Senator Panfilo Lacson (left) and Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. INQUIRER FILES
Like any person, beleaguered Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno deserves her day in court, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Monday.
“Every person is entitled to his or her day in court. It’s as simple as that and Chief Justice Sereno is not an exception,” Lacson said in an interview over the ABS-CBN News Channel when asked if Sereno deserved her day in an impeachment court.
The senator made the comment as court officials and employees issued an appeal for Sereno to resign amid an impeachment complaint before the House of Representatives and a quo warranto petition at the Supreme Court, questioning the legality of her appointment as Chief Justice.
A panel of the House of Representatives has found probable cause to impeach Sereno. However, the plenary will still need to approve the findings of the House committee on justice. If approved, the articles of impeachment will be transmitted to the Senate, which will hold Sereno on trial.
Lacson reiterated that he would not comment further on Sereno’s impeachment as he was a potential senator-judge if and when the impeachment complaint reaches the Senate.
“I already said this before since the highest official of the Supreme Court or the judiciary is the one involved, I’d rather not comment on anything in any manner since I’m a potential, not only judge but jury, judge and jury in an impeachment court if and when it comes or the impeachment complaint is transmitted to the Senate. So I’d rather exercise that supreme prudence.”
“I will reserve my comment until such time that I cast and explain my vote,” he added.
READ: Lacson: Let SC resolve quo warranto case vs Sereno
Asked if the Senate is ready to conduct the trial, the senator said: “The question is: do we have a choice? Because it is a constitutional mandate, it’s our constitutional duty to act as impeachment trial court judges if it comes to the Senate.” /cbb
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