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BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Saturday, March 10, 2018
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MANILA – While the impeachment complaint against her has yet to reach the Senate, on leave Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno said her defense team is now ready.
Her team, led by Atty. Alex Poblador, is “quite advanced” in its preparation for the impeachment trial, she revealed.
Sereno expressed confidence of overcoming impeachment.
“Sa dinadami-dami niyang sinalaysay na nagawa ko daw, alin doon po ba ‘yung karumal-dumal kong kasalanan sa bayan,” she asked, referring to complainant Atty. Lorenzo Gadon.
Sereno added that among the things she will contest on the complaint is her alleged failure to file statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) during her term as professor at the University of the Philippines.
“There were already serious perjuries being committed, but still, there was no stop to the proceedings going on (in the House justice committee),” said Sereno. “Sinimulan nila, wakasan nila. Dalhin na nila sa Senado.”
She also said doubts on her mental fitness due to a psychological exam could “easily be debunked.”
The exam results have been declassified by the House justice committee.
“What is behind it? What do they call confidential or not? In any case…when we get to the Senate, that can easily be debunked,” Sereno said. “There was an utter lack of basis for the testimony given with regards to my mental fitness without seeing me.”
Sereno issued the statement after the House of Representatives justice committee, in a 38-2, found probable cause to impeach her.
“I haven’t really been keeping track of the numbers, but I knew from the beginning that the numbers were not in my favor and that had been repeated so many times – countless times, in fact – by the leadership of the House,” said Sereno.
“I have always made the call that if they have any basis to find probable cause, they should forthwith send it to the Senate,” pointed out the Chief Magistrate.
The House panel is set to craft the Articles of Impeachment and vote on the final committee report next week. These will then be presented before the House plenary for voting in May.
An affirmative vote from one-third of all members would enable the House to transmit the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate, which would then turn into an impeachment court./PN
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