MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang is cool to the proposal to make President Rodrigo Duterte a prosecutor for the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, saying the chief executive is busy with government affairs.
Lorenzo Gadon, the lawyer who filed an impeachment complaint against Sereno, wants Duterte to become part of the panel that would prosecute the chief justice, whom he accused of not fully declaring her wealth and lavish lifestyle. Sereno’s camp has denied the allegations and has expressed confidence that she would overcome the complaint against her.
The House of Representatives justice committee has declared that the complaint against Sereno has sufficient grounds to proceed. A third of the 293 House members is required to send the articles of impeachment to the Senate, whose members will serve as trial judges.
Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said questioning Sereno during the impeachment trial is best left to prosecutors.
READ: Impeachment against Sereno raises political questions
“That is the proposal of Attorney Larry Gadon, that the president should be given the chance to cross-examine and become a special prosecutor. Of course, that would be up to the president if he would accept it” Andanar told radio station dzBB Sunday.
“If you ask me, I think it would be better if the job is left to the prosecutor,” he added.
“He has a lot of work to do but then again, it is also a good opportunity for our countrymen to see how good President Duterte is as a prosecutor... That would be up to the president.”
Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella previously said that Duterte has evidence to prove that Sereno is corrupt and would release it at the right time.
Duterte has accused Sereno and Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales of allowing themselves to be used by groups who want to oust him and to destabilize the government. The President made the allegation as the Ombudsman is conducting an investigation on the allegation that he has billions in undeclared wealth.
READ: Point by point: Sereno answers impeachment complaint
Last month, Duterte threatened to investigate the ombudsman, whom he accused of selective justice, and to reveal the alleged irregularities in the anti-graft body.
Days after he issued the threat, Duterte formed a Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission to probe lavish lifestyles and graft and corruption activities, and recommend punishment against erring officials. The PACC also has the power to subpoena individuals and documents and to tap the security forces to enforce an order.
Sen. Franklin Drilon has said that the PACC could not discipline the ombudsman and other constitutional bodies and government branches that are not under the executive branch.
READ: Duterte accuses Sereno of corruption
Andanar claimed that the PACC was formed to look into the corruption in the executive branch. He also denied that the PACC would supersede the functions of the ombudsman.
“It shows that the president is dead set to stopping corruption,” he said.
“The PACC is really for the appointees of the president.”
Andanar also clarified Duterte’s comment that he would let the military and the police to step in if he, Morales and Sereno do not reach an agreement.
He said the president is aware that the military is capable of ousting a government just like what happened during the two popular revolts in EDSA. The first revolt happened in 1986 and led to the downfall of former President Ferdinand Marcos while the second one ousted former President Joseph Estrada in 2001.
“What the president was saying that since the military has the capability, the power, they can conduct an investigation,” Andanar said.
Andanar noted that Duterte has asked the military and the police to oust him if his savings in the bank is more than P40 million.
“He’s saying that the military is the only organization in our country that can bring down a government. The president has the guts to tell that to the military and that is how confident he that his money is not more than P40 million.”
Asked if there are destabilization plots against the president, Andanar said: “What we heard are the same ones disclosed by the president and Solicitor General (Jose) Calida. These scenarios are never-ending.”
READ: Duterte's ouster claim 'fake, floated to deflect issues'
Calida has claimed that members of the opposition, communist rebels and some members of the clergy are plotting to oust Duterte.
“There are different sectors and interests moving in our society. Let’s us just wait for the process to flow,” Andanar said.