SC Justice Sereno won’t testify in Corona trial

MANILA, Philippines — Supreme Court Associate Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno declined the invitation of the prosecution to appear before the impeachment court and testify in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

A staff at the office of Justice Sereno confirmed that the prosecution panel has been informed of her decision not to attend the trial.

Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares has confirmed receiving the letter of Sereno.

He said Sereno thanked him and the prosecution for inviting her to testify in the impeachment trial.

“However, the termination of our case yesterday has superseded our request,” Colmenares said when asked about Sereno’s reason for declining.

The prosecution team of the House of Representatives sent the letter to Sereno on February 27 asking her to testify on her dissenting opinion, including the circumstances surrounding the issuance of the TRO in favor of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the suppression of the promulgation of her dissenting opinion originally submitted on Dec. 2, 2011.

The House prosecution panel sent the letter to Sereno following the refusal of the impeachment court to issue a subpoena to compel Sereno to testify.