The camp of Sereno submitting a letter to the House panel requesting to allow her camp to do the cross-examination
MANILA, Philippines — Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes wants to be able to cross-examine through her lawyers the complainants and the witnesses in the impeachment rap filed against her.
The camp of Sereno submitted a letter to the House Committee on Justice requesting to allow her camp to do the cross-examination.
Sereno’s lawyer, Atty. Janzen Dy, noted that it is the right of the accused to be able to do so.
“If the complainant will be allowed, of course to present witnesses and direct examinations will be conducted, isn’t it only fair that the chief justice will also be allowed to cross-examine the witness?” said Dy.
On the other hand, the complainant, Atty. Larry Gadon said he is not afraid to face the country’s chief magistrate.
“There is no problem with that. I am the complainant, I’ll be happy to shed light,” said Gadon.
House Committee on Justice chairman Reynaldo Umali, meanwhile said, they will allow Sereno’s request.
However, Umali explained it is the chief justice herself who should be the one to conduct the cross-examination and not her lawyers.
He noted that it is what is stated under the Section-6 of the Rules of Impeachment.
“She also has the right to confront the witness. So if she wants then she can confront them personally. So we may allow her not the lawyers because the rules of the House does not allow lawyers to speak,” said Umali.
Atty. Larry Gadon has also already submitted a 29-page verified reply to the verified answer submitted by CJ Sereno last Monday.
The lawyer said he stands firm that his allegations have a strong basis.
Now that Atty. Gadon has already submitted his reply, the House committee can now proceed to determine if the complaint against CJ Sereno has grounds and if it has a sufficiency of the grounds and probable cause. At this stage, the country’s top magistrate can face the complainant and the witnesses who seek her removal from the Supreme Court. — Grace Casin | UNTV News & Rescue
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