Gadon tells Sereno: Resign by March 1, or I charge SC execs

Lawyer Lorenzo "Larry" Gadon on Thursday renewed his challenge to Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno to step down from her position by March 1, or he will file cases against Supreme Court officials who were involved in her alleged questionable acts as high magistrate.

"Ako ay nananawagan kay CJ Sereno na mag-resign ka na," Gadon told reporters in a press conference in Quezon City.

"I'm urging you to resign by March 1, because if you will not resign by March 1, I will file cases against Supreme Court officials," he added.

Atty. Larry Gadon tells CJ Sereno: I’m urging you to resign by March 1, because if you will not resign by March 1, I will file cases against Supreme Court officials. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/fgtJZYcvoK

— Erwin Colcol (@erwincolcol) February 22, 2018

Gadon, who filed the impeachment complaint against the chief justice, said the SC officials involved in the said acts were only forced to follow the orders of Sereno.

"Napakaraming madadamay na Supreme Court officials dahil sa kakapalan ng mukha niya," he said.

SC officials whom Gadon said he will charged if Sereno will not resign by March 1. pic.twitter.com/f5HsdhaTlZ

— Erwin Colcol (@erwincolcol) February 22, 2018

The SC officials whom Gadon said he will charge if Sereno will not resign by March 1 include:

For the illegal purchase of Toyota Land Cruiser, a violation of Section 18 of RA 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act and Section 3(a) of RA 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act:

• Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno
• Retired Deputy Court Administrator Thelma Bahia
• Office of Administrative Services assistant chief Atty. Ma. Carina Cunanan
• Fiscal Management and Budget Office chief Atty. Corazon Ferrer-Flores
• Office of the Chief Justice court lawyer Michael Ocampo

For the illegal hiring of IT consultant Helen Macasaet, a violation of RA 9184 and Section 3(a), (e) and (g) of RA 3019:

• Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno
• Deputy Court Administrator Raul Villanueva
• Office of Administrative Services assistant chief Atty. Ma. Carina Cunanan
• Fiscal Management and Budget Office chief Atty. Corazon Ferrer-Flores
• Office of the Chief Justice Chief of Staff Atty. Ma. Lourdes Oliveros
• Office of the Chief Justice court lawyer Michael Ocampo
• Former IT consultant Helen Macasaet

For the inordinate delay in the release of survivorship benefits, a violation of Section 3(e) of RA 3019:

• Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno
• Deputy Clerk of Court en banc Atty. Anna-Li Papa-Gombio
• Office of the Chief Justice court lawyer Jocelyn Fabian
• Office of the Chief Justice judicial staff head Atty. Czarina Encarnacion Samonte-Villanueva

For the illegal use of the Presidential Villa of Shangri-La Boracay, a violation of RA 9184 and Section 3(a) and (b) of RA 3019:

• Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno
• Former judicial staff head and now Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Zaldy Trespeses
• Fiscal Management and Budget Office chief Atty. Corazon Ferrer-Flores

Gadon said the filing of cases will "end the careers" of these SC officials.

"This will be the end of their careers. Lahat ng pinaghirapan, lahat mawawala. 'Yan ay mangyayari dahil sa katigasan ng ulo ni Sereno," he said.

"Talagang idadamay ko na lahat kapag ganyan," he added.

Gadon likewise said he will not back down from filing cases against the court officials.

"Hindi ako nangingimi na kasuhan sila. Kung 'yung Chief Justice nga kinasuhan ko, sila pa, e mababang opisyal lang sila," he said.

But if Sereno will resign before his imposed deadline of March 1, Gadon said he might change his mind.

"Naaawa kasi ako sa mga taong 'to. Kung mag-resign si Sereno, baka lumambot pa ang puso ko," he added.

Lawyer Winnie Salumbides, one of Sereno's spokespersons, only dismissed Gadon's threat.

"Nothing really new from Gadon. More threats and relentless attempts to pressure our Chief Justice to resign," he told reporters in a text message.

The House Committee on Justice is conducting deliberations to determine probable cause on the impeachment complaint lodged against Sereno. —KG, GMA News