Sereno should cross-examine impeachment witnesses herself, says Alvarez

As far as Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez is concerned, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno's counsel should not be allowed to cross-examine the witnesses at her impeachment case.

In a press conference, Alvarez said Sereno should personally appear in the impeachment proceedings to do the cross-examination herself.

"Si Sereno 'yung mag-appear dito. Bakit abogado? Impeachment trial niya ito," he said.

"Merong impeachment complaint na ini-file sa kanya, dapat siya ang sumagot. Hindi abogado. Bakit, hindi ba siya abogado? Chief Justice pa nga siya," he added.

Sereno's lawyers wrote to the House justice committee last month, asserting her right to counsel and cross-examine the witnesses.

House panel chair Reynaldo Umali said Sereno may be allowed to cross-examine the witness but not through her lawyers.

"We will not allow the lawyers to speak directly to the cross examination, because that is not allowed by the rules of the House. Only the resource persons, in this case the respondent, in my own interpretation of our own rules, may be allowed to do that," Umali said.

Alvarez said that while the impeachment proceedings at the House of Representatives are ongoing, it is better to carefully consider first the allegations and the evidence for the complaint against Sereno.

"Naghi-hearing pa tayo syempre, tingnan muna natin kung talaga bang solid na ang grounds natin. Tingnan natin yung ebidensya, yung mga testimonies. Yung mga affidavits, iimbitahan naman natin yung mga gustong magsalita under oath," he said.

"Ngayon, 'pag talagang kumbinsido tayo na ito ay puwedeng dalhin sa impeachment court, ay papasa dito 'yan," he said.

The House justice panel will hold a hearing to determine probable cause in the complaint in November. — BM, GMA News