Magnificent Seven wants to be the ‘voice of reason’ in Sereno impeachment hearing

Members of the House of Representatives’ minority bloc dubbed as the “Magnificent 7” JULLIANE LOVE DE JESUS/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

Lawmakers of the Magnificent Seven bloc have renewed their call to be allowed to take part in the impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno despite not being members of the justice committee.

In a press briefing, the opposition legislators said their arguments should at least be discussed in the impeachment hearings that will resume tomorrow (Wednesday) morning.

Akbayan Rep. Tomasito Villarin said the opposition bloc wanted to be “the voice of reason” in the proceedings, especially since the complaint of lawyer Lorenzo Gadon was endorsed by members of both the supermajority and the duly-recognized minority blocs.

“What will happen is that both the majority and the appointed minority will just go through this process as a moro-moro. We don’t want this to be a charade,” Villarin said.

“They have the numbers, but the arguments should be heard from both sides. It appears that they want only their arguments to be heard,” he added.

Albay 1st Dist. Rep. Edcel Lagman, meanwhile, stressed that “we should be allowed to participate on behalf of our constituents.”

He pointed out that since the justice committee’s actions would be subject to the approval or rejection of the House plenary, lawmakers who do not belong to the committee should be allowed to participate so they “can have an informed vote.”

Lagman said that barring non-members from the impeachment hearing would be “anathema to a deliberative assembly,” while Villarin said this would be “oppressive and nondemocratic.”