Vendetta, not accountability

Cong Corrales

“Behind this mask is an idea and ideas are bulletproof.” — Alan Moore, V for Vendetta

NOW it can be told. Now the rogues in barongs have been unmasked. The cast and characters behind the impeachment complaint against Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno are out for vengeance and are not exactly out to exact accountability from the head of the High Tribunal.

Out for Vengeance

The 27-allegation complaint against Sereno filed by lawyer Lorenzo Gadon before the Lower House’s committee on justice would lead on to believe that Sereno has been committing crimes against the people and so, she should be impeached.

However, political analyst Ramon Casiple, during a forum of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines on Oct. 12, told the audience that Gadon personally told him that the latter filed the impeachment complaint for three reasons:

(1) To avenge Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo;

(2) To avenge the impeachment of the late Chief Justice Renato Corona; and

(3) To ensure that Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. gets the vice presidency.

The Architect

Before Gadon filed the complaint, it can be recalled that the Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez started the impeachment buzz against Sereno in the Lower House. He was the one who made public that 25 representatives have endorsed the impeachment complaint.

Alvarez’ mettle with Sereno dates back to when the two were embroiled in the cases involving Philippine International Air Terminals Company Inc (Piatco).

Acting then as Manila International Airport Authority assistant manager and, later, Department of Transport and Communications secretary, Alvarez allegedly funneled millions of pesos into his and his friends’ pockets while working on Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. This was done through alleged under-the-table deals, bloating declared budget, and allegedly sub-contracting the construction firm owned by his wife.

However, Sereno, one of the hired counsels of the Office of the Secretary General, foiled the alleged money-making operations in an arbitral tribunal which caused the Piatco Group to lose the in two arbitration cases.

So as it appears now, he seemed to have designed the impeachment complaint and make it appear that they are pushing the Duterte administration’s no-nonsense stand against corrupt government officials.