Another Supreme Court Associate Justice has manifested his intention to testify in the impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes P.A. Sereno.
Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, chairman of the House Committee on Justice, said Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo has expressed “willingness” to testify before his panel in connection with the Chief Justice’s acquisition of a brand-new luxurious Toyota Land Cruiser 2017 model as her personal vehicle amounting to P5.1 million.
“There is another justice who conveyed his desire to testify in the impeachment proceeding against the Chief Justice,” Umali said, referring to Del Castillo.
Del Castillo will be the sixth magistrate who will testify before the panel which is set to resume its hearing on the determination of probable cause whether or not to impeach Sereno today.
Umali said De Castro did not approach him personally but relayed his intention to testify to his panel secretariat.
“I have no personal knowledge about his intention to testify, but his willingness to face us was relayed to my committee secretariat,” he said.
“Associate Justice del Castillo may testify on the circumstances behind the Toyota Land Cruiser controversy and other allegations of corruption against the Chief Justice,” he noted. (Charissa L. Atienza)
