Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 25) — Lawyers of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Saturday said they are preparing for a Supreme Court justice’s testimony in the impeachment proceedings.
The House Committee on Justice has invited Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro to attend the Committee on Justice’s hearings next week, to shed light in allegations of complainant Larry Gadon.
De Castro has yet to officially confirm her attendance, but Gadon earlier claimed the associate justice was “very willing” to become a witness against her colleague.
Atty. Joshua Santiago, a member of Sereno’s legal team, said he believes it is unlikely for a Supreme Court justice with a respected stature to testify in a hearing.
“In terms of impact (it’s) unconventional,” he said.
Santiago added De Castro herself has already denied some claims made by Gadon.
Gadon earlier claimed the chief magistrate falsified an SC resolution on the opening of a Regional Constitutional Administrative Office (RCAO) in 2012, and a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) effectively stopping the proclamation of certain party-list groups in 2013.
Quoting a Manila Times report by a certain Jomar Canlas in June 2013, Gadon said De Castro questioned Sereno’s order to reopen the RCAO in Region 7, despite the office’s failure to open in 2008.
He added Sereno “deliberately tampered with and altered the contents” of the draft TRO, which was assigned to the associate justice.
But after an almost 10-hour hearing on Wednesday, House Justice Committee Chairman Rey Umali admitted some of Gadon’s allegations were based on hearsay and incomplete documents.
In a Monday statement, De Castro denied releasing information to the reporter.
“I have never released to Jomar Canlas any information, report, or document regarding the work of the Court,” De Castro’s statement read.
