Sereno only suggested that CA justices file petition in Ilocos 6 case — SC justice

Supreme Court Associate Justice Andres Reyes on Monday clarified that Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno did not order Court of Appeals (CA) justices to file a petition for prohibition before the Supreme Court in connection with the "Ilocos 6" case, but only suggested it.

CA Associate Justice Remedios Salazar-Fernando earlier testified that Reyes, then the presiding justice of the CA, met with the rest of the appellate court's magistrates in a series of emergency meetings.

At these meetings, she said, he told them that Sereno had "advised" that the three CA justices involved—associate justices Stephen Cruz, Nina Antonio-Valenzuela and Edwin Sorongon—file a petition before the Supreme Court with the TRO on the House show cause order, and "siya na daw ang bahala."

At the resumption of the House Committee on Justice hearing, however, Reyes clarified, "I called for the justices of the Court of Appeals in Manila wherein I distributed the joint statement and also told them what the Chief Justice told me that if the justices would like, they can file a petition for prohibition."

Sereno, Reyes said, did not say "ako na ang bahala" to the petition.

"She said Supreme Court na ang magha-handle ng case na 'yan, something to that effect," he said.

"[It's] not the Chief Justice. She was as if saying that the petition will be handled by the Supreme Court," he added.

Reyes, however, could not say if Sereno's suggestion is a violation of the Code of Judicial Conduct.

"I could say that looking at the Chief Justice, being myself a presiding justice, she is also the mother of the Supreme Court or the judiciary. At times, she has to make decisions regarding matters concerning the survival or the life or the good name of the courts," he said.

"I don't take it against her if she would try to suggest things that will try to help the institution of which she is a mother. I cannot really say with certainty and agree with what you're saying," he added.

Sereno's camp has already denied that the Chief Justice ordered the CA to file the petition.

Lawyer Jojo Lacanilao, one of Sereno's spokespersons, said the chief justice did not advise Reyes on what particular legal remedy or petition the three CA justices should take.

"Neither did she assure Justice Reyes of a favorable outcome on such a petition by telling him that she would take care of that petition in the Supreme," Lacanilao said.

"In fact, when the Ilocos 6 appealed before the Supreme Court to stop the hearing before the House of Representatives, the Chief Justice inhibited herself from hearing and deciding the case," he added.

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