of impeachment proceeding is the removal of an officer from office.”

“If such officer is no longer holding that office, the impeachment proceeding obviously becomes moot and academic,” he said.

“Out of respect to a co-equal department that has ruled that it has jurisdiction over the matter of the legality of the appointment of respondent Sereno, the (House) should wait for the resolution of the motion for reconsideration, if one is filed,” Fariñas said. 

Umali, whose committee on justice deliberated the impeachment complaint of Sereno, said the House has two options – either archive or declare it as moot and academic once the decision of the SC becomes final and executory.