‘Magnificent 7’ solons want to impeach ‘SC 8’ justices

With Maria Lourdes Sereno’s ouster affirmed, the House Magnificent 7 opposition bloc want to pursue its plan to file impeachment complaints against the eight Supreme Court (SC) justices who voted to disqualify her, Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin said on Tuesday.

READ: SC rejects Sereno ouster appeal

“We will now proceed to filing the impeachment complaints and hopefully we’ll have it filed as soon as we finished compiling pertinent facts relevant to the individual charges against each of the eight justices,” Villarin said.

The group’s leader, Albay 1st district Rep. Edcel Lagman earlier vowed that if the eight justices who ousted Sereno “insist and persist on their unwarranted and unconstitutional decision,” their group would proceed with its “crusade” and file impeachment cases against each of them.

Lagman said Associate Justices Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Francis Jardeleza, Samuel Martires, Noel Tijam, Andres Reyes Jr. and Alexander Gesmundo committed culpable violations of the Constitution when they granted the quo warranto petition lodged by the Office of the Solicitor General versus Sereno.

READ: ‘Magnificent 7’ to 8 SC justices: Recant quo warranto decision or face impeach raps

Lagman had also expressed confidence that the impeachment complaints would be sufficient in form and substance, hence the committee on justice “will be constrained to conduct deliberations into this.”   /vvp