MANILA, Philippines — Accuser Larry Gadon gave an ultimatum to Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno — resign by March 1 or he'll sue other Supreme Court officials.
In a media forum on Thursday, Gadon said that he is compelled to file complaints against Sereno and several officials of the court following the proceedings at the House of Representatives.
"I have likewise finally decided to file appropriate criminal charges against SC officials who allowed themselves to be used and committed various irregularities just to bow to the wishes of Sereno," Gadon said in a statement.
He added that "knowing fully well" that his complaints "could end the careers" of the said public officials, he said that he is giving Sereno a "chance" to save them.
"I am urging Chief Justice Sereno to resign as Chief Justice, not only to save these official she ordered to commit crimes, but also to save the Supreme Court from further decline, by March 1, 2018," Gadon added.
The chief justice has always maintained that she will never resign from position.
She added that she has a clear conscience and is ready to explain her side when the complaint against her is elevated to the Senate, where she hopes to be given a fair trial.
Gadon, known to be a supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte, said that the complaints came to light after the House tackled the following issues: SC's purchase of a Land Cruiser for Sereno, hiring of Information and Communications Technology consultant Helen Macasaet, delay of release of survivorship benefits, and the rent of a presidential villa in Boracay Shangri-la.
Gadon said that he will file graft complaints against Sereno and the following:
- Deputy Court Administrator Thelma C. Bahia (retired)
- Lawyer Ma. Carina M. Cunanan, assistant chief, Office of Administrative Services
- Lawyer Corazon G. Ferrer-Flores, chief, Fiscal Management and Budget Office
- Lawyer Michael B. Ocampo, Court Attorney VI, Office of the Chief Justice
- Deputy Court Administrator Raul Bautista Villanueva
- Lawyer Ma. Lourdes E.B. Oliveros, chief justice staff head, Office of the Chief Justice
- Helen Perez-Macasaet (former IT Consultant)
- Lawyer Anna-Li R. Papa-Gombio, deputy clerk of Court en banc
- Lawyer Jocelyn Fabian, Court Attorney VI, Office of the Chief Justice
- Lawyer Czarina Encarnacion Samonte-Villanueva, judicial staff head, Office of the Chief Justice
- Justice Zaldy V. Trespeses (former judicial staff head, Office of the Chief Justice)
- Lawyer Corazon G. Ferrer-Flores, chief, Fiscal Management and Budget Office
Sereno, who sits as the head of the judiciary, is an impeachable officer who holds immunity from criminal suit while serving her position. This was also acknowledged by the representatives conducting the impeachment proceedings at the lower house of the Congress.