Philippine Congress body backs bid to impeach chief justice
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A Philippine House committee has voted overwhelmingly to proceed with a case to impeach the Supreme Court chief justice, who has vowed to fight the ouster move.
The justice committee voted 38-2 Thursday to rule there was "probable cause" to impeach Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno based on 27 allegations made by a lawyer, including her alleged failure to file her annual statements of assets and liabilities.
The entire 292-member House of Representatives is to vote whether to impeach Sereno in a few months. The House is dominated by allies of President Rodrigo Duterte, who has called for her removal.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Sereno has taken leave from the court and has denied any wrongdoing. She urged Filipinos to stand up to authoritarianism, in an indirect criticism of Duterte.