Gadon to ask Duterte to nullify Sereno’s appointment as chief justice

Lawyer Larry Gadon on Thursday said he would ask President Rodrigo Duterte to nullify the appointment of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, saying her failure to complete all the requirements in her application as high magistrate might set a bad precedent.

"I will urge President Duterte and the Office of the President to nullify the appointment of Chief Justice Sereno," Gadon said in a press conference in Quezon City. "Kasi 'yung appointment niya is tainted with fraud."

Gadon, who filed the impeachment complaint against Sereno, said her "fraudulent" appointment should not be ignored.

"Isipin niyo na lang kung anong klaseng precedent 'yan sa ating judicial system at sa ating governance na meron kang in-appoint fraudulently, tapos hahayaan mo. Paano na lang 'yan? Nagkaroon na ng precedent," he said.

"Napakasamang precedent. That is a total collapse of the rule of law," Gadon added.

Gadon cited Sereno's alleged lack of requirements in her application for chief justice in 2012 as revealed during the impeachment proceedings at the House of Representatives where she only submitted three Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN), with only  one of them subscribed.

He compared this to the requirements the other applicants at that time submitted.

"Kulang-kulang pala 'yung kanyang requirements, tapos 'yung iba na mas senior at mas qualified pa, mas may experience, kumpleto ng papeles, tapos sila isasantabi mo tapos ikaw, hindi nakapag-file, isa lang out of 10  [ang SALN] at hindi pa subscribed 'yung dalawa?" Gadon said.

Gadon said he would send the letter after March 1, the deadline he set for Sereno to resign, or he will file cases against Supreme Court officials who were involved in her alleged questionable acts as high magistrate.

Sereno's camp, however, has earlier maintained that the chief justice complied with all the requirements for her application to the post.

"Wala namang ginawa si Chief Justice kundi nag-apply lamang siya at nag-comply doon sa mga requirements at pumayag 'yung JBC sa mga requirements na binigay niya. Anong kasalanan ni CJ Sereno?" lawyer Jojo Lacanilao, one of Sereno's spokespersons, said. —KBK, GMA News