Business group hopes SC will give Sereno appeal 'utmost respect'

MANILA, Philippines — A business group on Monday stressed that former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno's planned appeal of her ouster should be given “utmost respect” by the Supreme Court.

The Judicial Reform Initiative, an umbrella group of entrepreneurs and businesspeople, said that while they “respect the power and prerogative of the [SC]” to hear the quo warranto petition, they raised concern that the quo warranto petition was given “precedence” over an impeachment proceeding, the method prescribed by the 1987 Constitution to remove officials like the chief justice.

“We are hopeful therefore that due process will be preserved and any motion for reconsideration given utmost respect and attention,” the JRI said.

Following court procedure, Sereno has 15 days to file a motion for reconsideration. 

This is despite the court ruling being immediately executory. The SC also stressed that the ruling, penned by Associate Justice Noel Tijam, is "without need of further action from the court."

Sereno’s camp on Friday said that they will move for the reversal of the decision. The chief justice, in a presser on Friday, kept mum on the details of her appeal as she said that she has yet to read the ruling.

In a landmark decision on May 11, the SC voted to remove their colleague from her position. Voting 8-6, the high tribunal deemed that Sereno was guilty of “unlawfully holding and exercising the Office of the Chief Justice.”

The SC majority said that they were exercising their judicial powers when they ruled on the “legality” of Sereno’s appointment as chief justice. The court asserted its jurisdiction over the ouster case—despite strong opposition from within the legal profession that the constitution provides that only an impeachment case can remove a chief justice.

The SC held: “It is not legally possible to impeach or remove a person from an office that he/she, in the first place, does not and cannot legally hold or occupy.”

 The JRI, which has several business groups under its wing, promotes “judicial effectiveness as a foundation of economic progress.”

RELATED: SC asks Sereno to explain why she shouldn't be punished for 'ill motives' vs justices