Duterte has proof of Sereno’s alleged corrupt practices, Abella says

 President Rodrigo Duterte has evidence to back up his remarks that Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno is corrupt, Malacañang said on Monday.

Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella at a news briefing said that Duterte, a lawyer, would not blurt out such statements without proof.

“I’m sure he does. He’s a lawyer. He knows he must speak out of substantial evidence,” Abella said.

Abella dismissed insinuations that Duterte was engaging in trial by publicity.

“He’s simply stating his opinion about the matter. So it’s not trying to create trial by publicity,” Abella said.

Duterte in a speech on Saturday before the Integrated Bar of the Philippines in Davao City accused Sereno of corruption for failing to declare the P30-million lawyer’s fee she received from the government for representing Philippine International Air Terminals Co. Inc. in an arbitration case in Singapore in 2003 in her statement of assets, liabilities and net worth in 2010.

"The Supreme Court is headed by... I’m not saying the membership. I have deep respect for the... kilala ko... Pero ito, if it’s headed by a corrupt, wala sa SALN diyan ‘yung Piatco na ‘yan," Duterte said, without mentioning Sereno's name.

Sereno is also facing an impeachment complaint supposedly for failing to disclose the P30-million fee in her SALN

Abella said that Duterte would release the evidence against Sereno “at the right time and as necessary.”