Sereno to take ‘wellness leave’ amid impeach hearings —spokesman

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno will be taking a "wellness leave" starting on Thursday to prepare herself for her impending impeachment trial at the Senate.

Lawyer Jojo Lacanilao, one of Sereno's spokespersons, confirmed this in an ambush interview with reporters at the House of Representatives.

The announcement was made while the House Committee on Justice is conducting deliberations to determine probable cause on the impeachment complaint lodged against Sereno.

"Meron siyang scheduled na wellness leave sa March. Talagang na-schedule na yun, matagal na. Ina-advance niya lang, February na rin ngayon, para makapag-prepare na rin siya sa Senate trial," Lacanilao said.

Originally, the wellness leave was scheduled for March 12 to 23, but it was rescheduled for March 1 to 15.

"May desisyon siya, personal niya, na i-advance yung naka-schedule na wellness leave niya sa March a few weeks earlier," Lacanilao said.

CJ Sereno is taking a “wellness leave” from March 1 to 15 to prepare for impeachment trial - Spox

— Tricia Zafra (@triciazafragma7) February 27, 2018

An earlier report from Super Radyo dzBB's Cecile Villarosa, quoting sources, said Sereno's leave was "indefinite." The report also said news of Sereno's plan to take a leave came after Tuesday's regular closed-door en banc session at the high court.

Source: Sa SC En Banc session kanina ay hinihimok si CJ Sereno ng mga kapwa mahistrado na magresign o magleave sa pwesto. @dzbb

— Cecille Villarosa (@CecilVillarosa) February 27, 2018

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes, nagpasyang mag-indefinite leave simula March 1 matapos komprontahin ng mga kapwa mahistrado sa SC en banc session kanina. @dzbb

— Cecille Villarosa (@CecilVillarosa) February 27, 2018

Sereno's camp, however, insisted her leave was not indefinite.

"It's not safe to call it [indefinite leave] kasi meron naman 'yang schedule," he said.

The development came following reports that a number of her colleagues allegedly wanted her to resign over her alleged violations of court rules, including her failure to submit all of her statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth.

The SC's Public Information Office has yet to comment on the matter.

At the House justice committee's hearing, panel chair Reynaldo Umali, said Sereno was forced by her colleagues in the Supreme Court to take a leave and insisted that it was "indefinite."

Umali said claims by Sereno's lawyer that it was not an indefinite leave is part of "a continuing pattern of lies and deception." — MDM/ALG, GMA News