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[av_heading heading=’House panel OKs Articles of Impeachment vs Sereno’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’18’ 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=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Tuesday, March 20, 2018
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MANILA – The House of Representatives Committee on Justice approved its committee report and the Articles of Impeachment against Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.
Voting 33-1 on Monday, the panel approved the motion of Vicente Veloso (Leyte) to accept the 45-page committee report and the 56-page Articles of Impeachment.
The only dissenting vote from among the committee members was Jose Christopher “Kit” Belmonte (Quezon City).
Committee chairman Reynaldo Umali said his panel prepared six Articles of Impeachment, which included the following:
* Non-filing and non-disclosure of her sworn statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN), which constitutes to culpable violation of the Constitution and/or betrayal of public trust.
* Committee corruption and betrayal of public trust when she allegedly misused a total amount of P18 million of public funds, thereby manifesting her grandiose sense of self-importance.
* Committed culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust and/or other high crimes when she arrogated unto herself the powers reposed upon the Supreme Court as a collegial, deliberative and consultative body.
* Committed culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust and/or other high crimes when she deliberately and maliciously abused her position as the Chief Justice and ex officio Chairperson of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).
* Committed culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust when she deliberately undermined and violated the principles of separation of powers among the three branches of government.
* Committed betrayal of public trust when she willfully and deliberately failed to comply with her oath of office by tyrannical abuse of discretionary power.
The Articles of Impeachment and committee report will be transmitted to the House committee on rules, which will deliberate on them within 60 session days, Umali said.
If the Articles of Impeachment get approval from one-third of the House members, they will be transmitted to the Senate, which will convene as an impeachment court.
Meanwhile, Sereno’s camp reiterated that the chief justice is prepared for trial.
“She is actually eagerly awaiting the transmittal of the Articles of Impeachment sa Senate. She’s been asked on this before, and she said she is actually at the advanced stage of preparation. She is very prepared,” said spokesperson Atty. Josa Deinla.
“Ang obserbasyon namin, pareho pa rin – iyong ilan sa mga nilalaman ng ulat ay taliwas sa mismong ebidensya na inihain sa harap ng Committee on Justice,” she said. “Karamihan sa mga ito ay hindi pa rin sapat para tumindig na mga impeachable offenses.”
Deinla added: “Ang maaasahan nila ay ito ay haharapin ni Chief Justice at siya’y nakakatiyak na meron siyang matibay na ebidensya para pasinungalingan na siya ay nag-violate hindi lamang ng SALN law kung hindi nagtago ng yaman, dahil wala siyang itinago sa kanyang mga SALN na finayl.”
The House justice committee voted on March 8 that there was probable cause to impeach Sereno./PN
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