Palace hands off from impeachment raps vs Sereno

August 3, 2017

Malacanang said on Thursday it is distancing itself in the impeachment complaints filed against Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno before the House of Representatives.

In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Ana Marie Banaag said the Palace respects the groups or individuals who filed the impeachment complaints against the chief magistrate.

"What we’re saying is that, we respect, if and when a civilian or any person for that matter would file a complaint against any official, an impeachable officer --- would file a complaint against any impeachable officer, then that is up to them because that is within the bounds of the law," Banaag said.

She added it would be up to the House of Representatives if it would tackle the complaints.

Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption chair Dante Jimenez and Vanguard of the Philippine Constitution Inc. president Eligio Mallari on Wednesday submitted the first impeachment complaint against Sereno for alleged culpable violation of the 1987 Constitution and betrayal of public trust.

The VACC supported President Rodrigo Duterte's presidential bid in 2016.

Lawyer Larry Gadon filed a separate impeachment complaint against Sereno.

Asked if Duterte would also urge his allies in Congress not to support the impeachment raps similar to what he did to Vice President Leni Robredo, Banaag said, "He (Duterte) would respect any person or any individual who would file any case against any impeachable officer and would not really meddle with it."

But she added, "if the president would opt to in the coming days, then that would be up to him." Celerina Monte/DMS