Palace says impeachment vs 7 SC justices won’t prosper

MANILA, Philippines — The impeachment complaint against the seven justices who voted to oust former chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno is doomed to fail because of lack of merit, Malacañang said yesterday. 

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the quo warranto petition against Sereno is within the jurisdiction of the high court, so the justices could not be impeached for acting on it.

“That will be dismissed. I think the jurisdiction is clear. In our Constitution, deciding on the case that is within the jurisdiction is not an impeachable offense. The constitution states that the Supreme Court has jurisdiction on quo warranto petitions,” he explained at yesterday’s press briefing. 

He added that “we already have a lot of experience when it comes to impeachment so it is clear that the basis for the complaint against the seven justices will be dismissed because of utter lack of merit,” in apparent reference to Ifugao Rep. Teodoro Baguilat Jr.’s claim that the complaint has a “fighting chance.”

Last week, Baguilat and fellow opposition lawmakers Gary Alejano of Magdalo party-list, Tom Villarin of Akbayan and Edcel Lagman of Albay filed an impeachment complaint against the seven justices – Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Andres Reyes, Francis Jardeleza, Noel Tijam and Alexander Gesmundo – who voted to unseat Sereno.

Former Supreme Court (SC) associate justice Samuel Martires also voted to unseat Sereno but was not included in the complaint because he retired last month and has been named ombudsman. 

Voting 8-6, the SC voided Sereno’s appointment as chief justice last May because of her failure to file at least 10 statements of assets, liabilities and net worth. 

But De Castro, the newly appointed Chief Justice, is unfazed by the impeachment complaint, saying she would not even have time to address it.?The Sept. 4 scheduled impeachment hearing against seven SC justices at the House of Representatives can be held simultaneously with its other businesses and would not obstruct the legislative agenda of President Duterte.

“The impeachment hearings will not impede on our legislative agenda. Our lawmakers are very used to multi-tasking. So will the budget hearings, they will also go on,” House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. told reporters at a news briefing. 

The Camarines Sur congressman, who also heads the House committee on rules, disclosed that they have sent to committee on justice chairman and Oriental Mindoro Rep. Doy Leachon the impeachment complaints filed against the magistrates.  

“The chairman congressman Leachon has been instructed (by the Speaker) to be fair in hearing the impeachment complaints,” Andaya said, aware that Arroyo wanted the case settled the soonest one way or another so as not to derail the passage of vital bills.  

Lagman, one of the main complainants, believes there is still time for the House to hold hearings on the case.  

“There is still sufficient time for these complaints to be heard,” he told reporters at their weekly briefing. “I would not say that it would impede on our legislative agenda because this is a mandate of the 1987 Constitution.”  

At the same time, he welcomed Leachon’s pronouncements the seven individual complaints will be incorporated into one on the basis that all the factual antecedents they have cited were identical. 

Leachon assured the justices that they will be treated fairly and with utmost impartiality. 

“Considering that the complaints actually deal with the same subject matter, same issues and similar concerns – that will be jointly heard by the committee to make it easier and to make it simple,” he told dzBB.  – With Edu Punay, Delon Porcalla