Palace wants to see Sereno on witness stand

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang is hopeful Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno will be able to testify on Monday in the resumption of the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said on Monday Sereno’s testimony would be “welcome” because she could give details on her dissenting opinion on the temporary restraining order issued by the high court that would have allowed former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to seek medical treatment abroad.

“Certainly, this is part of the whole process of  bringing out the truth,” Lacierda told reporters, as he noted that Sereno’s dissenting opinion did show the “unilateral action of Chief Justice Corona” that “should be brought to light and by way of testimony” of Sereno.

“We hope the impeachment court will look into whole idea of the impeachment court as an avenue for truth to come out,” he added.

He also said Sereno’s possible testimony before the impeachment court should be no cause for concern for the Supreme Court because internal deliberations of high court decisions had been brought out in public in the past.