First class or business class? Gadon quizzed on lavish lifestyle rap vs. Sereno

A lawmaker on Tuesday chided lawyer Lorenzo "Larry" Gadon on his allegation that Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno allegedly flew on first class accommodation.

This, as the House Committee on Justice tries to find probable cause on Gadon's allegation that Sereno has committed corruption by living an "extravagant" and "lavish" lifestyle.

At the resumption of the House panel hearing, Misamis Occidental Representative Henry Oaminal quizzed Gadon on his allegation that Sereno, together with her staff and security, had traveled first class in their foreign trips.

Sereno, in her verified reply, denied Gadon's allegation, saying that travels on "business class" is not indicative of a lavish lifestyle.

"I maintain my position that the traveling on a business class as against economy class is extravagant. Considering also her staff and security guards are also seated on business class," Gadon told Oaminal.

Gadon added that the Supreme Court en banc has already approved his request for a detailed travel information of the Chief Justice, but only a list of foreign travels was provided to him.

He also said that Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez could attest his allegation, saying that the latter was in "same plane" and "same flight" where Sereno, her staff and security traveled on business class.

However, Oaminal was quick to point out that there was a difference between "first class" and "business class" accommodation.

"Atty. Gadon, business class and first class accommodations are two different things. What was stated by the court administrator Midas was that the chief justice was flying in the business class accommodation," Oaminal said.

"So you agree with me that the Chief Justice, in her defense, did not fly in her foreign travels on a first class accommodation?" he added.

Gadon replied that "first class" and "business class" accommodation are usually interchanged. But Oaminal insisted the difference between the two.

Then I submit, your honor," Gadon said.

Asked if he is finally admitting that Sereno has not availed first class accommodation, Gadon said: "What I meant with that first class is that it is more expensive than the economy class. It could be business class or first class."

Presidential villa

Oaminal also quizzed Gadon on his allegation that Sereno has used public funds by getting herself billeted in the Presidential Villa of Shangri-la Boracay for an international conference in 2016, amounting to P200,000 per night.

In her reply, Sereno said she was not billeted for a Presidential Villa and it was only used as meeting venue for the "Boracay Accord" signing and photo-op of the chief justice of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

"This kind of affair," Oaminal asks Gadon, "does it not deserve to be held in a Presidential Villa?"

"I can't answer that, your honor, because there are also good places in Boracay, these are not presidential, the cost is not P200,000 a day," Gadon replied.

Gadon likewise insisted that there was no photograph of the chief justices taken in the Presidential Villa, contrary to Sereno's claim as the purpose of the venue.

"There was no photo that can be shown. If she can invited her again, we can ask for that photo," he said.

"There's none, your honor, because the other justices refused also because they don't want to be photographed in such opulent place," he added.

In an emailed commentary, the lawyers of Sereno clarified that the Presidential Villa was chosen and paid for by the Supreme Court as the meeting area for the 3rd ASEAN Chief Justices Meeting for 24 hours in March 2015, not in 2016.

It was here, they said, where the signing of the Boracay Accord, the photo-op of the ASEAN Chief Justices and the side meetings between ASEAN Chief Justices took place.

"Instead of booking additional rooms, Chief Justice Sereno, her staff and part of the secretariat were allowed to stay at the Presidential Villa after the official gathering of the ASEAN Chief Justices at no additional cost to the Supreme Court," the lawyers said.

"By maximizing the use of the Presidential Villa, Chief Justice Sereno actually saved public funds. Clearly, there is nothing corrupt about this," they added.

The House justice panel will resume its deliberation on the impeachment case against Sereno on Wednesday. —NB, GMA News