Duterte denies hand in Sereno’s ouster

May 17, 2018

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday denied any involvement in the ouster of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno by the Supreme Court.

In a media interview, Duterte said he would resign if it would be proven that he was involved in Sereno's dismissal.

"I said if there is one congresswoman or congressman, or a Justice, single Justice that will say I talk to them (about Sereno), I can guarantee you, I will resign," he said.

In a vote of 8-6, the Supreme Court granted the quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida to declare Sereno's appointment as chief magistrate null and void.

Duterte said he "never lifted a finger" on Sereno's case.

"(SolGen) Calida, it is his job to find faults. I'm not doing (anything). I said, I do not order Cabinet members to work on this, on that," he said.

Calida's quo warranto petition was anchored on Sereno's failure to submit to the Judicial and Bar Council some of the copies of her statements of assets, liabilities and net worth. Ella Dionisio/DMS