Land Cruiser for Sereno an 'indiscretion,' says solon

SC justices say purchase was in order

MANILA, Philippines — Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno's  purchase of a luxury vehicle showed an “indiscretion” on her part when her predecessors did not avail of the same perk, a lawmaker claimed Monday.

Rep. Rodante Marcoleta (Sagip party-list) stressed this point during the inquiry into the purchase of a Toyota Land Cruiser amounting to more than P5 million for Sereno's use. 

“As you testified, no other chief justice availed of such vehicle probably because they thought public servants should lead simple lives,” Marcoleta, the same lawmaker who proposed a one-peso annual budget for the Commission on Human Rights last year, said.

Marcoleta made this remark when Associate Justices Teresita De Castro and Mariano Del Castillo said that former chief magistrates Reynato Puno and Renato Corona did not avail of the exemption from the ban on luxury vehicles.

According to Article 11, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution, public officers and employees must, at all times, lead modest lives.

Del Castillo, however, testified that the procurement of the Land Cruiser was done “in order.”

“There was no legal basis for me to deny the recommendation so I passed it on to the court,” he said.

Del Castillo said that the Department of Budget and Management issued Order 233 in 2008, which prohibits the purchase of luxury vehicles for government officials and employees.

The same circular, however, exempts the president, vice president, Senate president, House speaker and Supreme Court chief justice from the restrictions given the luxury cars are used for security reasons and purposes.

De Castro added that there was a memorandum from the Bids and Awards Committee saying the chief justice is entitled to “special treatment” and that she is exempted from the limit on the choice of vehicle imposed on associate justices. 

Complainant Larry Gadon accused Sereno of committing corruption for allegedly using public funds to finance the purchase of the Land Cruiser as her service vehicle. 

READ: Impeachment against Sereno raises political questions