(Eagle News) — The camp of Maria Lourdes Sereno on Monday reiterated the allegations she tampered with a draft temporary restraining order were “hearsay,” even as the reporter who supposedly sourced such information stood by his story in Monday’s House justice panel hearing.
In a statement, Sereno’s camp said “it doesn’t matter whether (Jomar) Canlas ‘stands by’ his source/story or not” in the first place.
According to Sereno’s camp, “it doesn’t change the fact that it was Canlas’ source, and not Canlas himself, who was present during the internal deliberations relating to the temporary restraining order issue.”
But in the hearing, Canlas said he had a copy of Sereno’s letter to De Castro in which “the chief magistrate admitted that she deliberately changed the recommendation made by (Associate Justice Teresita de Castro) who was the designated ponente of the TRO.”
According to Canlas’ story, “Justice blasts Sereno over TRO mess,” this was after De Castro slammed Sereno for “being tardy and for not coordinating her actions with her.”
The House justice panel is determining whether there is probable cause for the impeachment complaint filed against Sereno.
The alleged tampering of the draft TRO is one of 27 offenses Gadon said Sereno committed, acts which he said were tantamount to culpable violation of the Constituion, corruption, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes.
