Department of Justice Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre II said yesterday the criminal charge against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P. A. Sereno for alleged non-filing of her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth for 17 years will be investigated.
“We will conduct preliminary investigation to determine if there is probable cause to charge her of any offense,” Aguirre said in a text message to journalists.
But Aguirre said “we will dismiss it if there is no probable cause.”
The complaint against Sereno for non-filing of her SALNs was filed by lawyer Lorenzo Gadon, who also filed an impeachment complaint against her before the House of Representatives.
Gadon claimed that Sereno filed her SALNS only for three years during her tenure as a law professor at the University of the Philippines for 20 years from 1986 to 2006.
He alleged that Sereno filed her SALNs only in 1998, 2002, and 2006 and thus she violated Republic Act No. 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, and Republic Act No. 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
He backed up his complaint with records from the Ombudsman, UP, and the Judicial and Bar Council, the constitutionally mandated that screens and nominates appointments in the Judiciary.
He also alleged that because of the violations, Sereno should not have been qualified to be a magistrate of the SC. She was appointed in 2010 and became Chief Justice in 2012. (Rey G. Panaligan)
