Lagman: 8 SC justices who ousted Sereno ‘deserve to be impeached’
The eight Supreme Court (SC) justices who voted to oust former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno “deserve to be impeached,” the leader of the House Magnificent 7 opposition bloc underscored on Friday.
“The immutable rule is that injustice does not pay,” Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman said in a statement.
“If magistrates who are sworn to uphold the Constitution, subvert the very fundamental law by arrogating jurisdiction over an impeachable official, perforce they deserve to be impeached,” he added.
Lagman’s statement comes after Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin bared a plan, supported by the Magnificent 7, to file impeachment complaints against Associate Justices Teresita J. Leonardo-De Castro, Diosdado M. Peralta, Lucas P. Bersamin, Francis H. Jardeleza, Samuel R. Martires, Noel G. Tijam, Andres B. Reyes Jr., and Alexander G. Gesmundo– the eight justices who nullified Sereno’s appointment last May 11.
READ: Akbayan Rep to file impeachment cases vs 8 SC justices who voted to oust Sereno
Lagman maintained that an impeachment process, “not a flawed quo warranto petition,” should be the appropriate sanction against the eight “grievously errant justices” who ousted Sereno.
Like Villarin, Lagman believes the eight justices were liable for culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust, among other impeachable offenses.
“The Constitution unequivocally mandates that it is only by impeachment instituted by the House of Representatives and conviction by the Senate can an impeachable official be removed from office. No other procedure is allowed, certainly not an aberration of a quo warranto action,” the lawmaker pointed out.
The congressman also stressed that the principle that “the majority of the Supreme Court say is the law “would “not cleanse the gross blunder committed by the eight Justices.”
“The act of promulgating their unconstitutional decision completes the consummation of the impeachable offenses,” Lagman said.
“Only a contrite and complete recantation by reconsidering their unlawful, controversial and unpopular decision can save the eight Justices from impeachment,” he continued.
Last Friday, the Supreme Court, voting 8-6, granted the quo warranto petition that sought to remove Sereno from office.
The petition was filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida – the principal lawyer of the government. /muf
