CBCP social arm throws support behind Sereno as her fate hangs
MANILA, Philippines — The social arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines called on the justices of the Supreme Court to discard the quo warranto petition against embattled chief magistrate Maria Lourdes Sereno.
In a statement released barely an hour before the scheduled en banc session of the high court which will decide Sereno’s fate, National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace urged the members of SC to live up to their oath to give every person his/her share of law and justice.
“We appeal to them not to be pressured or bribed to make disgraceful decision. They must exhibit sense of fairness, impartiality and trustworthiness. They must live up as the last pillar of democracy in the country,” NASSA, also known as Caritas Philippines, said.
It denounced what it called the “evil maneuvering” of the legal process and the rule of law.
Caritas Philippines cited that the martial law in Mindanao, moves to shift to a federal government and alter the constitution are manifestations that President Rodrigo Duterte wants a totalitarian rule. But he cannot do it, the group said, unless Sereno is ousted from the Supreme Court.
“He is riding on his popularity and the support of the legislators to subvert the democratic process to achieve his personal agenda. He destroys the fabric of democracy in the country. He is bane to our political situation,” it said.
It also called on Filipinos to back Sereno’s battle, saying it symbolizes the people’s fight for democracy.
“Let us all unite and rally behind her to discard the quo warranto as well as the impeachment complaint. Let us claim the power entrusted to us by ourselves, by the Constitution—sovereign power resides in the people,” Caritas Philippines said.
Last March 5, Solicitor General Jose Calida filed a quo warranto before the SC challenging the legality of Sereno’s appointment to the high court.
On the eve of the special en banc session, members of the law academe stressed that only the Senate, as impeachment court, can remove Sereno from office.
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines also filed a petition for intervention with a prayer of dismissal against Calida’s petition.
Related video:
An insider source of The STAR says the decision on Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno's quo warranto was already signed by seven justices ahead of this morning's special en banc session.
Court observers said that based on the April 10 oral arguments on the quo warranto petition against Sereno, it seemed that majority of the justices were inclined to vote for the removal of the head magistrate.
READ: How the quo warranto petition vs Sereno could affect the judiciary
— with Edu Punay
Former Supreme Court spokesperson Theodore Te says there could have been other methods in resolving the matter when asked if the high court made a mistake in removing the chief justice through a quo warranto petition.
"I think most of the matters that went on... there were some personal animus that was going on between them. Where I'm coming from is that perhaps that personal animus could have been resolved, and that doesn't mean only on one side it meant on all sides, because many of these are family matters in a sense. Internal matters that could have been resolved and it was very difficult for me because I could see that," Te says in an interview over ANC's "Early Edition."
"The decisions of the court become the law of the land that's what we always say. That's a judgment that's there. I don't know if I would call it a mistake but I would definitely say that in creating that precedent, that loophole, even though it is a once in a lifetime loophole, I think the court could have restrained itself," he adds.
The Supreme Court directs Solicitor General Jose Calida to comment on the appeal filed by ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on the quo warranto ruling.
The high tribunal gives Calida a non-extendible period of five days to file his comment on Sereno’s motion for reconsideration.
Ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno files an appeal on the Supreme Court ruling on May 11 that granted Solicitor General Jose Calida’s quo warranto petition against her.
In a vote of 8-6, her colleagues at the SC voided her appointment as chief justice in 2012.
"Respondent [Sereno] is found disqualified from and is hereby adjudged guilty of unlawfully holding and exercising the Office of the Chief Justice. Accordingly, Sereno is ousted and excluded therefrom," the historic decision reads.
Those who voted in favor of the ouster were Associate Justices Noel Tijam, Teresita De Castro, Lucas Bersamin, Francis Jardeleza, Samuel Martires, Andres Reyes Jr. and Alexander Gesmundo. -
A group of justices and employees of the Supreme Court expresses support for the high court after its decision to oust Sereno as chief justice.
READ: Statement of support from judges, court personnel for Supreme Court after its decision ousting CJ Sereno @PhilippineStar pic.twitter.com/Iqnz4LgtZo
— Edu Punay (@edupunay) May 21, 2018
The Senate will take up today a resolution signed by 14 of its members seeking a review of the high court's decision to remove an impeachable official via a quo warranto.
READ: The cards are stacked against Sereno but she may have an ace up her sleeve
The Coalition for Justice urges the Senate to take a collective stand against the Supreme Court decision ousting Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno by asserting its exclusive right to remove impeachable officials.
“We respectfully ask you to remind the Supreme Court that the Senate's sole power over impeachable officers must not be impugned by a co-equal branch of government,” the CFJ says in an open letter to senators.
“If the Decision remains unchallenged and the Senate's duty is unperformed, the dire fallout on our system and people will lie at the Senate's door,” it warns.
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