Bid to impeach SC justices may be consolidated

THE HOUSE committee on justice may consolidate the seven impeachment complaints filed by opposition lawmakers against the seven Supreme Court associate justices who granted the quo warranto petition that ousted Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno as chief justice.

“Considering that more or less (this involves) similarly situated...parties because all of them are members of the court, all of them made the decision as a collegial body — same facts, same issues, same relief prayed for, (so) we can make this consolidation to expedite the proceeding,” committee chairperson Doy C. Leachon told reporters in a press briefing, Monday.

The Mindoro Oriental Representative had earlier committed to begin hearing on the impeachment complaints early next month, as the complaints are expected to be referred to the committee upon resumption of sessions today, Aug. 28.

“Well, tomorrow it will be referred to us. And .... we have the three-day-notice rule, and considering that we have to inform about 55 members of the committee, and the reproduction of so many documents, we set the initial date of hearing on Sept. 4. That’s Tuesday, at 9:00 in the morning,” Mr. Leachon said.

He also said he will see if the committee can coordinate with the complainants as he plans to push for the joint hearing of the impeachment complaints.

“As to the manner, let’s see...if the complainants will agree with us that the hearing as well as the trying of the complaints will be tackled simultaneously and jointly,” Mr. Leachon said.

He noted this is in accordance with Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s pronouncement to expedite proceedings to allow the chamber to tackle other legislative agenda.

“And of course we will solve this issue as soon as we can, considering that we have so many legislative measures that are being prioritized, as initiated in the State of the Nation Address by the President. And so with the pronouncement of the Speaker,...we have to expedite this one dahil (because it’s currently the) budget season ngayon,” he also said.

Members of the Magnificent 7 bloc last Thursday filed the impeachment complaints against Diosdado M. Peralta, Lucas P. Bersamin, Andres B. Reyes, Francis H. Jardeleza, Noel G. Tijam, Alexander G. Gesmundo, and Teresita L. de Castro, whom President Rodrigo R. Duterte appointed over the weekend as the new chief justice.

They were charged with culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust. Three of the justices, apart from Ms. de Castro, had vied for the post of chief justice — Messrs. Peralta, Bersamin, and Tijam.