House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez has turned
his sights on the Chief Magistrate of the land.
A day after the spokesperson of Chief
Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno announced that she will go on wellness leave, the
Speaker of the House of Representatives has made a gesture of concern towards
the former.
In a letter signed by the Chief Justice
submitted to the Clerk of Court En Banc Atty. Anna-Li Papa Gombio, dated February
27 Sereno said she will go on an indefinite leave to prepare for the Senate
trial on her impeachment.
The House speaker also urged his counterpart
in the Senate, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, whom Alvarez claims to
be “excited” to start the impeachment trial, to relax ahead of the possible
proceedings before senators.
The Chief Justice made it clear that her
reason for taking the indefinite leave is for her vital preparations in case
there will be a trial. Also, Sereno in a previous statement believes that there
is “probability is quite high” that the House panel deliberating on the
impeachment complaint against her would proceed to Senate for the impeachment
trial.
Sereno was “forced” to leave by other
Justices.
House Justice Committee chair Rey Umali,
who is presiding over the impeachment in the House, claims that he was tipped
by several justices about the “forced leave” of Sereno.
Sereno’s counsel Jojo Lacanilao emphasized
that justices cannot force Sereno to go on an indefinite leave, which their
camp believes, is like ousting the Chief Justice. He said only the Senate can
dismiss the top magistrate after an impeachment trial.
Atty. Lorenzo Gadon filed the complaint
against the Chief Justice, accusing her of of misdeclaring her wealth in her
Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth and having an extravagant
lifestyle, among others.
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