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[av_heading heading=’DOJ to probe SALN complaint vs Sereno’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”][/av_heading]
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January 29, 2018
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MANILA – The Justice department will look into the complaint filed against Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno for her alleged failure to file statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs) when she was still a University of the Philippines law professor.
Department of Justice (DOJ) secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II disclosed on Sunday that they will summon Sereno and require her to answer the allegation.
Lawyer Lorenzo Gadon filed the complaint at the DOJ, accusing Sereno of violating the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees and the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
“We will conduct a preliminary investigation to determine if there is probable cause to charge her of any offense,” Aguirre said in a text message.
If DOJ prosecutors find probable cause, their findings will be submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman for review since the charges fall in the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan.
The DOJ has a concurrent jurisdiction with the Ombudsman in investigating graft charges.
“We will dismiss it if there is no probable cause,” the Justice secretary said.
Any state official or employee guilty of not filing the SALN shall be jailed for not more than five years or fined with not more than P5,000 – or both, at the court’s discretion – and disqualified from public office.
But Aguirre acknowledged that any finding against Sereno that turns out to be incriminating will have to be shelved while the latter remains the Supreme Court chief justice.
“Assuming that there [is] probable cause, we could not file [any charge] as long as she remains an impeachable official,” he stressed.
Sereno was a law professor for 17 years from 1986 to 2006 but filed her SALNs only in 1998, 2002 and 2006, based on certifications submitted by the Office of the Ombudsman, UP, and the Judicial and Bar Council, Gadon claimed.
Gadon himself acknowledged that Sereno is an impeachable official but pointed out that he filed the case so the latter may be tried immediately if she gets impeached.
Sereno is facing an impeachment complaint before the House of Representatives. Gadon is also the complainant.
“Indeed, desperate times call for desperate measures,” Sereno’s spokeswoman Atty. Josa Deinla said in reaction to the latest complaint.
She said Gadon may be seeing that his impeachment complaint “will fall flat.”
“Gadon knows that he still has nothing on the chief justice after all the undeserved attention that his complaint has been given,” Deinla said. (Reports from Philippine News Agency and Adrian Stewart Co/PN)
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