Calida on Sereno’s SALNs: ‘If you have it, why can’t you show it?’

Solicitor General Jose Calida holds a copy of his reply to Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno’s comment on his quo warranto petition.INQUIRER.net /Tetch Torres-Tupas

“If you have it, why can’t you show it,” Solicitor General Jose C. Calida said on Tuesday as he dared Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno to show all her statements of assets, liabilities and networth (SALNs) if it is true that she has already recovered the missing copies.

In her comment on the quo warranto proceedings, Sereno said the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has relaxed the rules on the submission of the SALN.

Sereno added that aside from her, other aspirants to the post of Chief Justice in 2012 and some of the incumbent Associate Justices, have also failed to submit one or some of their SALNs.

The camp of the Chief Justice earlier said it was able to recover some of her missing SALNs and that these will be presented to the Senate once the impeachment trial has started.

“She should submit it here (referring to the Supreme Court). Why can’t she submit it here?” Calida said.

Calida added that Sereno also deliberately mislead the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).

“Sereno’s repeated failure to file her SALNs, and her dishonesty before the JBC are demonstrative of her obstinate refusal to comply with the law and accordingly, her utter lack of integrity,” Calida said.

Calida went to the Supreme Court to submit his reply to Sereno’s comment on the quo warranto petition.

Calida initiated the quo warranto proceedings to oust Sereno sans impeachment trial.

But Sereno, in her comment, said that under the Constitution, the Chief Justice can only be removed from office through impeachment. She also asked the High Court to dismiss the quo warranto petition.   /muf