MANILA, Philippines — Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, who faces an impeachment complaint at the House of Representatives, on Friday encouraged court employees to "spread the good year" of the Supreme Court. The justices' testimonies seemed to confirm the rumored rifts among the magistrates of the high court. Associate Justices Teresita De Castro, Francis Jardeleza, Noel Tijam and former Justice Arturo Brion, in their respective testimonies, accused Sereno of bypassing the full court or en banc. She also referred to Associate Justice Mariano Del Castillo, among the justices of the 15-member Supreme Court who attended the event, as being at the forefront of the judiciary's outreach programs. Sereno closed her short message to court employees by saying that because of the SC's achievements, "we can face anyone with pride, with honor, with dignity."

Source: Philippine Star December 15, 2017 07:07 UTC