Chief Justice Sereno breaks silence on impeachment threats
By Kristine Joy V. Patag
Reporter
CHIEF JUSTICE Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno on Thursday finally broke her silence on impeachment threats from two camps of known supporters of President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
Addressing the issue for the first time since the calls for her impeachment, Ms. Sereno told audiences at the Supreme Court (SC)’s Town Hall at Cebu yesterday: “Alam mo, yan ang masarap sa malinis na konsensya: (You know, that’s the best thing about having a clean conscience:) It does not affect me at all.”
Allegations of corruption and lavish travel lifestyle are currently being leveled against Ms. Sereno, but the chief justice yesterday maintained: “I have always lived a life of modesty. I have been prudent in use of the court’s resources at the (expense of) judicial reform. My travels, my security requirements are all regular and aboveboard.”
Ms. Sereno said she remains unfazed “because I have done nothing wrong.”
“If I take an inordinate amount of time looking at it and being exasperated by those documents, work will not be done, so just give it the right attention so that you understand that when the appropriate time comes, you are ready,” the chief justice said.
“I have done nothing wrong. Nothing can be proven against me that will show that the chief justice has betrayed her oath of office. I have served the country with all faith and diligence. I will never waver from that pledge,” she added.
Ms. Sereno was also asked if she rented a presidential suite during her travels, which was hinted at by Mr. Duterte on Wednesday. “May isang opisyal tayo dito sa gobyerno na tinignan namin ang travel (There is this one government official whose travels are subject of our scrutiny). Hindi sa departamento ko, not the Executive department,” Mr. Duterte told members of the Philippine Air Force Dragon Boat team in a speech at Malacañang.
The chief justice reiterated that her expenses are regular and aboveboard. She added: “We needed a room for a major photo taking of the Chief Justices of [Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).]” This was in Boracay and they said instead of just renting it, it became part of the package. It was offered to us free.”
“Does it mean that I took a presidential suite? No, I did not. I mean, did I make the people pay for the suite? I did not,” Ms. Sereno stressed.
Mr. Duterte said the government is looking into the expensive travels allegedly made by an official who is not under the Executive branch as he vowed anew to fight corruption.
The President, however, has earlier said that he will keep his hands off impeachment moves against Ms. Sereno.
An impeachment complaint was submitted to the House of Representatives last Aug. 2 by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC). The group composed of vocal supporters of Mr. Duterte claimed that the chief justice should be ousted on grounds of culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust.
The complaint, however, has yet to reach the House committee for justice as it still lacks endorsement from a legislator.
Duterte youth lawyer Lorenzo G. Gadon has also prepared a separate impeachment complaint against Ms. Sereno for her alleged culpable violation of the Constitution, corruption, other high crimes and betrayal of public trust. Mr. Gadon’s complaint likewise has yet to be filed at the House committee for justice.
The SC has allowed the release of supplementary documents — including memorandums, Statements of Assets Liabilities and Net worth (SALN), Ms. Sereno’s foreign and domestic travels and documents on her bulletproof luxury vehicle — to the two camps.
