MANILA, Philippines — Solicitor General Jose Calida has accused Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno of fabricating some of her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.
In his 64-page reply, Calida said Sereno was not faithful in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, saying "a perusal of Sereno's submitted SALNs further reveal that she did commit a litany of falsehoods."
Calida personally went to the SC on Tuesday to file his office's reply on Sereno's comment on the petition for quo warranto he filed against her.
The government’s chief legal counsel is asking the SC to nullify Sereno's appointment as chief justice as he said the latter failed to meet the "integrity test" when she was appointed to the position despite not meeting the JBC’s SALN requirement.
Quo warranto proceedings can be done to question the validity or the basis for an official to exercise the powers of their post.
Calida pointed out that Sereno resigned from her position as professor at the University of the Philippines in 2006, but the receiving stamp showed that the UP received her SALN on July 27, 2010, "the same day that she submitted it to the JBC and was not notarized."
"It appears that she fabricated her 2006 SALN in an attempt to submit a SALN to the JBC during her application for Associate Justice in 2010," Calida added.
The chief government counsel also said that Sereno, in one instance, filed her SALN for 1998 on 2003, which was 5 years beyond the period required by law. Sereno's 1999 SALN was also filed three years later, on June 22, 2012.
"The 2009 SALN reflects that she was holding the position of associate justice of the Supreme Court, when in fact, she was only appointed on August 16, 2010," the solicitor general added.
"There are perjurious acts that further bolster Sereno's utter lack of integrity," Calida added.
Three groups, including the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, have already manifested before the SC to intervene, and oppose Calida’s petition.
READ: Makabayan bloc to oppose Calida's ouster plea vs Sereno
The IBP told the SC that the Constitution provides that Sereno, as chief justice, can only be removed through impeachment. The group of lawyers also stressed that Sereno was deemed qualified for a position at the high court by the JBC, which is mandated by the Constitution to screen applicants for the bench, twice.
READ: IBP urges SC to junk petition for quo warranto vs Sereno
Sereno is also facing an impeachment case currently pending before the House in plenary. The case was filed by lawyer Lorenzo Gadon, a vocal supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte.
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