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MANILA - The House justice committee next week may start impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice Teresita De Castro, just days after her appointment as the country's top judge, a congressman said Monday.

Opposition congressmen last week sought the removal of De Castro and 6 other justices for ousting former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno through a quo warranto petition that allegedly usurped Congress' power to take out impeachable officers.

• Sereno, De Castro in fiery exchange at oral arguments on ouster petition

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The impeachment complaints against the 7 justices are expected to be referred to the House justice committee when Congress resumes session on Tuesday, said panel chairman Mindoro Rep. Doy Leachon.

"If it will be referred to us tomorrow, mga September 4, Tuesday next week, we'll start with the hearing on the impeachment complaint," he told radio DZMM.

"I would like to sure everyone, especially the complainants as well as the respondents, that we will deal with this complaint transparently (and) without partiality," he added.

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, one of those who filed the impeachment complaint, earlier expressed hope that De Castro's appointment as Chief Justice can still be reconsidered given that Malacañang has yet to release her appointment papers.

De Castro, 69, is the second woman to serve as chief justice after Sereno, whose appointment to the high court invalidated last May for failure to fully disclose her wealth.

De Castro is the most senior member of the Supreme Court and has served in government for 45 years. She was presiding justice at the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court before she joined the top court.