Vilma on Supreme Court justices’ row: Let’s just be fabulous

MANILA, Philippines — “Let’s just all be fabulous” was the only thing Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto could say to diffuse the tension between feuding justices of the Supreme Court at a gathering in Manila last Thursday.

Santos-Recto was one of the guest speakers, along with Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, at an event of the Philippine Women Judges Association. De Castro is PWJA president.

“First of all, when I arrived, I was already tense because imagine I’m facing all these ‘your honors,’” Santos-Recto, a multi-awarded actress and popularly known as “Star for All Seasons,” said in an interview over dzBB.

“I felt a heaviness in my chest after the message of the Chief Justice,” she said, referring to Sereno’s message, where she criticized the “unfair” impeachment proceedings.

Following Sereno’s speech, De Castro walked up to the podium and chided Sereno for speaking on a matter she said was “sub judice.”

De Castro was one of the justices who testified at the House justice committee hearings on the impeachment complaint against Sereno.

The House committee on justice on Thursday found probable cause to impeach Sereno.

“When Justice De Castro stood up and gave her message that ‘this is not the right place and time,’ I was just listening and I said, ‘oh my God, ’” Santos-Recto said.

“I even felt more tense when Chief Justice Sereno told me, ‘Look Ate Vi what’s happening,” she said.

Santos-Recto was seated between De Castro and Sereno.

When it was her turn to speak, Santos-Recto said she tried to lighten the atmosphere by saying: “My feeling is so heavy, can we just chat with each other.”

She said the audience apparently agreed with her.

“Maybe we all felt the same, I told them let’s just chat with each other to make the ambience and the environment much lighter, let’s just feel or stay fabulous,” she said.

Santos-Recto said she would study thoroughly the report of the House justice committee.

“We have to study the evidence, it’s not just about voting yes or no, we should determine whether there is really probable cause (to impeach her) or this is just an administrative issue,” she said.

Santos-Recto also said the crisis at the SC “is not good for the country.”

“Let’s just all pray that this would end, because no matter what we say it has an effect on our country,” she added.

Santos-Recto also explained a photo of her and Sereno where she was seen holding the chief magistrate’s face.

“This was the time we’re saying goodbyes. I told her, ‘I know you are going through tough challenges, I will pray for you,’” the lawmaker said.

Santos-Recto is the wife of Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto, who belongs to the majority bloc in the chamber.