Gadon supports quo warranto vs Sereno
Impeachment complainant Larry Gadon has endorsed the bid to remove Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno through the quo warranto proceedings now pending before the Supreme Court (SC).
In a press statement, Gadon said that Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate is “so wrong” when he stated that the SC has no jurisdiction over any move to unseat an impeachable official.
Himself a lawyer, Gadon said a quo warranto case can be used to remove Sereno from her current position because such issue questions the chief justice’s qualification to become a chief justice.
“The Supreme Court can proceed to hear and decide the QW case and has the power to declare the appointment of Sereno as CJ as being void ab initio for failure to submit minimum compliance of 10 years SALN,” explained Gadon as he aired his support for the quo warranto case filed by anti-crime advocates.
He added: “Impeachment pertains to unlawful acts committed after assumption of office.”
According to Gadon the quo warranto case was filed because its petitioners believe that Sereno failed to qualify for the position to which she was appointed.
Calida’s reply Meanwhile, Solicitor General Jose C. Calida insisted yesterday that Sereno should be disqualified and ousted as head of the judiciary.
In his reply, Calida, in behalf of the government, said Sereno failed to comply with the requirements of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) of filing 10-year statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs) when she applied for the chief justice post.
“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,” he said in his reply that was required by the SC after Sereno filed her comment on the petition for quo warranto.
Earlier, Sereno, in her comment, had asked the SC to dismiss the petition for lack of jurisdiction on the part of the High Court and for lack of merit. (With a report from Rey G. Panaligan)