Duterte denies hand in Sereno impeachment

President Rodrigo Duterte on the eve of House justice committee's hearing on the impeachment complaint against Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno denied hand in the proceedings.

Duterte told reporters that he doesn't want to meddle in the impeachment proceedings.

"Ay, ayaw ko makialam diyan," he said after attending the 65th general assembly of the League of Cities of the Philippines.

"Alam mo, sinabi sa akin merong narinig na si Sereno, 'Duterte is out to…' Ha, ako raw? She can ask anybody, I guarantee you. I’ll make a guarantee, magtanong siya diyan kung may nilapitan ako na sinasabi ko, 'Impeach niyo si Sereno,'" he added.

"Except the public, ‘yung I reacted because of the so many complaints for coming in --- from the Justices themselves, the way she conducted… But that was it," Duterte continued.

Duterte, nonetheless, still criticized Sereno's alleged luxurious travels. He said that the public would not believe if she travels first-class using her own money.

"Sabagay ako nagta-travel, pero hindi naman tayo pwede lahat maging Presidente eh. Kung gusto mo palit na lang tayo. ‘Yung mga luxury rooms pati ‘yung… Alam mo, pati itong mga Cabinet members ko, you point out sa… may Cabinet member ako na mag-travel ng first class, ‘di bukas wala nang trabaho ‘yan," he said.

"Travel economy. But if you have the money, okay you --- pa-upgrade ka. Pero travel first class that is flaunting… Who would believe that you’re using your own money, mag-travel ka nang ganun? Ba’t, mapaniwala mo ba ‘yung mga kasama mong Pilipino diyan sa eroplano na pera mo ‘yung ginagamit mo?" he added.

Not a threat to democracy

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, moreover, told Sereno that an impeachment process is not a threat to democracy.

"The impeachment process is a constitutional process. I do not see how a constitutional process ratified by the Filipinos when they ratified the ‘87 Constitution, constitute a threat to democracy. She’s mistaken there," he said at a briefing in Malacañang.

"Having said that, we let the process continue, the legislature is a separate branch of government, they have exclusive and original jurisdiction to determine probable cause on impeachment complaints. We trust Congress will do its job," he added.

Sereno on Monday said the President's pronouncements against her say a lot about his possible role in the impeachment moves against her.

In late September, Duterte dares Sereno and Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales to resign with him.

It was on October 4 that the President said he will file impeachment complaints against Sereno over alleged corruption and Morales for her supposed "selective justice." — BAP, GMA News