Some solons mulling impeachment vs justices who voted to oust Sereno

MANILA, Philippines — Some opposition lawmakers are mulling filing impeachment cases against the eight justices who voted to oust Maria Lourdes Sereno as chief justice, just as the Palace said that senators urging the High Court to revisit its landmark ruling are within their rights.

Rep. Gary Alejano (Magdalo party-list) said that the eight justices who sided with the quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida questioning Sereno’s legal hold on office committed an impeachable offense.

He said that filing an impeachment case against them is the “only viable remedy” to correct the landmark ruling, which he described as a mistake, and save the integrity of the Supreme Court.

“As opposed to what the justices had exercised, we want to follow the legal way based on what is provided for in the Constitution,” Alejano said in a statement.

Last week, the Supreme Court ruled that former President Benigno Aquino III’s appointment of Sereno as chief justice in 2012 was invalid supposedly for failing the integrity test required of the holder of the office.

The eight magistrates who voted to oust Sereno are Associate Justices Noel Tijam, the decision’s author, Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Francis Jardeleza, Samuel Martires, Andres Reyes and Alexander Gesmundo.

Six of these justices were urged by Sereno to inhibit from her case. She said they had shown a bias against her.

The Magdalo lawmaker said that the proposal had already been discussed with various opposition groups and gained support.

He added that seven opposition lawmakers in the House, collectively known as the Magnificent 7, would issue a statement on their move next week.

It was reported earlier that Rep. Tom Villarin (Akabayan) bared their plan to initiate an impeachment case against the justices, a move supported by the other members of their bloc in the House.

A Senate resolution questioning the Supreme Court’s removal of Maria Lourdes Sereno has gained the support of a majority of senators, including Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III.

The document expresses the sense of the Senate that the constitution should be followed in removing an impeachable official such as the chief justice from office.

It also said that the decision set a “dangerous precedent that transgresses the exclusive powers of the legislative branch to initiate, try and decide all cases of impeachment.”

The Palace meanwhile said that it respected the decision of the senators to file the resolution.

“[T]he senators are free to sign such a resolution. The resolution of course, forms part of their inherent legislative powers,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press briefing on Thursday.

“We respect completely the discretion of the Senate to file this resolution,” he added.