Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 9) — Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and House Justice Committee chair Reynaldo Umali finally met on Friday amid the ongoing impeachment proceedings — but not in the hearings.
The two were among the guests during the 30th Anniversary celebration of the Judicial Bar and Council (JBC) at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, along with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, who represented President Rodrigo Duterte.
Sereno and Umali were not seen talking with each other, but were together in some photo ops.
Umali’s committee is leading the impeachment proceedings at the House of Representatives. Last month, he came under fire for his comment on warning Sereno that she may be arrested for not attending the hearings.
Read: Solons: Chief Justice won’t be arrested, or forced to attend House panel impeachment hearings
While Sereno did not talk about the impeachment complaint against her, she discussed the ongoing reforms in the judiciary and the JBC’s goal to meet a gold standard.
“We must remain unfettered by the shackles of friendship…relationships and other considerations must not play into the decision making by the JBC because we need to cloak the magistracy on those will best dispense justice for all,” she said in her speech.
The Chief Justice also reminded the judiciary how the installation of the JBC helped to get away from the “padrino system” or the influence of lawmakers in nominating candidates for justice posts.
Among the grounds for impeachment filed by complainant Larry Gadon was Sereno’s alleged exclusion of Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza on the JBC shortlist, even though he already had the needed votes.
The House panel is set to finish early next year discussing the allegations made by Gadon under the impeachment grounds of culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, and graft and corruption.
Meanwhile, Medialdea read the President’s message, recognizing the JBC’s indispensable role in keeping democracy in the country.
“I only ask the JBC and the judiciary under the fair just and able leadership of the honorable supreme court, to support the government’s agenda in weeding up corruption in all levels of government without compromising independence of each branch of government,” Medialdea said.
