MANILA, Philippines - Supreme Court Associate Justices Antonio Carpio and Ma. Lourdes Sereno have denied motions for their inhibitions from deliberations on separate petitions filed asking the high tribunal to stop the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Court spokesman and Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez said both justices denied the motions for "lack of merit."

"These motions have been denied. Motions for inhibitions are addressed to the individual justices," he said.

The motions were filed by lawyers Homobono Adaza and Alan Paguia who claimed both magistrates had "interests" in the outcome of the petitions.

Adaza and Paguia, who are among those who petitioned the high court to stop Corona's impeachment trial on grounds of unconstitutionality, alleged that Carpio and Sereno cannot be expected to be impartial since either of them may be appointed Chief Justice to replace Corona in the event he is convicted by the Senate impeachment court.

Both claimed Carpio and Sereno may be considered the frontrunners should Corona be ousted from office.

Carpio was Corona's staunch rival in the last race for chief magistrate. Sereno, meantime, is the first appointee to the high tribunal by President Aquino.

Motions for the inhibition of justices  in the high tribunal in particular cases are acted upon by the justices concerned.