Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Wednesday shrugged off impeachments proceedings at the House of Representatives, saying it doesn’t bother her because she knew the truth is on her side.
“I am like this because I know that the truth is on my side. And in a time of constant spin, when narratives are co-opted to serve the personal agenda of a few, the truth is our bedrock,” Sereno said before judges’ convention in Palo, Leyte.
Sereno stressed that she has been honest in her work as the chief magistrate and believes that the impeachment complaint against her will not succeed.
“Alam kong hindi ako nagsinungaling, hindi ako nandaya, hindi ako nanlamang ng kapwa, at ginawa ko nang tama ang trabaho ko bilang Punong Mahistrado [I know I didn’t lie. I didn’t cheat. I didn’t take advantage of others. I did my job as the chief magistrate correctly]. I have enough faith in the truth to sleep soundly at night; I have enough faith in our people and in our democratic systems, to know that narratives built on lies will eventually crumble,” Sereno added.
Lawyer Larry Gadon filed impeachment raps against Sereno for alleged culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, corruption and other high crimes, by failing to reveal her existent assets and net worth, buying a luxurious car with public funds and compelling judges to challenge the Duterte administration.
Voting 25-2, the House Committee on Justice ruled that there are sufficient grounds to pursue the impeachment complaint filed against the chief justice.
[Read: House panel finds sufficient grounds to oust Sereno]
Sereno called on the members of the Philippine Trial Judge League Inc. to continue in serving their mandates and duties and to stay away from the political noise.
“Remain steadfast in the conduct of your duties; zone out of politics, and decide on your cases with openness, sobriety, and fairness… All I ask is that tomorrow, you wake up and resolve to do the best, most honest, fairest work that you can do, and again the day after that, and again the day after that. There is nothing more that a Chief Justice can ask of you,” the chief justice said.
“I know that, ultimately, such political maneuverings can only erode our branch of government in the long-term, however gratifying it may be at the moment. I have no interest in feeding my ego,” she added.
Earlier, Sereno snob impeachment threats, saying these complaints doesn’t affect her because of her ‘clean conscience’.
[Read: Sereno unfazed by impeachment raps]
“Alam mo, ‘yan ang masarap sa malinis na konsensya, it does not affect me at all [You know, that’s the things about having a clean conscience],” she said during the town hall meeting Ulat sa Hudikatura in Cebu.
Sereno added she has fulfilled her mandate “with all faith and diligence”, citing that there would be no evidence that would attest she has betrayed her oath of office.
“I have done nothing wrong. Nothing can be proven against me that will show that the Chief Justice has betrayed her oath of office. I have served the country with all faith and diligence. I will never waver from that pledge,” she added.
Sereno also said her records of travels, expenses, and procurements are all well-documented.