The impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno will continue despite the filing of a quo warranto petition at the Supreme Court which questions her appointment, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said on Tuesday.
In an ambush interview, the House leader clarified that an impeachment complaint and a quo warranto petition are two independent and valid courses of action to unseat Sereno.
“Yung impeachment exclusive yun sa Congress but it presupposes a valid appointment. Ngayon yung quo warranto kinukwestyon mismo ang validity ng appointment itself,” he told reporters.
Alvarez also dismissed concerns that the quo warranto petition filed before the SC against Sereno by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) could lead to the filing of more quo warranto petitions, and weaken the power of Congress to impeach high-ranking officiasl.
“Wala naman problema sa amin yun. Kanya -kanyang trabaho yan,” he said.
Alvarez said that if the High Court decides to nullify Sereno’s appointment, the House could no longer proceed with the impeachment proceedings against her.
Alvarez also opposed the call of Albay Rep. Edsel Lagman have the seven SC justices who had testified against Sereno, be inhibited from hearing the quo warranto petition.
READ: 7 justices must inhibit from Calida’s SC ouster plea vs Sereno — Lagman
“Kung mag-inhibit yung mga tumestigo edi naubos ang justices. Di naman siguro kailangan, bakit mag-inhibit eh trabaho nila yun wala naman personal interest na involved,” he said.
The OSG has accused Sereno of allegedly failing to completely disclose her statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) before the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) which had approved her appointment.
READ: Solgen Calida questions Sereno’s qualifications before SC
But Sereno’s spokesperson downplayed the “political noise” at the High Court, saying Sereno was “completely unaffected” by the petition.
READ: CJ Sereno not worried of SC ‘political noise,’ says spox
/muf