Sereno camp seeks dismissal of impeachment complaint filed against her

The camp of Supreme Court Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno sought Monday the dismissal of the impeachment complaint filed against her “for lack of sufficient grounds and for lack of probable cause,” even as it warned that impeaching her based on false and flimsy grounds, lawmakers would only usher instability and inflict injustice to the nation.

Sereno filed Monday her 85-page verified answer to the impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Larry Gadon before the House committee on justice.

Sereno’s lead counsel, Atty. Alexander Poblador said Gadon’s allegations in the complaint were “baseless” and “totally false. ”

Atty. Jojo Lacanilao, Atty. Dino Tamayo, Atty. Alexander Poblador, and Atty. Carlo Cruz during a presscon on CJ Serreno's legal answer on House of Representative's impeachment complaint in Quezon City on Monday. Photo by Jansen Romero

“All the charges alleged against the Chief Justice are intended to show that she is unfit for her office. This is totally outrageous because not only are the charges totally false, they ignore what the Chief Justice has achieved for the judiciary and for the country as Chief Justice, ” he told reporters in a press conference.

Poblador said Gadon’s allegations in the complaint are based on “hearsay and newspaper clippings.”

“I’d like to say these were allegations that were not substantiated, and should be dismissed from the very start,” he said.

He said Sereno “will be fully represented” when the House panel, chaired by Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali conducts hearing for the determination of grounds and probable cause whether or not to impeach Sereno.

He said they are not discounting the fact that the Duterte administration had a hand in Sereno’s impeachment.

“The charges are not impeachable grounds, and let us not venture on possibilities outside the case itself. We appeal to the sense of political justice of the members of the House and we hope that they will decide on the merits of the case and not on dictates of political leaders, on political agenda,” Poblador said.

“Whatever political maneuverings are happening, mananalo kami dito (we will win),” Lawyer Anacleto Rei “Jojo” Lacanilao III, one of Sereno’s spokespersons, enthused. “Chief Justice is convinced that this is based on fake news.”

He expressed hope that the lawmakers “will use their judgment and not follow political dictates” and will dutifully exercise their constitutional duties.

Poblador said they would welcome the testimonies of supposed six SC Justices who expressed readiness to testify against Sereno.

“We will let them testify, I would welcome them, but allow us to cross examine them, we will be happy to cross examine them,” he said.

Sereno’s camp maintained that the Chief Justice did not commit culpable violation of the Constitution, did not betray public trust and did not commit corruption.

They warned the House members against impeaching Sereno upon false and flimsy grounds, saying that it “will not only inflict injustice on her, but will also undermine the independence of the judiciary and the fundamental principle of separation of powers to the detriment of the Republic.”

“They will usher instability and inflict injustice to the nation,” they said.

In the 85-page reply, Sereno answered point by point the allegations against her.

Poblador said the Chief Justice’s acquisition of a brand-new luxurious Toyota Land Cruiser 2017 model as her personal vehicle amounting to more than P5 million is “a nonissue and is not a ground for impeachment. “

“The acquisition of the Toyota Land Cruiser 2017 model was neither an illegal nor an extravagant use of public funds,” according to Sereno’s verified reply.

Poblador explained that as SC Chief Justice, she was already exempted from the prohibition against the acquisition and use of luxury vehicles by government officials as provided for by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Administrative Order 233.

“The purchase of the Land Cruiser is to ensure her safety and security. It is an expressed exemption and legally allowed,” he said, citing that aside from the Chief Justice, the President, Vice President, Senate President and House Speaker are entitled to such exemption.

He said Gadon’s claim that Sereno did not declare in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) the “exorbitant lawyer’s fees” of $745,000 or about P37 million which she received from the Philippine government “is absolutely false.”