Gloria Arroyo unsure about impeach raps vs SC justices

MANILA, Philippines — To file an impeachment complaint is one thing, but to make it prosper is another.

This, in a nutshell, is Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s reaction to the filing of impeachment complaints against seven of the eight justices who voted to oust Maria Lourdes Sereno as chief justice through quo warranto.

Arroyo herself had survived four impeachment attempts when she was president after the 2005 “Hello Garci” controversy broke out, thanks to Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman – her trusted ally and a stalwart of Lakas-CMD.

Lagman this time spearheaded the filing of impeachment complaints against the seven magistrates who voted to oust Sereno, an appointee of the previous Aquino administration.

Lagman’s colleagues in the opposition Reps. Teddy Baguilat Jr. of Ifugao, Tom Villarin of Akbayan party-list and Gary Alejano of Magdalo were co-complainants.

Facing impeachment are newly appointed Chief Justice Teresita de Castro and Justices Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Andres Reyes Jr., Francis Jardeleza, Noel Tijam and Alexander Gesmundo.

House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez said impeaching the magistrates is “nothing more than a hara kiri” as this would cripple the judiciary. The SC has 13 justices.

Oriental Mindoro Rep. Salvador Leachon, chairman of the House committee on justice that will hear the complaints, has assured the SC justices of “fairness and utmost impartiality.”