Sereno lawyers seek recall of order over ‘dog, pony show’ comment

Rep. Reynaldo Umali, chair of the House Committee on Justice (File photo by LYN RILLON / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

The camp of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno is asking the justice committee of the House of Representatives to recall the show cause order issued against two of her spokespersons over statements purportedly critical of the panel.

The committee is hearing the impeachment complaint against Sereno filed by lawyer Lorenzo Gadon.

Last Nov. 28, the committee chaired by Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali ordered lawyers Aldwin Salumbides and Joshua Santiago, along with Commission on Human Rights Commissioner Roberto Cadiz, to explain why they should not be cited in contempt by the panel.

The panel cited an online article of the Inquirer entitled “Sereno lawyers want impeach case in the Senate” where Santiago was quoted as describing the ongoing impeachment proceeding as a “dog and pony show.”

According to Sereno’s camp, the article was based on the answers to questions propounded the lawyers during a media forum held on Nov. 25 at Annabel’s Restaurant in Quezon City.

In his compliance to the show cause order, Santiago said he “sincerely meant no ill-will” and “neither slur nor smear was intended” when he made such statement.

“It was never my intention to offend or disrespect the Honorable Committee or any member thereof,” Santiago said in a two-page pleading he submitted to the House justice panel. /cbb