Impeachment a numbers game, but we remain hopeful —Sereno camp

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno's camp on Sunday said they remain hopeful that the impeachment complaint will not prosper, but admitted that how the case will play out depends on numbers.

"We remain hopeful. Kaya naiintindihan namin na ito'y usaping politikal. Naiintindihan [namin na] this is a numbers game at ang perception ngayon ay they have the numbers. Kaya meron tayong proseso, hindi pa po kasi nadidinig ng ating sambayanan ang mga tugon ni Chief Justice Sereno na pormal," Atty. Carlo Cruz, Sereno's spokesperson said in an interview over radio dzBB.

"Ganito po 'yan, politikal ito. Hindi po kami makikibakahagi sa diskusyong politikal. We shall approach this particular challenge with dignity [and] as professionals also. Totoong meron silang number [sa Kongreso] pero, diba ang sambayanan ang nagluklok sa kanila?" he added 

The House committee on justice found the impeachment complaint of lawyer Lorenzo "Larry" Gadon against Sereno sufficient in form and substance.

Gadon in his complaint accused Sereno of committing acts that serve as ground for her impeachment, such as culpable violation of the Constitution, corruption, other high crimes and betrayal of public trust.

High respect for justices

Meanwhile, Sereno's camp said that they will respect the decision of some Supreme Court justices to testify against the Chief Justice at the looming Senate for trial.

"Napakataas po ng aking pagtingin sa lahat ng mahistrado. I do not know yet kung sino sa na nai-report na tetestigo... Kung saka-sakali sila man ay makisama sa usaping ito, 'yan ay dahil sa kanilang taospusong paninidigan tungkol sa mga bagay na kanilang ite-testify, we have to respect that," Cruz said.

But he stressed that the "the the justices are not people with hidden agenda. These are magistrates. They are members of the Supreme Court, I have respect for all of them po." 

However, he said they are ready to defend the Chief Justice against the allegations.

Meanwhile, the House committee dismissed the separate impeachment complaint filed by Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption founding chairman Dante Jimenez and Vanguard of the Philippine Constitution Inc. president Atty. Eligio Mallari.

Sereno's office received a copy of the impeachment complaint last Friday.

The Chief Justice has 10 days to respond to the allegations of Gadon in compliance with the directive of the House justice committee.

Cruz had disagreed with the decision of the panel, saying that Gadon's allegations are untrue. —Marlly Rome Bondoc/LBG, GMA News