11 lawyers

were appointed by Sereno to act for and in her name in the hearing to determine if the impeachment Gadon has probable cause.

Sereno’s spokesman Josa Deinla said the chief justice’s failure to attend the hearing did not mean she was guilty.

“Sereno already aired her side in detail and under oath in her - der,” Deinla said.

In his complaint, Gadon accused Sereno of culpable violation of the Constitution, corruption, betrayal of public trust and other high crimes.

‘Sereno should be there’

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez however said the committee would not allow the counsels to speak without Sereno around.

“We should keep in mind that the lawyers are not the ones who will be impeached, they are not the subject of the impeachment complaint. Now, we will allow Sereno to be assisted by her counsels but she should be there,” he

“Sereno can waive her right to appear before the Committee, but then it is like she is waiving her right to confront the complainants and the documents presented against her, as well as the witnesses,” he added.

On Tuesday, Malacañang said President Rodrigo Duterte was not threatening democracy by backing the impeachment of Sereno.

Palace spokesman Harry Roque was responding to a claim made by Sereno in a television interview on Monday that Duterte was undermining checks and balance by supporting her impeachment.

“The impeachment process is a Constitutional process. I don’t see why a Constitutional process, - tion, could be considered a threat to democracy,” Roque, a lawyer, told reporters.

The House of Representatives— where an impeachment complaint originates—is composed of at least 292 lawmakers, 200 of which are members of President Duterte’s