MANILA – Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno is facing her first impeachment complaint filed on Wednesday, August 30 before the Office of the Secretary General of the House of Representatives.
The complaint, filed by lawyer Larry Gadon, alleged that Sereno committed culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, corruption and other high crimes.
The complaint was endorsed by 25 congressmen. “Tomorrow, more endorsers will sign,” Gadon said, hours after Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez told reporters he knew for a fact that there were “many” members of the House willing to endorse the complaint.
“All charges were backed up by public documents,” Gadon asserted. He expressed confidence the complaint will stand trial when it goes to the Senate.
He accused Sereno of failing to declare her true Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth and using excessive funds for her travel, among others.
Earlier in the day, Alvarez said a number of congressmen were prepared to support the complaint, but that he had preached caution in vetting the ecomplaint instead of rushing to send it to the Senate for trial.
Before the filing, Gadon met with Alvarez, but did not disclose what was discussed.
The endorsers the complaint against Sereno were: Representatives Gwen Garcia, Edgar Sarmiento, Anthony Bravo, Arnel Ty, Rodolfo Albano, Francisco Matugas, Aurelio Gonzales, Joel Almario, Romeo Acop, Federico Sandoval, Vincent Crisologo, Mylene Garcia-Albano, Pedro Acharon, Xavier Romualdo, Winnie Castelo, Ferdinand Hernandez, Jerico Nograles, Ace Barbers, Frederick Abueg, John Nieto, Roger Mercado, Lorna Bandigan, Ann Hofer, Gil Acosta and Jennifer Barzaga.
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