Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno (Photo by LYN RILLON / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
The office of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has denied the claim of lawyer Larry Gadon聽that Sereno hired one of her staff, lawyer Jocelyn Fabian in 2013 because they were church-mates.
鈥淭he Chief Justice and Atty. Fabian do not attend the same church,鈥澛爐he Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) said in a聽statement聽on Thursday.
Gadon, the complainant in Sereno鈥檚 impeachment case, mocked the religious affiliation of聽Sereno and her staff, calling it a 鈥淐hristian-Christian effect鈥� during a hearing at the House of聽Representatives聽on Wednesday.
鈥淚llogical na kukuha ka na lang, basta na lang nag apply. Eh noong unang testify ni Atty.聽Fabian, nothing personal ha, sinabi niya na that they belong to one church鈥斺�榶un nga 鈥榶ung聽Christian-Christian effect na 鈥榶an, ek ek,鈥� Gadon told the House justice committee.
(It鈥檚 illogical if you just hire anyone who applies. When Atty. Facian first testified, nothing personal here, she said they belonged to one church 鈥� that Christian-Christian effect blah blah.)
READ: Lawmakers call out Gadon for mocking religious belief of SC official
Gadon alleged that Fabian, chairperson of the technical working group, delayed the resolution聽on the retirement and survivorship benefits of justices and judges and their spouses.
In response, the OCJ said Fabian had been a 鈥渨elcome asset鈥� not only to聽their office but also the judiciary as a whole, citing her experience after 29 years in the private聽sector.
Fabian was formerly Vice President, Operations Group Head and Acting Comptroller of聽Stateland, Inc. from 2011 to 2013, the Director for Finance and Administration and Chief聽Financial Officer of Far East Broadcasting Company, Inc. from 2000 to 2009, and Vice聽President for Finance of JS Gaisano, Inc. from 1982 to 1994, the Chief Justice鈥檚 office said.
Moreover, Fabian has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1985 and a lawyer since聽2011, it added.
鈥淐onsidering her background, Atty. Fabian is unquestionably highly qualified and well-equipped to assist the judiciary in the identification and resolution of its financial concerns,鈥澛爐he OCJ said.
鈥淗er unshakable faith and obedience to the Lord鈥檚 guidance have allowed her to contribute聽tirelessly to the study, implementation and institutionalization of much needed systemic聽changes of a 117-year old institution,鈥� it stressed.
Fabian was also part of missionary staff for the Philippine Campus Crusade for Christ, the Chief聽Justice鈥檚 office added.
鈥淚t is thus a grave matter of concern that her integrity and values 鈥� and even her Christian faith聽鈥� are being unjustly besmirched,鈥� it said.
According to Sereno鈥檚 office, Fabian applied for a position in August 25, 2012, and that she聽was interviewed on February 6, 2013 by Sereno鈥檚 three chiefs of office.
鈥淭here were two applicants for the Court Attorney vacancy at the time, and Atty. Fabian was聽found to be more qualified,鈥� the Chief Justice鈥檚 office said.
鈥淎fter favorable recommendation of the interviewing panel, and a final interview at which the聽Chief Justice met Atty. Fabian for the first time, Atty. Fabian was appointed in May 2013,鈥� it added. /je