VACC's impeach rap vs. Sereno gets 16 endorsers

An impeachment complaint lodged against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno more than a month ago became official Monday after it was endorsed by 16 members of the House of Representatives.

The congressmen who signed the complaint filed by Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) founding chairman Dante Jimenez and Vanguard of the Philippine Constitution Inc. (VPCI) president Eligio Mallari were:

• Lanao del Sur 2nd District Representative Mauyag "Jun" Papandayan Jr.
• Manila Teachers party-list Representative Virgilio Lacson
• Negros Oriental 3rd District Representative Arnolfo Teves Jr.
• Eastern Samar Representative Ben Evardone
• 1-PACMAN party-list Representative Enrico Pineda
• YACAP party-list Representative Benhur Lopez Jr.
• Iloilo City Representative Jerry Trenas
• Biliran Representative Rogelio Espina
• Iloilo 3rd District Representative Arthur Defensor Jr.
• ABANG LINGKOD party-list Representative Joseph Stephen Paduano
• Cebu 4th District Representative Benhur Salimbangon
• Deputy Speaker Fredenil Castro
• Iloilo 4th District Representative Ferjenel Biron
• Iloilo 5th District Representative Raul Tupas
• Aklan Representative Carlito Marquez
• Deputy Speaker Sharon Garin

Papandayan said they endorsed the complaint because they believe in the allegations contained in it.

"Inendorso po namin 'yung petition, hindi lang ako marami kami, dahil naniniwala kami sa mga ebidensya na sinasabi ni Atty. Mallari at Jimenez na dapat nang alisin si Sereno dahil sa mga katiwalian na kanyang ginagawa," he said.

"Naniniwala po kami na ito ay magpro-prosper at maraming pa pong sasama sa amin," Papandayan added.

Rule II, Section 2(b) of the Rules of Procedure in Impeachment Proceedings states that "[i]mpeachment shall be initiated by the filing and subsequent referral to the Committee on Justice of a verified complaint filed by any citizen upon a resolution of endorsement by any [House] Member thereof."

Papandayan said other endorsers were signing the complaint as the House holds plenary deliberations for the proposed P3.8 trillion budget for 2018.

The original complaint by the VACC and the VPCI was first lodged on August 2, while a substitute complaint was filed on August 15.

The complainants accused Sereno of culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust, allegedly for the following acts:

• For issuing an administrative order creating the new judiciary decentralized office and re-opening the Regional Court Administration Office in Western Visayas in the absence of an authority from the Court en banc,
• For violating the provision that appointive government officials will not hold another public post unless provided for by law, in appointing Atty. Solomon Lumba as her staff head,
• For appointing Atty. Brenda Jay Mendoza as chief of the Philippine Mediation Center Office by mere memorandum which was not referred to the Court en banc for its consideration,
• For granting to members of her staff travel allowances for foreign travel charged to the Supreme Court funds without Court en banc approval, and
• For sitting on applications for the posts of Supreme Court deputy clerk of court and chief attorney which have been vacant for three years and eight months and the two positions for assistant court administrator which have been vacant for four years and six months.

Aside from VACC and VPI, lawyer Lorenzo Gadon also filed an impeachment complaint against Sereno, accusing her of culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, corruption and committing other high crimes.

At the time of the filing last week, 25 congressmen have affixed their signature to endorse the complaint.

Lawyer Manuelito Luna, counsel for the complainants, said the House may consolidate the two complaints

"The usual thing is pursuant to the rules of the House of Representatives. Kapag ganitong endorsed na 'yung dalawang complaints, kino-consolidate po ito following the ruling of the Supreme Court," he said.

"This is within the power of the Congress and in accordance with the rules for impeachment of the House of Representatives," Luna added.

Sereno has earlier said she was unfazed by threats of impeachment. "Alam mo, 'yan ang masarap sa malinis na konsensya. It does not affect me at all," she had said. —KBK, GMA News