House of Representatives deliberation on impeachment of Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno: Justice Committee chairman Rep. Reynaldo Umali. INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON
The House justice committee has issued a show-cause order against two lawyers of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno to explain why they should not be cited in contempt for branding the panel’s impeachment proceeding a “dog and pony show.”
The committee carried the motion of Deputy Speaker Gwendolyn Garcia to issue a show-cause order against Sereno’s lawyers Joshua Santiago and Aldwin Salumbides for supposedly resorting to name-calling.
Aside from the lawyers, the House panel also issued the same order against Commission on Human Rights (CHR) associate commissioner Roberto Cadiz for saying that the impeachment proceedings in the House against the top magistrate are governed by the “law of the jungle.”
Earlier in the hearing, committee chairman Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali said the lawyers should respect the proceedings of the house “lest we be forced to use the coercive powers of this committee and all other powers vested in the House.”
In a chance interview, Sereno’s counsel Jojo Lacanilao apologized on his colleagues’ behalf if they had offended the committee in any way.
READ: Sereno lawyer apologizes to House panel over ‘name calling’
“Kung may na-offend man sa kanila kami ay humihingi ng paumanhin (If any of them was offended, we ask for their forgiveness), we apologize for any offense,” Lacanilao said.
“Hindi po intended ‘yun at hindi sa kung sinong personalidad, kundi sa mga evidence na pinalabas o alegasyon na hindi mapatunayan,” he added.
(I didn’t intend that for any personality, but for the evidence that released or allegations that weren’t proven true.)
Over the weekend, Santiago and Salumbides said in a forum that the panel should already put the impeachment complaint to a vote, instead of turning the proceedings into a “dog and pony show.”
“It is evident that the complaint is very shallow,” Salumbides said. “But since they already decided that it’s sufficient in form and substance, why are they still prolonging the proceedings? Why are they still forcing Gadon to present documents, evidence and witnesses?” /je