Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno / Photo file from Inquirer (ctto) |
Manila, Philippines
– On Sunday,
Oriental Mindoro Representative Reynaldo Umali, said that there were more Supreme
Court justices who expressed willingness to step forward and testify against
the Chief Justice.
According
to a report from Philstar, there were five incumbent justices, and one retired.
Justices
Teresita Leonardo-De Castro (the first one who testified), Noel Tijam, Mariano
del Castillo, Francis Jardeleza and Samuel Martires are all willing to break the
traditionally judicial protocol.
Also,
the retired magistrate Arturo Brion, who earlier rebuke Chief Justice Lourdes
Sereno.
“Barring
unforeseen circumstances, we look forward to hearing their testimonies. We hope
that necessary clearances are given to them by the Supreme Court to face and
testify before my panel,” Rep. Umali said.
Four
among these justices have already confirmed their attendance at today’s
resumption hearing.
Del
Castillo is said to be the latest addition to the justices who want to testify –
whom just informed the House Committee on Justice, about his decision to come
forward.
“I have
no personal knowledge about his intention to testify, but his willingness to
face us was relayed to my committee secretariat,” Umali said.
“Associate
Justice Del Castillo may testify on the circumstances behind the Toyota Land
Cruiser controversy and other allegations of corruption against the Chief
Justice,” he added.
“We can
accommodate his (Del Castillo’s) testimony by January next year because our
hands are full with the scheduled testimonies of other justices,” Umali said.
Meanwhile,
a group named The Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas (Laiko), a lay arm of the
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines expressed its support for
Sereno.
“Without
going into the merits of the impeachment complaint, the Laiko unequivocally
expresses its full support for Chief Justice Sereno. Our knowledge of how the
Chief Justice conducts herself gives us reason to believe that she is a person
of integrity unsullied by any hint of corruption,” the group said, believing
that Sereno is worthy of keeping her post.
Source: Philstar
1 Comments
Wowowowowowowowo what a revelation is coming. I feel sorry for Sereno. But if he has something to say, best is say it now and come out of her hiding before the fire rages further. Or best is resign asap before getting truly humiliated. Once wrong is done it is difficult to rectify being an executive to the people.
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