Testimonies of 4 SC justices have credence: Alvarez

FILE: Pantaleon Alvarez (Photo: Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez/Facebook)

MANILA — House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Tuesday said he personally believes the testimonies of the four magistrates of the Supreme Court in the impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno should be given credence.

In an interview with reporters, Alvarez said the SC justices and court officials who testified before the justice committee under oath would likely be given the presumption of credibility, unlike Sereno who has refused to appear in the proceedings.

“May presumption talaga ng credibility dahil hindi takot humarap. Hindi kagaya ni Chief Justice na takot siyang humarap. Ibig sabihin she is afraid to face the truth,” Alvarez said.

On Monday, Associate Justices Noel Tijam, Francis Jardeleza, and Teresita Leonardo De Castro, as well as retired justice Arturo Brion, appeared before the impeachment hearing against Sereno.

The four magistrates said Sereno had shown disrespect for the entire court through her unilateral actions that allegedly transgressed the powers of the court en banc.

Justice Jardeleza even went so far as accusing Sereno of treason when she used top secret documents on the Philippine government’s claim to the South China Sea territories in a bid to block his appointment to the high court.

“Mabigat yung mga testimonies nung mga justices saka mga employees ng Supreme Court dahil papano mo papasinungalingan yan? First-hand information yan, sila talaga yung nakakaalam doon,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez, however, stressed that his personal opinion should not influence whatever decision the Justice Committee would reach after its hearings on the impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Larry Gadon.

“Ayoko lang pangunahan yung committee. Pero lahat tayo nakapanood at siguro naman malinaw na siguro para makita ng sambayanan kung talagang merong laman yung impeachment complaint,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez said he expects the panel to complete its hearings on the impeachment by January next year.