More court justices speak up in Sereno impeachment case

THE HOUSE committee on justice resumed its hearings for finding of probable cause on the impeachment case against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno with members of the Supreme Court (SC) and the Court of Appeals (CA) in attendance. SC Associate Justice Teresita J. Leonardo-De Castro said that the members-in-charge were not able to immediately act on the survivorship claims because these were not included in the agenda and, therefore, they were not informed of their assignments. SC Associate Justice Mariano C. Del Castillo, on other hand, said that Administrative Order 233 s. 2008 allows the five highest government officials, including the chief justice, to avail of luxury vehicles for security purposes, but noted that Ms. Sereno was the first magistrate to do so. CA Associate Justice Jose C. Reyes, Jr., meanwhile, admitted that Ms. Sereno did suggest that the three CA justices involved in the case of the “Ilocos 6” file a petition before the SC, and she told him that the “Supreme Court na ang bahala.” — Minde Nyl R. dela Cruz