Contact Details

Rm. N-411, House of Representatives, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
+63 2 931 5497, +63 2 931 5001 local 7370

Press Statements

While justice delayed is justice denied, a judicial appointment made with undue dispatch could be an error in disguise.

The precipitate appointment of Justice Teresita De Castro as the new chief justice deprived the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) the opportunity to reconsider her inclusion in the shortlist of nominees for the vacant position of chief magistrate together with Justices Diosdado Peralta and Lucas Bersamin, all of whom are facing impeachment complaints for culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust in the House of Representatives.

Press Statements

The shortlist of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) nominating three associate justices for chief justice, despite the pendency of impeachment complaints against them which warrant their disqualification, is infirm and must be withdrawn.

Shortlisted are Justices Teresita De Castro, Diosdado Peralta and Lucas Bersamin who are all facing impeachment complaints for culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust.

It is a hollow and self-serving rhetoric to claim that the JBC does not need to consider the disqualification of the shortlisted justices because the impeachment complaints against them are not pending while awaiting congressional action.

Press Statements

The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) acted with indecent alacrity in shortlisting on Friday morning Justices Teresita De Castro, Diosdado Peralta and Lucas Bersamin as nominees for the vacant position of chief justice.

The shortlist was finalized by the JBC in less than 24 hours after the aforenamed justices were charged with culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust together with four other associate justices who voted for the ouster of Chief Justice Sereno in an irregular and improper quo warranto petition.

Press Statements

Seven out of the eight Supreme Court Associate Justices who voted to oust former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno in a controversial petition for quo warranto are now facing impeachment complaints before the House of Representatives.

The complaints were filed today by some members of the Magnificent 7 opposition bloc led by Rep. Edcel C. Lagman with the Office of the House Secretary General.

Charged with culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust are Justices Teresita de Castro, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Andres Reyes, Francis Jardeleza, Noel Tijam, and Alexander Gesmundo.

Ombudsman Samuel Martires, who was one of the eight Justices who removed Sereno, was not included in the complaint because he is no longer an incumbent Associate Justice.

Joining Lagman as complainants are Akbayan Rep. Tomas Villarin, Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano and Rep. Teddy Baguilat, Jr. of the Lone District of Ifugao.

Press Statements

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has forgotten his law ever since he became the official apologist of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Roque’s claim that Duterte does not have to prove his accusation that Naga City was “a hotbed of shabu”, and it is for the Naga City officials to prove otherwise, desecrates the cardinal rule that “he who alleges must prove his allegation” and the legal dictum that “he who asserts, not he who denies, must prove”.