MALACAñANG on Thursday distanced itself from the move of some 25 lawmakers allied with the administration to endorse the impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, amid supposed corruption allegations against her.
In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella maintained that verified complaint for impeachment “may be filed by any citizen upon a resolution or endorsement by any member of the House of Representatives.”
Abella stressed that only the House of Representatives had “exclusive power” to initiate all cases of impeachment.
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo also stressed it was up to Congress to decide whether Sereno, an appointee of the previous administration, had committed “culpable” violations of the constitution and other high crimes.
“It’s the House of Representatives which will decide. They will proceed with the Impeachment and the Senate will hold a trial for her,” the President’s lawyer told state radio dzRB.
At least 25 members of the House of Representatives endorsed Wednesday impeachment raps against Sereno, citing her alleged failure to be truthful in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth, tax misdeclarations, and unauthorized expenses.
Lawyer Larry Gadon likewise raised Sereno’s travel expenses and allowances she had supposedly given her staff.
He also cited Supreme Court resolutions that were questioned by its justices because they did not go through the en banc.