Sereno lawyer downplays Gadon’s complaint over alleged failure to file SALNs

One of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno's lawyers has downplayed the criminal complaint filed by lawyer Larry Gadon against the chief magistrate for allegedly failing to file her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) for 17 years.

In a statement on Saturday, lawyer Jose Deinla called Gadon's criminal complaint against Sereno filed with the Department of Justice (DOJ) as a "desperate" and "laughable attempt" to remove the Chief Justice from office.

"This is yet another desperate and laughable attempt by Atty. Gadon to push his sinister plot to remove the Chief Justice from office fully aware that his impeachment complaint has no basis at all," Deinla said.

On Friday, Gadon — who earlier filed an impeachment complaint against Sereno — lodged a complaint for violation of Republic Act 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees) and Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) based on certifications submitted by the Office of the Ombudsman, UP, and the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC). http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/641143/complaint-filed-vs-sereno-for-alleged-non-filing-of-saln-for-17-years/story/

Gadon said Sereno, who was with the UP College of Law from 1986 to 2006, only filed SALNs in 1998, 2002, and 2006.

Reacting to the complaint, Deinla said, "By filing a complaint with the Department of Justice against a government official immune from suit and filing it with the wrong office only reinforces and further exposes Atty. Gadon’s ignorance of the law and the processes."

"His latest move is just another publicity stunt to attract the attention of the public whose interest in the ongoing impeachment proceedings is waning," Sereno's lawyer said.

"They know that all the allegations against the Chief Justice are mere concoctions to unjustly oust her," he added.

Deinla saide Sereno has been accurately and properly filing her SALNs since she became a member of the Supreme Court in 2010 and as Chief Justice in 2012.

"Her earnings from private law practice before she became an Associate Justice are reflected in her ITR (income tax return) filings and only the assets remaining from these earnings are reflected in her current SALNs," he said. — MDM, GMA News