Sereno on Enrile Being Adviser vs Her Impeachment Trial, “Healthy Enrile Should Be Sent Back to Jail”

Former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile is still healthy so he should be sent back to prison, according to Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. This is after House justice committee chair Rep. Umali said that Enrile could possibly stand as the adviser of the private prosecution panel against her impending impeachment trial.

“That’s right, it’s part of what we’re considering, as part of the prosecution team. That’s the situation now, he’s available to help in the prosecution.” Rep. Umali said over a radio dzBB interview this Sunday, March 11, adding that the House committee is still on the process of creating their prosecution panel versus the embattled chief justice.

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Umali added that he is also considering lawyer Tranquil Salvador III, who was a member of defense team of the late Chief Justice Renato Corona on his impeachment trial in 2012, to be among the private prosecutors. Incidentally, Enrile was the senate president that time, and the presiding judge during the CJ Corona impeachment trial.

Last Thursday, the House justice committee ruled that the impeachment complaint against CJ Sereno has a probable cause. This coming Wednesday, March 14, the panel is set to present its committee report, as well as the articles of impeachment, which would be presented before the plenary for voting among the 297 congressmen.

Once the said report receives one-third votes of the entire House members, the lower chamber would then transmit the impeachment complaint to the Senate, which would eventually turn into an impeachment court, with Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel being the presiding judge and the 24 senators shall act as judges.

Meanwhile, CJ Sereno, who is now on indefinite leave is not in favor of Enrile being an adviser of the prosecution against her. In an ambush interview after attending the Sunday morning mass, she said that the former senator was released from jail due to humanitarian reasons, adding that since he is still healthy, he should be brought back to jail.



“Let me remind him (Enrile) that I was the Chief Justice when the Supreme Court allowed his release because he is old, not because he is not guilty. He said he was sick so we released him. But now that he seems to be as healthy as a horse at 94, we have all the reasons to send him back to jail where he belongs.” CJ Sereno told reporters.

In August 2015, the Supreme Court in a vote of 8-4 granted Enrile’s motion to be released from hospital arrest, noting that he was released due to his poor health and old age. He was 91 at that time. A week later, his lawyers paid the P1.45 million bail for his pending plunder case stemming from his alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam.

Contributed by Renato Pasayao