ORIENTAL Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali on Sunday urged Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno to appear in the impeachment proceedings or deprive herself of the chance to cross-examine the witnesses against her.
Umali, chairman of the House committee on justice, told dzBB radio that the proceedings could start on Thursday or Monday next week.
He said only Sereno could cross-examine the witnesses and not her lawyers, and that Congress would respect her right to do so.
“If she will come, the panel may allow her to confront the witnesses subject to the approval of the members. One thing is for sure”•her rights will be respected,” Umali said.
“Should we vote for the sufficiency of grounds, then we will proceed with the hearing. Then that’s the time to invite the complainants and respondent to present their case.”
The committee’s next hearing will be set either Thursday or on Oct. 9 since they are still waiting for Sereno’s reply to the rejoinder of lawyer Lorenzo Gadon, the complainant, and have yet to observe a three-day notice before the hearing is set to determine sufficiency of grounds and probable cause for the complaint.
Sereno is an appointee of President Benigno Aquino III.
Gadon accuses Sereno of violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, corruption and other high crimes for her alleged litany of lapses”•including the alleged untruthful declaration of her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.