Sereno issue strategy
From the pronouncements from the presidential spokesman, that Malacañang is hands off on the Sereno issue on one day, and subsequently that they are elated on the Congress Justice committee vote on the impeachment, it seems that they are ambivalent and unsure of the strategy to oust Chief Justice Sereno. This is good awareness because this issue will affect the satisfaction rating of President Duterte, his administration, and the international reputation of the president and his government. It is a given that any president does not really have real time and complete control on the initiatives and actions of all his subalterns, and some of their actions may undermine the president. The Sereno case may just be one of these situations.
The congressional hearings that have lasted for months, which were not really necessary to determine probable cause to impeach Sereno, was to demonize her to the point of making her resign. But the hearings also came up with reasons that the offenses cited, while important, were not really impeachable offenses. Then, the filing of the quo warranto petition which pushed the removal of the chief justice to the Supreme Court justices, did not really sit well with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, to most of the lawyers, and the people in general. The series of events are perceived as bullying which gave Sereno the underdog status and this generates a lot of sympathy. The news and articles coming out of the main and social media are improving the Sereno narrative, especially as she is coming out as a classic middle-class personality who has risen through by sheer drive, intelligence, and hard work. An Ateneo scholarship and a cum laude Law degree from UP belies some of the accusations against a girl from the neighborhood of Kamuning in Quezon City. She has already generated enormous media mileage here and abroad and more when the Senate impeachment will be in progress.
At this point, Sereno has very little to lose. She has already been demonized enough. She will not go to jail if she gets impeached unless she is charged with more crimes, which will already be an overkill that will generate more problems for the government. The Supreme Court, the Congress and the current administration have more to lose in terms of prestige, credibility, and public support, whichever way the quo warranto proceeding or the impeachment verdict will go. If she gets impeached, she becomes an ordinary citizen but a hero to all those opposed to the current administration, a David against Goliath. It will harden the position of all those against an authoritarian government in the national and international constituency. If she does not get impeached, it will be an abject lesson to the government although it can always reason out its adherence to law and justice.
It cannot be denied that the Duterte government has positive achievements for the country especially in the economic and bureaucratic side, but with all the problems still in the diplomatic areas, existing rebellion, and peace and order, this Sereno issue is an unnecessary diversion not worth the effort and the consequences. This looks like a case of overconfidence in its approval ratings and it forgot to remember that nothing lasts forever. I wish someone will remind the immediate subalterns of the president that when Henry II uttered loudly "Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest," it was wishful thinking and not really a command to do away with Archbishop Thomas Becket.
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