House panel to invite SC justices to shed light on 'falsified rulings'

The House Committee on Justice is set to invite all justices of the Supreme Court to shed light on some of the allegations made by lawyer Lorenzo "Larry" Gadon in his impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

During the House panel's hearing on Wednesday, Dinagat Islands Representative Kaka Bag-ao moved to invite all Supreme Court justices to substantiate the claims of Gadon that Sereno had "falsified" some of the decisions issued by the high court.

In an ambush interview, House panel chair Reynaldo Umali confirmed that it was the "committee ruling" to invite the justices.

"Yes, that was the committee ruling earlier," he said.

Umali clarified, however, that they will not have all the justices in one hearing.

"Hindi natin sasabay-sabayin, baka hindi na mag-function ang Supreme Court," he said.

In his complaint, Gadon claimed that Sereno had falsified several rulings of the Supreme Court, including the Resolution on the opening of the Regional Administrative Office in Region 7, the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) for the Coalition of Associations of Senior Citizens in the Philippines Inc.

Aside from this, Gadon also claimed that Sereno falsified a Resolution ordering a conduct of motu propio investigation on the alleged involvement of four incumbent justices in illegal drugs.

In the first two documents, Gadon said the best person to answer the lawmakers' question was Associate Justice Teresita De Castro, which he said is willing to testify.

Aside from this, Gadon admitted that he it was from Manila Times reporter Jomar Canlas where he got information on the alleged tampering of the TRO.

Oriental Mindoro Representative Salvador Leachon moved to invite Canlas to attend future hearings.

Umali, however, said in the ambush interview that he does not see the importance of Canlas' testimony in the hearing.

"Hindi ko alam kung ano ang efficacy ng sasabihin niya because that is hearsay. Pero for the purpose of satisfying the request of some of the members, sige na," he said.

Umali pointed out that the House panel conducted the hearing to identify the witnesses which they would likely summon in the next proceedings.

"We need this hearing to lay the predicate and then yan na nga, may nagrerequest ng subpoena," he said.

Umali set six hearing days to discuss the four grounds of impeachment against Sereno: November 27, 28, and 29 for culpable violation of the Constitution and corruption, and December 4, 5 and 6 for other high crimes and betrayal of public trust.

He is expecting that the plenary would vote upon their report on their deliberations by December 13, the last session day before the year ends. -NB, GMA News