THE associate justices of the Supreme Court (SC) did not show up Monday, November 27, at the House committee on justice's hearing on the impeachment complaint filed against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

Under the Internal Rules of the Supreme Court, associate justices are barred from disclosing details regarding Court proceedings to safeguard the confidentiality of Supreme Court sessions and its internal documents.

Committee chair Reynaldo Umali said the magistrates clarified that they need an authorization from the SC en banc before they could appear as witnesses against Sereno.

Due to this, the committee on justice decided to conduct an executive session to tackle the matter.

Umali said two of the 15 magistrates, Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro and Noel Tijam, sought to defer their appearance Monday, citing the court's internal rules.

In the last hearing on the impeachment complaint against Sereno, complainant Lorenzo Gadon named De Castro and Manila Times reporter Jomar Canlas as his informants.

De Castro, however, belied Gadon's claim.

The committee, following the executive session, will determine if there is probable cause to pursue Sereno's ouster over corruption, culpable violation of the constitution and betrayal of public trust.

At the last hearing Wednesday, November 22, lawyers of Sereno asked to be excused after the committee voted 30-4 to approve the move of Rep. Alfredo Garbin to deny the Chief Justice's plea to be represented by her lawyers and to be allowed to cross-examine the witnesses through her lawyers. (SunStar Philippines)