2 SC justices to testify vs. Sereno in impeach rap —complainant

Two Supreme Court justices have supposedly agreed to testify against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno if and when the complaint against her reaches an impeachment court, the lawyer who filed the plea against her claimed Thursday.

"Meron dalawang [justices who] will testify," lawyer Lorenzo "Larry" Gadon told the media in a phone interview.

"Hindi ko muna i-didisclose 'yung possible statements, hindi muna pinapa-disclose," he added.

Gadon on Wednesday lodged his impeachment complaint against Sereno before the House of Representatives, accusing her of culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, corruption and committing other high crimes.

At the time of the filing, 25 congressmen have affixed their signature to endorse the complaint.

At a press conference in Quezon City, Gadon said his impeachment complaint against Sereno is strong as it is based on personal knowledge and public documents.

"According to my source sa SC (Supreme Court), talagang abuso [siya] sa paggastos lalo na sa allowances ng kanyang mga staff," he said.

The lawyer, likewise, remained hopeful that the number of endorsers for his complaint would increase.

"Baka madagdagan pa 'yun, ang target dyan ay 98. They can easily get that number," Gadon said.

The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption and the Vanguards of the Philippine Constitution, Inc. have also earlier submitted a separate impeachment complaint against Sereno.

This, however, has so far not been endorsed by any congressman.

Rule II, Section 2(b) of the Rules of Procedure in Impeachment Proceedings states that an "[i]mpeachment shall be initiated by the filing and subsequent referral to the Committee on Justice of a verified complaint filed by any citizen upon a resolution of endorsement by any [House] Member thereof."

Sereno's predecessor, Chief Justice Renato Corona, was impeached in December 2011 and later removed from his post in May 2012, for failing to disclose certain properties in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth. — MDM, GMA News