MANILA - Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre is set to take the witness stand in the impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno this week, the chairperson of the House justice committee said Sunday.

Among the grounds in the impeachment complaint was Sereno’s alleged manipulation and delaying of Aguirre's request to transfer the cases against Maute gunmen outside of Mindanao for security reasons.

"Nagpasabi si Secretary Vit Aguirre na sa Martes pa siya available kaya ini-move na rin namin ang kaniyang testimonya," Rep. Reynaldo Umali told DZMM.

Aguirre wrote to Sereno requesting the transfer the trial of Maute suspects to Luzon or Visayas, but the SC instead moved the venue to either Iligan City or Cagayan de Oro City.

The Justice Secretary then wrote a second letter pointing out that the 2 cities were too close to Maute supporters in Marawi City. He also requested that the suspects be detained in Taguig City.

The SC later granted his request and transferred Maute suspects to Metro Manila.

NO SC JUDGES ON MONDAY HEARING

Aside from allegedly delaying Aguirre's request, Sereno is also accused of misdeclaring her wealth, having an extravagant lifestyle and bypassing her colleagues in the issuance of administrative orders.

Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo De Castro, who supposedly penned a temporary restraining order that Sereno later "tampered with," have been invited to testify in the hearing, together with other SC magistrates and court personnel.

The group however needs permission to join the proceedings from the SC en banc, which would not meet until Tuesday, said Umali.

"Ang en banc nila sa Martes pa kaya baka hindi natin maassahang dumating ang Supreme Court justices at probably, mga court personnel [sa Lunes]," he said.

(The en banc is scheduled on Tuesday so we may not expect SC justices and probably, court personnel, to attend on Monday.)

Sereno has denied the allegations and refused to attend the impeachment hearings, saying her lawyers can question witnesses on her behalf.

House leaders however said this was against the rules of procedure, which state that only resource persons are allowed to speak, and not their lawyers.

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