By REY G. PANALIGAN
Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P. A. Sereno made use of her opening speech at the convention of the Philippine Women Judges Association (PWJA) yesterday to lash at members of the House Justice Committee, accusing them of denying her rights.
“…the House Committee on Justice has denied me my right to confront and cross-examine the witnesses and resource persons arrayed against me…,” she said.
“That is why I must fight to have my day at the Senate Impeachment Court. This fight is a fight for Judicial Independence, for the right of every Member of the Court to confront her accuser face to face in a trial type proceeding. Where all allegations can be challenged, and all lies can be unmasked…”
She added, “The oath I have taken is to protect the Constitution, the Independence of the Judiciary and to take a stand for every Judge whose freedom of conscience I have consistently done my best to defend. All kinds of lies, threats, harassment and bullying have been thrown my way. But I will not yield.”
Sereno also addressed her fellows, adding, “We must denounce gossiping and unfounded innuendos and try our best to preserve our dignity as members of the Judiciary. And, true to our oath as judges, we do not judge anyone until all the evidence is in.”
She also took a swipe at the impeachment raps filed against her, saying, “I look at any forum to try me other than the constitutionally exclusive form of impeachment as an admission by the complainant and my other detractors that after 15 hearings, they have failed to come up with any evidence which I can be convicted in the Senate.”
Some judges attending the convention didn’t take it sitting down.
After Sereno gave her speech and even before she could return to her seat, SC Justice Teresita J. Leonardo de Castro, PWJA president, stood and said:
“I sincerely hope that she (Sereno) should not have dealt with a matter that is pending with the court.”
De Castro, in effect, said that since a quo warranto case is pending with the SC, any discussion on the issue “is subjudice.”
There was silence in the jampacked Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel which, earlier, was filled with laughter, with convention participants and guests laughing heartily at the jokes of Manila City Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada.
Also present during the convention were Acting Chief Justice Antonio T. Carpio, Justice Estela B. Perlas Bernabe as PWJA executive vice president, and Justices Presbitero J. Velasco Jr., Diosdado M. Peralta, Mariano C. de Castillo, Samuel P. Martirez, Noel G. Tijam, Andres B. Reyes Jr. and Alexander G. Gesmundo. Justice Francis H. Jardeleza arrived after Sereno’s speech.
Also present was SC Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez.