‘Disagreements’ delay submission of Sereno impeachment articles

House Justice Chair Rep. Reynaldo Umali (left) and Majority Floor Leader Rep. Rodolfo Farinas talk during the voting on probable cause for Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno impeachment at the House of Representatives, Quezon City, March 8, 2018. INQUIRER PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

The submission of the draft articles of impeachment against Chief Maria Lourdes Sereno at the committee level has been moved to next week, House of Representatives justice committee chair Rep. Reynaldo Umali said Tuesday.

The draft, together with the committee report, was originally set for submission to the committee on Wednesday, March 14.

But Umali said they failed to finish finalizing them due to disagreements on which allegations to include in the articles of impeachment.

“Hindi namin natapos yung articles of impeachment kasi hindi kami magkasundo kung ilan yung isasama. Ang gusto nung iba comprehensive talaga. Pero this is really a strong case,” Umali told reporters.

Umali said they would be ready to present the documents by Monday or Tuesday, at the latest.

The committee chair said they were sure to include allegations against Sereno related to her alleged non-filing of statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN), and her lavish lifestyle.

“Probably remove some that may not be that strong. But when you look at it in its entirety dun lumalabas yung persona nya.  Lumaabas yung psych disorder,” Umali said.

Lawyer-complainant Lorenzo Gadon made 27 allegations to support his claim that the Chief Justice committed culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, corruption and other high crimes.

Umali said they had yet to finalize the roster of public and private prosecutors.

Earlier, he bared that former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile expressed willingness to be part of the private prosecution team.

READ: Enrile may be part of prosecution at Sereno impeachment—Umali

Former lawyers of late Chief Justice Renato Corona during his impeachment trial in 2012 also volunteered to assist the prosecution, according to Umali.

He specifically mentioned lawyers Biboy Malaya, Tranquil Salvador III, and Dennis Manalo.

“For one, they are litigators. I’m sure they know their law, the case and evidence. So, sa nasabi ng Sereno camp na wala kaming kaso, hindi naman siguro sasama ang mga ito kung alam nilang walang kaso,” Umali said. /cbb