THE impeachment complaint filed against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno will fail.
Lawyer Carlo L. Cruz, spokesman of the beleaguered chief magistrate, expressed confidence that the impeachment complaint will not prosper.
“In her answer, she will explain why the complaint must fail. Chief Justice Sereno has always been a staunch defender of the Judiciary and our democracy, and has always exercised utmost competence, integrity, probity, and independence in her official conduct and in the performance of her functions,” Cruz said, in a statement.
Sereno’s camp made the statement even as he confirmed that they have officially received the copy of the impeachment complaint filed by Atty. Lorenzo Gadon.
The Chief Justice has 10 days to respond to the complaint.
Nonetheless, the camp of the chief magistrate assured that despite the impeachment process, Sereno remains committed to her duties at the Supreme Court.
“The public may rest assured that the Chief Justice remains committed to her duties at the Supreme Court, and continues to pursue the judicial reform agenda even as the impeachment process unfolds,” Cruz said.
“We confirm that the Secretary General of the House Committee on Justice has served a copy of the impeachment complaint to the Office of the Chief Justice. We now have 10 days to formally respond to this complaint,” he added.
On Wednesday, the House committee on justice voted that the impeachment complaint was sufficient in form.
Gadon’s complaint, which was endorsed by 25 House members, accused Sereno of culpable violation of the Constitution, corruption, other high crimes and betrayal of public trust.
Gadon stated that Sereno did not declare in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth the “exorbitant lawyer’s fees” of $745,000 or P37 million which she received from the Philippine government.
Gadon said the issue of SALN declaration is the strongest case presented against the Chief Justice.
The complaint alleged that Sereno committed corruption when she, among other things, used public funds to finance her extravagant and lavish lifestyle by ordering the purchase of a brand-new luxurious Toyota Land Cruiser 2017 model as her personal vehicle, amounting to more than P5 million; and stay in opulent hotels when attending conferences in the country and abroad.
