Sen.
Antonio Trillanes IV makes his two cents known not only to the public but also to
the other Justices of the Supreme Court.
The
senator who is known as one of the fiercest critic of not only President
Rodrigo Roa Duterte but his family as well, weighs in the issue regarding the
embattled Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno who is currently facing an
impeachment complaint in the House of Representatives.
Trillanes
warns the other justices who are reportedly wanted the Sereno ousted as the top
magistrate that they themselves can be also impeached. *
Senator Trillanes and Justice Leonen of the Supreme Court (photo credit to ownwer) |
The office of the senator in a prepared
statement said that it would be unconstitutional to remove Sereno through a
process other than impeachment.
Doing so would be a brazen usurpation of the exclusive
power of Congress under the Constitution, he said.
“In view of certain reports that certain Supreme Court
justices, headed by Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, are maneuvering to force
the unconstitutional removal of Chief Justice Sereno, may I remind these
justices that any unconstitutional act they commit now, can be used as a ground
for impeachment against them later on under a different administration,” Senator Trillanes said
“Any attempt to
remove the Chief Justice through a process other than impeachment is
unconstitutional. It will be a brazen usurpation of the exclusive power of
Congress under the Constitution,” Trillanes said in a statement.
Trillanes said he issued the statement following reports
that certain Supreme Court (SC) justices, “headed by Associate Justice Marvic
Leonen … were maneuvering to force the unconstitutional removal” of Sereno, who
is being subjected to the impeachment process for alleged dishonesty for not
filing her statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).
“May I remind
these justices that any unconstitutional act they commit now, can be used as a
ground for impeachment against them later on under a different administration,”
stressed Trillanes, who has been criticizing President Rodrigo Duterte for
alleged dishonesty in his SALN in relation to the Chief Executive’s alleged
ill-gotten wealth. The senator has been urging Duterte to resign despite
the President being an impeachable official.
*
“For those who are retired by then, these acts can and
will be used as basis for graft cases,” he added.
Report from PDI
0 Comments