Alejano to justices: We made good our vow to file impeach raps

Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano. INQUIRER.net file photo / RYAN LEAGOGO

Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano said opposition lawmakers mean business when they warned to file impeachment complaint against seven Supreme Court associate justices.

Alejano in a forum on Saturday said they have earlier warned the justices of possible impeachment after they ousted former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno based on a quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida.

“We made good vow of our statement that we will file impeachment complaint against concerned justices,” he said.

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

According to Alejano, there are two bases for the complaint: The justices’ violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust.

“Ang pag-resort sa quo warranto sa pagtanggal sa isang (Resorting to quo warranto petition to remove an) impeachable officer is really contrary to the provision of the Constitution,” he said.

The complaint was filed against newly appointed Chief Justice Teresita de Castro, Associate Justices Andres Reyes Jr., Lucas Bersamin, Diosdado Peralta, Francis Jardeleza, Noel Tijam, and Alexander Gesmundo.

READ: LOOK: Impeach complaints vs anti-Sereno SC associate justices

Alejano stressed that the Constitution only allows impeachable officers like Sereno to be removed from their post through impeachment.

He also criticized how the justices, whom he said already expressed disapproval against Sereno, were also the ones who made the judgement on the petition of the Solicitor General.

“There was a clear case of conflict of interest, kasi lumabas na doon sa hearing na galit siya, may bias sila, meron silang sama ng loob, and then sila din ang uupo na tatanggal sa Chief Justice,” he said.

(There was a clear case of conflict of interest, because they already showed anger during the hearing, they have expressed bias, and they have grudges, and then they were the ones who sat as judges to remove the Chief Justice.)

“May conflict of interest na kaagad doon sa betrayal of public trust (There is already conflict of interest there with betrayal of public trust),” explained Alejano.

He also lamented that the set of candidates for the Chief Justice came from these justices, saying it could be that they wanted Sereno out to get the post. /jpv