THE House Committee on Justice found the impeachment complaints lodged against Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro and six other Associate Justice of the Supreme Court (SC) sufficient in form.
The committee, during Tuesday’s hearing carried Misamis Occidental Rep. Henry Oaminal’s motion to declare the complaints sufficient in form in a vote of 21. No one objected to the motion.
The move was made after the committee consolidated all seven verified complaints against De Castro, Associate Justices Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Francis Jardaleza, Noel Tijam, Andres Reyes Jr. and Alexander Gesmundo.
The committee has set another hearing for the determination of the sufficiency in substance to give its members more time to study the complaints.
The next hearing is on Tuesday, September 11.
The complainants Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano and Ifugao Rep Teddy Baguilat said all seven justices committed an impeachable offense of culpable violation of the Constitution when they removed Sereno in her post through a quo warranto petition even as they know that the Constitution provides that impeachable officials should only be ousted through impeachment.
De Castro, Peralta, Bersamin, Tijam and Jardeleza are likewise charged of betrayal of public trust for their refusal to inhibit in deciding the quo warranto petition despite their alleged bias against the ousted Chief Justice as shown in their testimonies during the House committee’s hearing into the impeachment complaint filed against Sereno.
The ouster complaints lodged against the justices is the fourth impeachment complaint tackled by the 17th Congress’ justice panel.
It has previously tackled the impeachment case lodged against President Rodrigo Duterte, former Commission on Elections Chief Andres Bautista and Sereno.
The complaint against Sereno was the only one found to be sufficient in form and substance and the only impeachment that has reached the plenary. (SunStar Philippines)