Probe on Sereno’s psychiatric test score desperate impeach move

MANILA — The camp of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Sunday said the probe into the psychiatric examination score of the high magistrate was merely a "desperate" move to push to impeach her.

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, lawyer Carlo Cruz, one of Sereno's spokespersons, insisted that the chief justice's psychiatric examination score has no bearing in the impeachment complaint.

He added that such a move is only meant to defame Sereno.

"Hindi namin maintindihan kung bakit tinatalakay ang bagay na ito. Ang sa aming pananaw, kasi nakikita ng ating mga kababayan na medyo malapit yata na gusto nilang siraan ang ating Punong Mahistrado at medyo may mga nagsasabi sa ating mga kababayan na hindi naman ito walang basehan."

"Parang desperado ang mga moves nila para lang ipakita kunwari na meron namang kaso, e wala naman yan sa ating Konstitusyon," he added.

At the resumption of the House Committee on Justice hearing on Wednesday, former clerk of court Atty. Enriqueta Vidal confirmed Sereno only got a score of 4 in her psychiatric test performed as part of her application for her position.

But Cruz pointed out that it was even lawyer- complainant Lorenzo "Larry" Gadon who said that the psychiatric examination score is not material to the impeachment complaint.

"Si Chief Justice Sereno, nung siya ay associate justice ay nagapply siya nung nagkaroon ng bakante sa opisina ng Punong Mahistrado. Siya ay nag-submit ng mga kwalipikasyon niya, ininterview siya," Cruz said.

"Nakita ng mga miyembro ng JBC (Judicial and Bar Council) na qualified naman siya, kaya isinama siya sa listahan ng mga nominado, siya ay na-appoint ni Pangulong [Benigno] Aquino [III]," he added.

With the move to probe her psychiatric exam score, Cruz said it is as if the House panel and Gadon are appealing the decision of the JBC and Aquino to nominate and appoint Sereno to the position.

"Hindi naman yata sakop [ito] yun sa prosesong impeachment. Yun ang unang mahalagang dapat na ipaliwanag natin. Ang impeachment po ay hindi naman yan appeal na proseso mula sa mga determinasyon ng JBC na may kasarinlan at ng ating Pangulo," he added.

The House justice panel will resume on Monday its deliberations to determine probable cause on the impeachment complaint against Sereno.