No needle in the haystack to impeach

Following the impeachment proceedings to determine probable cause, I find there really is no “needle in the haystack” – no hidden wealth from plunder, no betrayal of public trust, no culpable violation of the Constitution, and no irregularities and deceptive manipulation. Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno is squeaky clean. 

Sereno is being pressured to resign after she wanted the President to acknowledge the independence of the judiciary as a co-equal branch.

She negated the secret burial of late President Marcos in the Heroes Cemetery, contended against releasing President Arroyo from hospital arrest, stood against placing the entire Mindanao under martial law, the arrest of Senator Leila de Lima without due process and the arrest of judges suspected of drugs.

In hearings, there is blatant prejudice with witnesses who tell the truth. “Huhulihin din kita!” (I will eventually catch you), said Hon. Vicente Veloso to Atty. Michael Ocampo, who confirmed IT consultant Helen Macasaet went through negotiated procurement; no evidence of violation and corruption. It frustrates him, they do not have the fish to feast on with Ocampo so he harassed him and humiliated Macasaet to make her feel she is not significant and her work ‘nothing substantial.’ Truth-tellers who verify what really happened at the SC are questioned like suspects if their answers do not fit their pre-determined conclusions to impeach CJ Sereno.

The allegation the Chief Justice delayed the distribution of survivor benefit was disproven by Justice Mariano del Castillo, the last magistrate invited as witness. He explained, “to be fair to the Chief Justice, the office of the clerk of court is responsible, no one en banc raised any argument to speed up the distribution of benefits; CJ cannot be faulted for administrative matters because a committee has been formed for those claims.” Rep. Reynaldo Umali countered the statements and talked about the principle of “command responsibility.” The chief magistrate is pitted between deciding collegially vs. unilaterally.

Justice del Castillo confirmed the P5.2M Land Cruiser is registered under the Supreme Court, not CJ Sereno.  The purchase was raffled to him and was approved by the Supreme Court en banc. The Chief Justice is entitled a special vehicle for security; it’s customary to ask the Justices their preference. Since 2015, P6M had been budgeted for CJ Sereno. She only availed of the award in 2017, after five years. The recommendation to purchase came from the bids and awards committee and there was no legal reason to delay.

Hon. Marcoleta went fishing from Del Castillo’s quiet pond, to confirm their pre-determined conclusions against the Chief Justice, but in each instance, he said it is the mandate of the committee to make conclusions. When he can no longer continue repeating his same response, “At the end of the day, it will be your conscience that determine the conclusions you make.” – JERRY UY,  Antipolo City