MANILA, Philippines — The ouster of embattled Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno may be determined by the Supreme Court and not by the Senate impeachment court, Senate Minority Leader Francis Drilon said Wednesday.
Drilon raised the possibility that Sereno may be removed from her position by her colleagues in the judiciary.
“The possibility of the impeachment not going through is there. Why? The statement of the leaders of the House of Representatives is that they will wait for the Supreme Court resolution [on the quo warranto],” he said.
A quo warranto proceeding is an action used to determine whether a person has legal right to hold public office.
READ: Sereno hits 'shortcuts' to get around Constitution, denial of due process
The actions of the House of Representatives will be governed by the decision of the Supreme Court, Drilon noted.
“If the Supreme Court says they have jurisdiction and will decide on the merits, and says that the chief justice in not eligible or did not have the qualification... that is what will be recognized as the state of things. Therefore, the House of Representatives will not send the articles of impeachment and that’s the end of it,” he said.
The senate minority leader said in jest: “The robe might be premature.”
READ: Calida questions Sereno's appointment as chief justice before SC
Solicitor General Jose Calida on Monday filed a petition, asking the Supreme Court to void Sereno’s appointment as the chief magistrate.
Sereno, who has gone on indefinite leave since March 1, said that she would not step down from her post.
“Give me my day in the Senate impeachment court or admit that there is no probable cause,” she said in an event at the University of Baguio last week.
The House of Representatives justice panel on Thursday will vote on whether the complaint filed by lawyer Larry Gadon has probable cause to oust Sereno.
READ: Unfazed Sereno faces public, challenges accusers