THE Justice Committee of the House of Representatives has formally ordered Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno to answer the allegations in the impeachment complaint pending before the chamber.

In a letter dated September 15, Oriental Mindoro Representative Reynaldo Umali, chairman of the committee, gave Ms. Sereno 10 days to file an answer to the complaint.

“Wherefore, pursuant to Rule 5, Section III of the Rules of Procedure in Impeachment Proceedings, you are hereby notified to file an answer to the attached complaints within ten (10) days from the date of receipt of this notice, and to serve a copy of your answer to the complainants, by personal service. No motion to dismiss shall be allowed within the period to answer the complaint,” the letter said.

At a hearing on Sept. 13, the committee found the complaint filed by lawyer Lorenzo Gadon sufficient in for and in substance, advancing the proceedings to the next level, determination of probable cause.

The complaint alleged that Ms. Sereno committed culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust and corruption.

Her lawyer, Carlo L. Cruz, said in a statement on Friday:

“We confirm that the Secretary-General of the House Committee on Justice has served a copy of the impeachment complaint to the Office of the Chief Justice. We now have ten days to formally respond to this complaint.”

“In her answer, she will explain why the complaint must fail. Chief Justice Sereno has always been a staunch defender of the Judiciary and our democracy, and has always exercised utmost competence, integrity, probity, and independence in her official conduct and in the performance of her functions.”

“The public may rest assured that the Chief Justice remains committed to her duties at the Supreme Court, and continues to pursue the judicial reform agenda even as the impeachment process unfolds.” – main report from Lira Dalangin-Fernandez/InterAksyon

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