Sereno on Duterte remarks on lavish lifestyles: I don’t feel alluded to

MANILA, Philippines — Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Thursday said she is not affected by President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent remark against an unnamed official whom he hit for living a lavish lifestyle.

“That’s his revelation. I don’t know who he’s talking of, definitely I don’t feel alluded to,” Sereno said at a town hall event in Cebu City. Sereno rarely faces the media, believing the Supreme Court should be heard more often through its decisions.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday evening criticized an official who allegedly had lavish foreign trips as he reminded public servants to maintain a simple lifestyle. He declined to name the assailed official but he said the public servant is not from the executive branch.

"There is one official here in government, we looked into the travel (expenses), not from my department, not the executive department," Duterte said, claiming the official booked a first-class plane trip, stayed in lavish hotels and a presidential suite.

READ: Duterte hits unnamed official over lavish lifestyle

In early August, the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption and the Vanguard of the Philippine Constitution filed an impeachment complaint against Sereno, accusing the chief justice of granting to members of her staff travel allowances for foreign travel charged to the Supreme Court funds without the Court en banc’s approval.

The complainants said the granting of travel allowances is a culpable violation of the Constitution.

Sereno denied doing anything illegal and said all her travels and other procurement are well-documented.

“My travels, my security, and vehicle requirements are all regular and above the board public documents – the record will speak for itself and I have not objected to the public release of the same,” Sereno said.

Asked if she thinks Malacañang has a hand in the impeachment complaint, Sereno replied: “You already want tsismis. I will not give you that satisfaction.”