Monday, May 29, 2023
manilastandard.net
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Others
    • Pets
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Technology
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • MS ON THE ROAD
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Others
    • Pets
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Technology
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • MS ON THE ROAD
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
manilastandard.net
No Result
View All Result
Home News Top Stories

House okays impeach rap vs Sereno

Maricel CruzbyMaricel Cruz
September 14, 2017, 12:01 am
in Top Stories
Reading Time: 4 mins read
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Email

VOTING 30-4, the House committee on justice found the impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno sufficient in form and substance, and gave her 10 days to respond to accusations by lawyer Larry Gadon that she betrayed the public trust and was guilty of a culpable violation of the Constitution, corruption and other high crimes.

On the other hand, the panel dismissed a second complaint filed by Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption founding chairman Dante Jimenez and Vanguard of the Philippine Constitution president Eligio Mallari, for insufficiency in form by a 28-5 vote.

House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas said Jimenez and Mallari should have done their homework before filing their impeachment complaint.

“We gave a caveat the last time…Complainants are warned that when they come here, they should follow the proper form,” Fariñas said.

Gadon said Sereno should be impeached for having assets that were not disclosed in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth—the same reason her predecessor, Chief Justice Renato Corona, was impeached and ultimately ousted.

Gadon also accused Sereno of extravagant spending of judicial funds, including her purchase of a Toyota Land Cruiser for P5 million and her first-class travel on airlines.

Sereno has rejected all the allegations leveled against her.

Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate argued that Gadon’s complaint be dismissed since his allegations were not based on personal knowledge.

But Fariñas backed the decision of the House justice committee, saying that Gadon was able to provide the panel at least 20 authentic records from the Supreme Court, such as certified true copies of resolutions from the Court and Sereno’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, to back his allegations against the Chief Justice.

Sereno, through her spokesperson Carlo Cruz denied the allegations in the complaint and vowed to disprove them point by point.

FORM SUFFICIENT. Voting 30-4, the House of Representatives committee on justice finds Wednesday sufficient in form and substance the impeachment complaint filed against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno by lawyer Larry Gadon for alleged betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, corruption and other high crimes. Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, the panel chairperson, ordered Sereno to answer the first impeachment complaint within 10 days. Manny Palmero

Cruz questioned the findings of the House committee that the complaint against the chief magistrate was sufficient in form and substance when many of the allegations in the Gadon complaint are unsupported by evidence or rely mainly on hearsay consisting of newspaper clippings.

“We further understand that the determinations of the House Committee appear to be inconsistent with its findings and actions in similar proceedings in the past,” the lawyer said.

“We maintain that, contrary to the findings of the House Committee on Justice, none of the allegations in the Gadon complaint is true. For this reason, we respectfully submit that the complaint cannot be considered sufficient in form and substance,” the lawyer added.

Cruz, a lawyer specializing in constitutional and administrative laws and son of late retired Justice Isagani Cruz, said the allegations in the complaint are all not true.

“None of the allegations rises to an impeachable offense. The complaint against her seems designed to maximize the political spectacle, with the goal of eroding her credibility through innuendo and malicious allegations. This is detrimental to the independence of the judiciary upon whom all citizens rely to defend their rights and to check any abuse,” Cruz said.

He also reiterated the Chief Justice’s earlier pronouncement that she “has always lived a modest, god-fearing lifestyle” and has not violated any law.

“She has followed her oath of office and conducted herself with strict faithfulness to that oath. She has been among the foremost proponents of establishing a culture of modesty and respect for public funds in the Supreme Court. She has instituted reforms in the judiciary and has asserted and defended the independence of the judicial branch of government,” Cruz said, in the statement. 

Nonetheless, Cruz assured the public that Sereno would respect the impeachment proceedings and submit her answer to the complaint while hoping for fair treatment.

“We remain hopeful that our Congress will decide based on the merits of the case, and affirm their commitment to our democracy over partisan or parochial interests. In the meantime, the Chief Justice continues to discharge her duties with fairness, integrity and humility,” he said.

“She will avail herself of appropriate legal remedies, with the hope that the mechanisms of our democratic system will afford her a fair, transparent and just opportunity to be heard,” Cruz said.

The complaints against Sereno have already been endorsed by 41 members of the House.

In a forum in Cebu City on Aug. 24, Sereno issued a general denial of the allegations in the complaints.

“I have always lived a life of modesty. I have been prudent in the use of the court’s resources. All the expenses for judicial reforms, my travels, my security, and vehicle requirements are all regular and aboveboard,” she said.

“That’s the beauty of having a clear conscience; it does not affect me at all… If I take an inordinate amount of time looking at it and being exasperated by those documents, work will not be done,” Sereno added.

With its complaint dismissed, the VACC said it would work with Gadon to support his case.

Gadon on Wednesday said he learned that three Supreme Court justices are willing to testify against Sereno if the case goes to trial in the Senate.

He did not disclose who these were, however.

Gadon had earlier said two justices were willing to testify if they were invited to do so by the House committee on justice.

He added that he was grateful for the result of the House justice panel’s vote and dismissed suggestions that is complaint was based on hearsay.

“How can they say it was hearsay when all the certified true copies of documents were shown to the committee?” he said in Filipino. With Rio N. Araja

Rey E. Requejo

Tags: Atty. Larry GadonChief Justice Maria Lourdes SerenoDante JimenezEligio MallariHouse Committee on JusticeHouse Majority Leader Rodolfo FariñasHouse of Representativesimpeachment complaintRep. CarlosVolunteers Against Crime and Corruption
ADVERTISEMENT
Maricel Cruz

Maricel Cruz

Related Posts

‘Betty’ slows, NCR on ‘Bravo’

byCharles Dantesand1 others
May 29, 2023, 2:05 am
0
8
Flag Day Rite

Luzon feels ‘habagat’ winds; Metro Manila at moderate risk for flooding STORM WATCH. An officer of the Philippine Coast Guard...

Read more

2 more priority bills set for approval this week, 33 out of 42 from LEDAC

byRio N. Araja
May 29, 2023, 1:55 am
0
8
Southwoods nails Seniors’ Fil golf crown

The House of Representatives is scheduled to approve on third and final reading this week two more bills tagged as...

Read more

1k flee Lanao town with terrorist threat

byCharles Dantes
May 29, 2023, 1:50 am
0
8
1k flee Lanao town with terrorist threat

FLEEING LANAO. This screen grab from an ABS-CBN TV report on Sunday shows some of the 1,236 persons from Marogong,...

Read more

Arroyo rejects rumor linking First Lady to House coup

byRio N. Araja
May 29, 2023, 1:45 am
0
8
SC upholds Arroyo acquittal in NBN-ZTE

Former President and Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo took exception to rumors dragging First Lady Liza Marcos-Araneta into a reported coup...

Read more

Solons to hasten Senate Maharlika bill

byRio N. Araja
May 29, 2023, 1:40 am
0
8
Salceda urges Labor, Migrant depts to lift ban on OFW

Albay Rep. Joey Salceda on Sunday said Congress is studying the Senate’s version of the Maharlika Investment Fund, which President...

Read more

Speaker praises Pier 88 opening in Cebu’s Liloan

byRio N. Araja
May 29, 2023, 1:35 am
0
8
Journalist, former UP CMC dean Luis Teodoro passes away at 81

Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez applauded the launch of Pier 88 in Liloan, Cebu, saying the enhanced mobility in the region...

Read more

Print Edition

View More

Recent Posts

  • Power Mac Center opens in SM City Bataan
  • Lucky Me! Go Cup ditches sachets
  • AboitizPower leads groundbreaking for new Maco de Oro science lab
  • Beat the summer heat with Urbanize’s The Coldest Water Shaker Bottle!
  • In Less Than 2 Years This Beauty Brand Is Making A Statement In The Beauty Industry 
  • Cebuana Lhuillier expands its affordable healthcare insurance with the launch of HealthMax
  • Miss Universe PH 2023 Michelle Marquez Dee comes out as bisexual
  • Four dead after boat overturns on Italy’s Lake Maggiore

Advertisement

Latest News

Cebuana Lhuillier expands its affordable healthcare insurance with the launch of HealthMax

byManila Standard
May 29, 2023, 3:38 pm
0
8
Cebuana Lhuillier expands its affordable healthcare insurance with the launch of HealthMax

Making affordable HMO available for every Filipino Aside from the toll it has taken on human lives and the local...

Read more

Miss Universe PH 2023 Michelle Marquez Dee comes out as bisexual

byPatricia Bianca S. Taculao
May 29, 2023, 3:02 pm
0
8
Miss Universe PH 2023 Michelle Marquez Dee comes out as bisexual

In a bold and empowering move, Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Marquez Dee came out as bisexual in the latest...

Read more

Four dead after boat overturns on Italy’s Lake Maggiore

byAFP
May 29, 2023, 3:00 pm
0
8
Southwoods nails Seniors’ Fil golf crown

Rome, Italy - Four people died when a boat carrying tourists overturned on Lake Maggiore in strong winds, Italy's fire brigade...

Read more

No glory for bullies: South Korea’s school violence epidemic

byAFP
May 29, 2023, 2:00 pm
0
8
Southwoods nails Seniors’ Fil golf crown

Busan, South Korea - Pins hidden in her shoes, head forced down a toilet, kicked in the stomach: Korean hairdresser Pyo...

Read more

China to send first civilian into space on Tuesday

byAFP
May 29, 2023, 1:00 pm
0
8
Southwoods nails Seniors’ Fil golf crown

Jiuquan, China - China will send its first civilian astronaut into space as part of a crewed mission to the Tiangong space...

Read more

Advertisement

ADVERTISEMENT
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube

ABOUT US

Manila Standard

Manila Standard website (manilastandard.net), launched in August 2002, extends the newspaper’s reach beyond its traditional readers and makes its brand of Philippine news and opinion available to a much wider and geographically diverse readership here and overseas.

Digital Edition

In tone and content, the online edition mirrors the editorial thrust of the newspaper. While hewing to the traditional precepts of fairness and objectivity, MS believes the news of the day need not be staid, overly long or dry. Stories are succinct, readable and written in a lively style that has become a hallmark of the newspaper.

Download – Today’s Paper

Search

No Result
View All Result

6th Floor Universal Re Bldg., 106 Paseo De Roxas cor. Perea Street, Legaspi Village, 1226 Makati City Philippines

Trunklines: 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Pop.Life
    • Newsmakers
    • Hangouts
    • A-Pop
    • Post Its
    • Performances
    • Malls & Bazaars
    • Hobbies & Collections
  • Technology
    • Gadgets
    • Computers
    • Business
    • Tech Plus
  • MS ON THE ROAD
    • Sedan
    • SUV
    • Truck
    • Bike
    • Accessories
    • Motoring Plus
    • Commuter’s Corner
  • Home & Design
    • Residential
    • Commercial
    • Construction
    • Interior
  • Spotlight
  • Gallery
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • Events
    • Seminars
    • Exhibits
    • Community
  • Biyahero
    • Travel Features
    • Travel Reels
    • Travel Logs
  • Pets
  • Advertise with Us

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Install Manila Standard Web App

Install App