'Magnificent Seven' threatens impeachment if vote to oust Sereno not reversed

MANILA, Philippines — The eight justices who voted to oust former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno may face impeachment raps if they will not reverse their vote on the Supreme Court’s quo warranto ruling, seven lawmakers said on Tuesday.

Members of the House of Representatives’ “Magnificent Seven” said in a statement: “[T]he grievously eight Justices must be impeached for culpable violation of the constitution and patent betrayal of public trust, among other impeachable offenses.”

“Only a contrite and complete recantation by reconsidering their unlawful, controversial and unpopular decision can save the eight Justices from impeachment,” the lawmakers added.

Reps. Edcel Lagman (Albay), Tomasito Villarin (Akbayan Citizens' Action party-list), Edgar Erice (Caloocan City, 2nd District), Teddy Baguilat Jr. (Ifugao), Gary Alejano (Magdalo party-list) and Emmanuel Billones (Capiz, 1st District) form the House of Representatives' independent minority bloc or the "Magnificent Seven."

The solons said that allowing the justices to “escape scot-free is to condone injustice and oppression.” In a unprecendented vote, the SC removed Sereno—who was openly called as "enemy" of President Rodrigo Duterte—as head of the Judiciary on May 11.

Associate Justice Noel Tijam penned the landmark ruling. Seven justices agreed with Tijam: They are Associate Justices Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, Lucas Bersamin, Francis Jardeleza, Diosdado Peralta, Samuel Martires, Andres Reyes Jr. and Alexander Gesmundo.

The Magnificent Seven said that the eight magistrates should be impeached for their alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust, which are grounds for impeachment.

According to the lawmakers, the justices arrogated the constitutional jurisdiction of Congress when they voted to oust Sereno.

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“The Constitution unequivocally mandates that it is only impeachment instituted by the House of Representatives and conviction by the Senate can an impeachable office be removed from office,” they added.

Five justices are also culpable of betrayal of public trust when they refused to take their hands off the case, the solons claimed.

They said that Justice De Castro, Peralta, Bersamin, Jardelez Tijam “public expressed their bias against [Sereno]” and should have inhibited from the ruling.

Sereno sought the inhibition of the five, but the justices said that Sereno’s accusations of bias are “baseless.”

 “Their partiality and bias are repugnant to the high standards of judicial impartiality and judiciousness,” they added.

Sereno said that she will appeal for the reversal of the decision. She is given 15 days since the receipt of the ruling to file a motion for reconsideration.