UNLESS he can prove his allegations, lawyer Lorenzo Gadon should just keep his mouth shut, a member of the House committee on justice said.
Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. made the remark at the resumption of the committee hearing on the impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno Tuesday, December 5.
Gadon, in a statement on Monday, said he had received information that an oligarch is trying to bribe the senators into absolving Sereno.
"I advise Mr. Gadon to keep his mouth shut if he cannot verify or reveal to us the oligarchs, source of this P200 million," Garbin said.
In his statement, Gadon said he was verifying the information he had received that an unidentified oligarch is willing to pay P200 million to the senators who will vote against Sereno.
Garbin recounted that even before the start of the impeachment proceedings, Gadon has been telling the media that the committee will release its resolution on December 13.
"So many statements, assertions coming from you which really affects the integrity of this impeachment committee - assuming that you already knew that we will have a decision, that we will issue or submit the articles of impeachment and it will be passed by the House, by the plenary. Mali po yun Mr. Chair (It's wrong, Mr. Chair)," Garbin said.
The committee has ordered Gadon to explain within five days why he should not be cited in contempt for his statement that casts "aspersion" to the committee on justice.
Gadon, in reply, told the committee that he should not be cited in contempt as he himself told the media that he did not believe in the information he had received that the senators could be bribed.
"Sinabi ko na ako mismo, hindi naniniwala na papayag ang mga senators na ma-bribe (I, myself, don't believe that the senators can be bribed)," Gadon said.
"Kaya wala ho akong nakikitang contempt dahil ako mismo naniniwalang di mangyayari yun (I don't see how they can cite me in contempt because I don't believe that it will happen)," he added.
Sereno's camp yesterday called Gadon's allegations as a "detestable lie."
Aldwin Salumbides, Sereno's lawyer, said the Chief Justice has never been involved in corruption and will not tolerate nor consider bribing the senators. (VoxPop Philippines)
