Impeach hearings show divided Supreme Court

MANILA - Divisions in the Supreme Court were on full display at the House Justice Committee as it continued the impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno with the testimonies of 1 retired and 3 incumbent Supreme Court justices. The justices denounced Sereno's repeated violations of the internal rules of the high court, imposing her will on the collegial body.

Deputy Speaker Ferdinand Hernandez noted that Justice Noel Tijam said Sereno "arrogated" upon herself the power of the court en banc when she assigned the Maute case to herself and in making it appear the court en banc agreed to transfer the trial of the cases in Cagayan de Oro City. Justice Teresita de Castro, who said that the case was not actually raffled and assigned to Sereno, called the process "irregular."

"I believe that the actions done by the Chief Justice from the time she assumed the position showed no respect for the court en banc," De Castro said.

For his part, Justice Francis Jardeleza said he agrees with the characterization made by Hernandez and that the en banc is in fact very concerned of its reputation as a result. 

"We are here to make sure that after these proceedings that the en banc in its entirety stands for the rule of law," Jardeleza said.

Retired Justice Arturo Brion threw wide open the sentiments of the justices. He said that since Sereno did not convene the Ethics Committee of the high court, the justices had to resort to correcting any transgressions of the rules in the en banc session.

"Wala namang ethics committee. Hindi kami pwedeng mag-file ng impeachment complaint. We would look silly," Brion said. 

De Castro told the committee Sereno had not yet convened the ethics committee.

Brion hinted that Sereno's continued violation of the collegial nature of the court has generated negative sentiments. "Yung maliit na patak, unti-unti, pag inipon mo yang maliit na patak kagaya ng nangyayari ngayon, yan ay magiging agos. At yang agos na yan, yan ay magiging baha," he said. 

He said resentments of the justices had surfaced during the en banc meeting where sometimes heated words were exchanged. "Doon sa en banc, kami ay nagkakapikunan," Brion said. An exasperated De Castro said that, for her part, she had been calling the attention of Sereno so she won't commit the same mistakes all over again. 

"Pero limang taon na po patuloy pa rin. So, hanggang kailan kami magtitiis at hanggang kailan kami maghihintay?" De Castro said.