The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) on Thursday disputed allegations of lawyer Larry Gadon that they are receiving allowances from Chief Justice on leave Maria Lourdes Sereno or the Supreme Court.
“It is reckless for a lawyer to make false and unfounded allegations. We respect every person’s freedom of expression and may even try to understand his needs and motivations but truth, fairness, and professional ethics should not be lost even in partisan and passionate lawyering,” the IBP said in a statement.
At a forum for law enforcers on Tuesday at Camp Aguinaldo, Gadon accused that the IBP officials were supporting Sereno because they get allowances from the Supreme Court.
“Gusto tipirin ng hudikatura ‘yung budget nila para dun sa mga ibang nakalaan, ‘yung mga naisip niyang kagarbuhan niya. Under Sereno SC, binibigyan niya ng allowance ‘yung IBP officials so kita niyo kampi na kampi sa kanya ang mga IBP officials,” he said.
READ: Gadon says IBP officials get allowances from SC
Gadon filed an impeachment complaint against Sereno for alleged corruption.
“These elected officials of IBP serve without any compensation or honorarium,” the IBP said.
It further explained that they formally opposed the quo warranto petition against Sereno because:
1) Impeachment and not a quo warranto petition is the constitutionally prescribed process for removing a Chief Justice;
2) The quo warranto petition was filed way beyond the 1-year prescriptive period set by the Rules of Court;
3) The Supreme Court does not have the power and should not supplant the determination of integrity and qualifications of a Chief Justice that the Constitution vests upon the Judicial and Bar Council and the President of the Republic of the Philippines;
4) Allowing a flimsy quo warranto petition to unseat a Chief Justice will impair the security of tenure, stability, and independence of constitutional offices; and
5) We must maintain the separation/balance of powers and due process enshrined in our Constitution for effective/orderly governance and to safeguard our democracy and our individual rights.
“These grounds are clear in the 1987 Constitution, in many laws enacted by Congress and reiterated in numerous jurisprudence and rules promulgated by the Supreme Court,” the IBP said.
Sereno is currently on leave in preparation for her impending impeachment trial at the Senate. /je