Testimonies won’t affect case: Sereno

The camp of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno said the testimonies of witnesses will not affect the impeachment case filed against her before the House justice committee.

Lawyer Winnie Salumbides, one of Sereno’s spokespersons, made the statement in response to the possible appearance and testimony of Supreme Court Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo De Castro before the House justice committee regarding the case.

Lawyer Lorenzo Gadon, the complainant in the case, said De Castro is the source of some information he stated in his complaint, particularly the internal administrative matters of the High Court, through a common “friend,” whom he identified as Manila Times reporter Jomar Canlas.

Salumbides said it would be “highly irregular” for a magistrate to take the witness stand, especially in an impeachment proceeding against a fellow justice who happens to be the head of the entire judiciary.

“As a lawyer, I find it highly irregular for a magistrate for a Supreme Court justice to go down and take the witness stand. Medyo kinikilabutan po ako. Mahirap naman po ata na ‘yung hukom o yung huwes, biglang nagiging testigo (I get shivers. It will be difficult if the judge or the magistrate will become a witness),” Salumbides told a recent weekly media forum in Quezon City.

“It’s unconventional, pero kung matatamaan ang aming depensa o hindi, wala ho kaming pangamba. Wala kaming makitang dahilan para mabahala (It is unconventional but regardless if it will affect our defense, we are not worried),” he added.

The House justice committee, which is now in the process of determining probable cause to impeach Sereno, had already invited De Castro to attend the impeachment hearing to shed light on some of the allegations hurled by Gadon against the top magistrate.