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.
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