Subpoena on Sereno psych records only a ‘publicity stunt’, spokesperson says

The camp of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Tuesday dismissed as only a publicity stunt the move of the House justice panel to subpoena and "make public" the high magistrate's psychiatric records to attract public attention and boost the impeachment complaint complaint against her.

In a news release, lawyer Josa Deinla, one of Sereno's spokespersons, said her detractors are bent to "demolish" her even to the point of including issues that do not show offenses that would warrant her impeachment.

“This is nothing but a mere publicity stunt with the intention to humiliate, insult, malign, ridicule and discredit the Chief Justice before the public. Because they lack solid proof to support the fatally defective impeachment complaint filed by Atty. [Larry] Gadon, they resort to publicity stunt and vicious vilification campaign," Deinla said.

“Tila naubusan na sila ng bato na ipupukol kay CJ Sereno kung kaya pati ‘yung mga bagay na walang kinalaman sa kanyang trabaho bilang Punong Mahistrado ay pilit na inuungkat,” she added.

Aside from summoning the psychiatric records, the House panel also invited the two psychiatrists which the Judicial and Bar Council hired in 2012 to conduct the pyschological exam for Sereno and the other candidates for the chief justice position at the time.

In his complaint, Gadon claimed that Sereno got a 4 out a 5 grade in her psychological exam, pointing out that “an applicant to any position in the judiciary with a grade of 4 is unfit for the job.”

But this argument, Deinla said, can easily debunked by Sereno's "solid background and track record."

“The Chief Justice has been in international and local conferences, presided so many en banc meetings, implemented various reforms, wrote so many opinions and decisions,” Deinla said.

“Thousands of people she had met could attest to her fitness to lead the Supreme Court and the entire judicial branch," she added.

Sereno would not have even handled this much stress and pressure if she was unfit for the position, Deinla said.

“Can someone who is not strong and solid perform all these duties and at the same time institute reforms aimed at restoring the people’s trust and confidence in the judiciary?” she asked.

The House justice committee will continue on Wednesday its deliberations on the impeachment complaint lodged against Sereno. —NB, GMA News