House panel issues show-cause order vs. 2 Sereno lawyers, CHR exec

The House Committee on Justice on Monday ordered the two lawyers of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, as well as Commission on Human Rights commissioner Roberto Cadiz, to explain why they should not be cited in contempt for "casting aspersion" and issuing "negative statements" about the panel.

Deputy Speaker Gwendolyn Garcia asked for the issuance of show-cause order on Sereno's lawyers Joshua Santiago and Aldwin Salumbides, who are also her spokespersons, for their publicized remarks against the committee.

"Mr. Chair, in light of these statements that appeared in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, attributing such statements to the spokespersons of Chief Justice, lawyers Joshua Santiago and Aldwin Salumbides,  I move that both lawyers [be asked to explain] why they should not be cited for contempt," she told the committee.

She said the two lawyers' statements "have cast aspersion upon the integrity of the members of the committee and the committee itself."

Garcia cited an article that came out on the Philippine Daily Inquirer on November 26 titled "Sereno lawyers want impeach case in Senate" where Santiago and Salumbides were quoted as saying that the House proceedings have turned into a "dog and pony show."

In the report, Santiago and Salumbides also called the complaint of lawyer Lorenzo "Larry" Gadon "weak" despite being deemed sufficient in form, substance and also with sufficient grounds.

"Atty. Salumbides states 'we do not expect fair treatment' and I supposed he's referring to the proceedings of this committee," Garcia said during Monday's hearing.

Oriental Mindoro Representative Reynaldo Umali earlier pointed out before the hearing that Santiago and Salumbides should respect the proceedings of the panel and "not resort to saying adverse statements."

Meanwhile, 1-SAGIP party-list Representative Rodante Marcoleta moved to amend Garcia's motion to include Cadiz for supposedly saying that the panel's proceedings are governed by the "law of the jungle."

Cadiz's remark came out on an Inquirer report titled "CHR assails 'law of jungle' in House over Sereno impeachment proceedings" published on November 21.

Umali accepted the proposed amendment to include Cadiz.

Santiago, Salumbides and Cadiz were ordered to submit a written explanation within 72 hours why they should not be cited for contempt. —KBK, GMA News