Arroyo vows speedy processing of impeach cases vs anti-Sereno SC justices
Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Friday vowed to expedite the processing of the impeachment cases filed by opposition lawmakers against seven of eight Supreme Court (SC) justices who ousted former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.
This, Arroyo said, was to prevent the impeachment proceedings from disturbing the legislative agenda of the House of Representatives.
“I checked with the Secretary General this morning on my way here. He has already transmitted the impeachment charge to my office and then they will send me the transmittal for my signature later here in Pampanga so that I can transmit it also today to the Rules Committee,” the Pampanga 2nd District representative said in an interview after the distribution of relief goods to the Aeta community in Sitio Pasbul, Brgy. Camias, Porac, Pampanga.
“So that the Rules Committee can have it read out on Tuesday because the most important thing is to expedite it one way or another so that it does not really disturb the legislative agenda,” she continued.
Last Thursday, Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman, Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin, Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, and Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat filed the impeachment complaints against SC Associate Justices. Teresita de Castro, Andres Reyes Jr., Lucas Bersamin, Diosdado Peralta, Francis Jardeleza, Noel Tijam, and Alexander Gesmundo.
READ: SC justices who ousted Sereno face impeachment complaints | Opposition solons file impeachment raps vs 7 Supreme Court justices
De Castro, Reyes Bersamin, and Peralta are now vying for Sereno’s post.
READ: 4 of 8 aspiring chief justices will be disqualified — lawmaker
Although Ombudsman Samuel Martires was one of the eight justices who removed Sereno, Lagman said they excluded him from the complaints because he is no longer an incumbent associate justice. /muf
READ: ‘Magnificent 7’ to 8 SC justices: Recant quo warranto decision or face impeach raps | ‘Magnificent 7’ solons want to impeach ‘SC 8’ justices
