Sereno returns P5-M Land Cruiser to SC

LOOK: The controversial P5 million white Toyota Land Cruiser formerly issued to ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno now at the Supreme Court parking lot. It was returned on June 20, according to Sereno’s spokesperson Atty. Jojo Lacanilao @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/UW86ZjWo4u

— Julius N. Leonen (@JLeonenINQ) June 22, 2018

Ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has returned to the Supreme Court (SC) her controversial work-issued sports utility vehicle (SUV), the P5 million Toyota Land Cruiser.

The ousted Chief Justice’s spokesperson, lawyer Jojo Lacanilao, confirmed this in a text message to reporters on Friday.

“(The Land Cruiser was) returned on June 20, the day after the announcement of the ruling on June 19,” Lacanilao said.

On that day, the SC, in an en banc session, voted 8-6 to declare Sereno’s ouster through a quo warranto proceeding on May 11 this year as permanent.

READ: SC rejects Sereno ouster appeal

The SUV was at the center of the impeachment case filed by lawyer Larry Gadon who had accused the ousted Chief Justice of living a “lavish” and “extravagant” lifestyle.

While Gadon’s impeachment case was tackled at the House of Representatives, Sereno was sacked from her post through a quo warranto case filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida.

Calida sought to oust Sereno from the SC on the basis that she allegedly failed to file her complete Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth when she applied for the office of Chief Justice.  /vvp