MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives Committee on Justice will not compel Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno to attend the impeachment hearings against her, dousing talk of a looming constitutional crisis.
Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas said that during the executive session of the committee on Monday, he advised the members that under the rules—whether in administrative or criminal cases—the respondent cannot be compelled to testify.
Under the same rules, Fariñas said the committee likewise cannot compel Sereno to answer the allegations raised against her in the impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Lorenzo Gadon, and if she took this option it would be deemed a general denial of the charges against her.
Sereno has submitted to the panel her answer to the allegations raised in the Gadon complaint.
“If we want to question her, sabi naman ni Speaker pwedeng respeto na lang ‘yun. Respondent naman siya, eh hindi na namin kailangang pilitin para hindi na umabot doon sa ganun [the Speaker said we just let respect prevail. She’s a respondent, and it doesn’t have to reach that point],” Fariñas said.
Earlier, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Sen. Francis Escudero raised concerns of a constitutional crisis may ensue following the statement of Oriental Mindoro Representative Reynaldo Umali, chairman of the committee, that his panel is authorized by the Constitution to compel the attendance of witnesses, including Sereno, in the impeachment proceedings.
