Two lawyers of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno are now facing a possible contempt citation by the house justice committee after lawyers Joshua Santiago and Winnie Salumbides labeled the proceedings as a “dog and pony show.”
The house panel has issued a show-cause order against Sereno’s two lawyers to explain why they should not be cited in contempt by the House Panel.
The panel also issued the same order against Commission on Human Rights (CHR) associate commissioner Roberto Cadiz for giving a statement saying that the Chief Justice was about to impeached “in the House where the law of the jungle seems to be prevailing.”
Chair of the House Committee on Justice Rep. Reynaldo Umali cautioned the two lawyers to respect the impeachment committee or they will be forced to use their coercive powers.
“If I may just enjoin the lawyers please respect this impeachment committee lest we be forced to use the coercive powers of this committee or other powers vested in the House of Representatives, para lang po maging maayos ang proceedings [so the proceedings would be in order].”
Santiago, Salumbides, and Cadiz have been given 72 hours to provide their explanations or else they will be cited in contempt.
Umali advised two lawyers to keep their insights against the committee to themselves and not resort to ‘name-calling.’
“We are trying darndest best to be fair. And if you feel this committee has not been fair to their client, keep it to yourself. Discuss n’yo [You discuss it] among yourselves,” Umali said.
“But don’t resort to name-calling or putting or casting aspersions in this impeachment committee because may hangganan din po ang pasensya namin [because our patience also has limits]. And I hope we will not come to that,” he added.