House panel votes to impeach Sereno
MANILA, Philippines (Update 4, 12:45 p.m.) — Voting 38-2, the House of Representatives Committee on Justice declared on Thursday that it has found probable cause to impeach Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.
After 15 hearings that spanned months, the justice panel voted on Thursday that Sereno should be impeached from her position as chief justice.
The hearing emanated from a complaint was filed by lawyer Larry Gadon, a known supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Gadon's complaint was endorsed by 25 congressmen. On October 5 last year, the House Committee on Justice voted 25-2 and found sufficient ground to impeach Sereno.
In his verified complaint, he cited 27 "impeachable acts" committed by Sereno. He accused the chief justice of corruption, culpable violation of Constitution, betrayal of public trust and committing high crimes.
Umali: Committee has done its mandate
In his opening statement, Umali said that the hearing on Thursday marks a milestone in the impeachment process as the justice panel was able to conduct a full proceeding: From filing to referral until the determination and vote of probable cause.
"The committee has faithfully performed its constitutional mandate to exclusively initiate all impeachment proceedings," Umali said.
He added that the panel has repeatedly extended invites to Sereno to refute or controvert the allegations against her but she "chose to air her side in another forum."
The camp of Sereno, led by her spokesperson Jojo Lacanilao, has not been remiss in issuing statements on issues discussed during hearings. The panel, however, said that her media statements have no bearing on the impeachment proceedings.
Umali also said: "We cannot go to the trial with a weak case nor without strong or convincing evidence. A heavy burden rests on impeachment prosecutors."
"Throughout the probable cause hearings, this committee has gathered sufficient evidence to provide us with the ammunition to prosecute this case towards victory," Umali also said
He added: "The remedy of impeachment was given to us by our constitution to ease the nation of underserving officials."
Aside from the impeachment complaint, Sereno is also facing a petition for quo warranto proceeding at the Supreme Court. Solicitor General Jose Calida urged the high court to declare Sereno's chief justice appointment in 2012 and oust her.
Sereno has been on an indefinite leave since March 1, after 13 justices reached a "consensus" on February 27 for her to go on leave.
Despite repeated calls for her resignation, an unfazed Sereno vowed that she will not step down from her position.
Impeachment: Next steps
Umali said that the panel would once again meet on March 14 to draft the committee report that will be forwarded to the plenary for the floor deliberation.
The House panel will put the findings in a committee report. Members of the House of Representatives will vote in plenary on whether to approve or reject the justice committee's report.
If at least a third of the members of the House — 98 of 292 members — vote to approve the report, it will constitute the articles of impeachment, which effectively impeaches the chief justice.
The articles of impeachment will then be forwarded to the Senate that will sit as impeachment court.
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