Maute case transfer was not raffled, De Castro says

MANILA, Philippines — Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno's handling of the request of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II was "irregular" as the case was not raffled to her, Associate Justice Teresita De Castro said.

The House of Representatives Committee on Justice continued examining complainant Larry Gadon's claim that Sereno "delayed" the resolution of Aguirre's request.

De Castro, who appeared once again before the panel, said she is a part of the raffle committee. She confirmed that the raffle of cases is a confidential matter.

Associate Justice Noel Tijam also confirmed the confidentiality of the court procedure.

Gadon, however, in his verified complaint said that the matter was raffled to Sereno, causing her to delay the resolution. Tijam denied this before the House panel.

Aguirre filed his request before the Supreme Court on May 29. He asked that Maute cases be tried and heard in a regional trial court outside Mindanao due to security threats to court officials.

De Castro said the members of the raffle committee meet every Monday, but the letter was not included in the case for raffle on June 5.

"If she received the letter on May 29, there was ample time for the matter to be included in the raffle," De Castro told the panel.

READ: Aguirre: Sereno asked me to tone down Maute case transfer letter

Aguirre's request, however, was listed on the en banc's agenda on June 6 but was not discussed during that session. It was raised, however, during lunch following the session.

On June 6, the SC en banc issued a resolution designating Cagayan de Oro trial courts to hear the Maute cases.

The matter was once again put into raffle on June 19, but De Castro raised that Clerk of Court Felipa Anama put a pencil mark of "MS" on the item. "MS" refers to Sereno.

The justice asked Anama about the marking. She said that the clerk of court put Sereno's initials as "it was already acted upon by en banc."

The camp of Sereno, meanwhile, said that: "De Castro countersigned the raffle sheet on the same date (June 19) and did not pose any objection."

The committee continues to deliberate whether the complaint has probable cause to impeach Sereno. In Philippine jurisprudence, probable cause is defined as the existence of facts and circumstances that would lead to the belief that the accused has committed the allegations thrown against her.

READ: Tijam: Transfer of Maute cases discussed over lunch, not en banc