Chief Justice Sereno, of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, is facing impeachment proceedings. The Filipino impeachment process is similar to that of the United States: impeachment is passed in the House of Representatives and tried in the Senate. Because the impeachment proceedings of the United States and the Philippines are so similar, it is possible precedent set by one system, could influence the other.

One such opportunity for shared precedent has been presented by an appeal of Chief Justice Sereno; summarized in this article. Sereno has claimed that she has the right to cross-examine witnesses used a resources in the House of Representatives. Her claim is a departure from the traditional impeachment process: cross-examiniation occurs during the trial in the Senate. Therefore the outcome of her claim could prove to be an interesting development for the Philippines and possibly the United States.

PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER / RAFFY LERMA