Opposition lawmakers at the House of Representatives have lodged impeachment complaints against seven of the eight Supreme Court (SC) associate justices who ousted former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno in a landmark decision on May 11.
READ: SC rejects Sereno ouster appeal
The May 11 decision granted the quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida and invalidated the appointment of Sereno in 2012. Justices voted 8-6 in favor of the petition and for the first time in Philippine history, a chief magistrate was ousted through a legal proceeding other than impeachment.
Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman, Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin, Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, and Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat filed the complaint at the lower chamber on Thursday.
READ: SC justices who ousted Sereno face impeachment complaints | Opposition solons file impeachment raps vs 7 Supreme Court justices
Meanwhile, Lagman has warned that under the rules of the Judicial and Bar Council, “an applicant who has a pending case is disqualified from being nominated or appointed to any position in the judiciary.”
He was referring to Justices Teresita de Castro, Andres Reyes Jr., Lucas Bersamin, and Diosdado Peralta who are now vying for Sereno’s post. Aside from them, the lawmakers also filed impeachment cases against Associate Justices Francis Jardeleza, Noel Tijam, and Alexander Gesmundo.
READ: 4 of 8 aspiring chief justices will be disqualified — lawmaker
Lagman said they have spared from the complaints Ombudsman Samuel Martires, who was one of the eight justices who removed Sereno, because he is no longer an incumbent associate justice.
As early as June, the group had already warned the justices to overturn their decision against Sereno or face impeachment cases.
READ: ‘Magnificent 7’ to 8 SC justices: Recant quo warranto decision or face impeach raps | ‘Magnificent 7’ solons want to impeach ‘SC 8’ justices
Download or read the copies of the seven complaints here:
Reyes
Tijam
Peralta
Jardeleza
Gesmundo
De Castro
Bersamin
/muf