By ELLSON A. QUISMORIO
The House Justice Committee has found probable cause in the impeachment complaint filed against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.
The committee, chaired by Representative Reynaldo Umali of Oriental Mindoroās second district, voted 38-2 in favor of the declaration Thursday, effectively paving the way for Serenoās impeachment trial.
Representative Kaka Bag-Ao of Dinagat Islands and Representative Jose Christopher āKitā Belmonte of Quezon Cityās 6th district were the two Justice Committee members who entered a ānoā vote.
The decision capped the 18 hearings conducted by the committee on the impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Larry Gadon August last year.
Gadon is seeking Serenoās removal on the grounds of culpable violation of the Constitution, graft, betrayal of public trust, and other crimes, listing 27 allegations in connection with these.
Following the declaration, Representative Rudy FariƱas of Ilocos Norteās 1st district asked for the formation of a āsmall working bodyā to be composed of the Justice panelās vice chairmen to draft a committee report on the impeachment complaint, including the Articles of Impeachment, which the as yet-unformed House prosecution team will use as basis for convicting Sereno before the Senator-judges.
A conviction will unseat Sereno, the Philippinesā first female Chief Justice.
FariƱas, who, notably, was among those who voted in favor of the declaration, hailed earlier the Justice panel for its āperseveranceā in attending the hearings on the impeachment rap.
āKasi kinakantyawan na tayo eh, āyung respondent, lalo na āyung mga tagapagsalita,ā FariƱas said.
Umali foreshadowed the voting result in his opening speech, saying āsooner than later we will embark on a new chapter in impeachment proceeding as prosecutors before the Senate as an impeachment court.ā
āThroughout the probable cause hearings, this committee has gathered sufficient evidence to provide us with the ammunition to prosecute this case toward victory,ā he claimed.
Serenoās predecessor, the late Chief Justice Renato Corona, was also impeached by the House and subsequently convicted.
FariƱas, among prosecutors during Coronaās impeachment trial, gave his perspective on the case in comparison with that filed against Sereno.
āIn December 11, 2011, this House impeached a sitting Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Renato Corona, without giving him the opportunity to be heard. In fact, how was the impeachment complaint done or prepared? We were invited to Andaya Hall one afternoon and everybody was lining up to sign the impeachment complaint against Renato Corona. One hundred eighty signed, 55 pages,ā he recounted.
FariƱas said he did not sign himself because he felt that the Corona complaint āwas rushedā and ādone poorly.ā He said this was reflected during the trial as the prosecutors āgroped for things to say.ā
āNow we go to the impeachment of the current Chief Justice. Naka-labing walong hearing na po tayo…and the Chief Justice was given every opportunity to present her side. But she chose not to.ā
Serenoās trial is expected to begin in August.
why it take so long for congress to find a probable cause to oust sereno ? is it because congressmen are stupid or pure OA ? the probable cause is DU30 want sereno out !