Former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno (File photo by RICHARD A. REYES / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno said that she would have preferred an impeachment trial, where she could show the differences between her and late former Chief Justice Renato Corona’s statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN) issues.
“Ang [issue] kay CJ Corona po, tagong yaman na nagkakahalaga ng hindi bababa sa dalawang daang milyon. Sana ho naipakita ko talaga, ang issue ng missing SALNs versus ‘yong mga high crimes,” Sereno said in an interview with DZMM on Saturday.
[The issue with CJ Corona was hidden wealth of at least 200 million. I could have show the difference between misising SALNs and high crimes.]
“Naghahanda ho ako para sa Senate, kasi ’yon ho talaga ang trial. Napakaganda ho talaga kung nakarating tayo sa Senado. Doon tayo magkaka-alaman talaga ng record ko sa SALN,” she added.
[I really prepared for the Senate, becauase would be a trial. It would have been best if my case reached the Senate. There I would have shown my SALN records.]
Sereno reiterated her stand that missing records do not equate to corruption, adding that if the impeachment proceedings went through, she has the evidence to answer allegations.
“Kung nawawala po ang records, katumbas po ba ‘yan ng pagnanakaw, pangungulimbat sa bayan?” she asked.
[If the records are missing is that equivalent to stealing and plunder?]
Sereno also said that she did not have the obligation to keep her records.
“Marami hong ebidensya on circumstances kung may nilabag po ba ako o hindi,” she added.
[There’s a lot of evidence to show circusmtances when I could have broken a law or not.]
“Kung nagkaroon lang ho ng trial, may mga testimonies naman po kung sino po ang nagtatago at ano ang nangyayari sa records, kasi po hindi namin obligasyon na magtago ng records namin,” Sereno said.
[If there had been a trial, there would have been testimonies on who kept the records and what happened to them, because it was not our obligation to keep our recrods.]
Supreme Court (SC) associate justices voted 8-6 in favor of the quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida against Sereno. The petition was based on irregularities on Sereno’s filing SALNs.
READ: Peers kick Sereno out via Calida’s QW
Sereno said that the people would have benefitted the most from an impeachment trial, as they would be informed of the nuances of the case against her.
“Isang serbisyo rin sa taong bayan na pag-usapan ang Konstitusyon. Ang pinakamaganda ho sana kung sa Senado tayo darating. Doon niyo malalaman kung ano ang balangkas ng Konstitusyon para sa mga bagay na ito,” Sereno said.
[It would be a service to the country to talk about the Constitution. It would have been best if my case had reached the Senate. There you would have learned what the Constitution says about these things.] /atm