The Daily Manila Shimbun

 

Sereno attacks critics in speech before women judges

March 8, 2018

Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno on Thursday attacked her critics in her speech before the annual convention of the Philippine Women Judges Association at the Manila Hotel. Sereno, who is on indefinite leave to prepare for her defense in the looming impeachment trial in the Senate, said the House committee on justice did not give her the opportunity to face her accusers. "All kinds of lies, threats, harassment and bullying have been thrown my way. But I will not yield," Sereno told the women judges. "I am fighting for our future as a freedom-loving nation; I am fighting for our honor as apostles of the Rule of Law. And because it is a fight that is worthy of all that I have, I will not throw in the towel; after all, my day is still to come at the Senate impeachment court," she declared. Sereno made the statement in the presence of most of the SC justices led by acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio who required her to answer the quo warranto petition filed by the Solicitor General seeking her ouster from the top judicial post due to invalid appointment in 2012.

Sereno’s speech was applauded by PWJA members, but PWJA president and Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro quickly approached the podium and said Sereno should not have tackled her impeachment case.
"I'm sorry that the Chief Justice has taken this opportunity to discuss a matter that is sub judice. We have given her all the courtesy and I sincerely hope that she should not have dealt with a matter that is pending with the court,” she stressed.
 
Other SC justices in the event were Acting Chief Justice and Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco Jr., Mariano Del Castillo, Samuel Martires, Noel Tijam, Diosdado Peralta and Estala Perlas Bernabe. Only Velasco applauded after Sereno's speech.
The House justice committee, by a vote of 38-2, found probable cause to impeach Sereno Thursday morning. "This fight is a fight for judicial independence, for the right of every member of the Court to confront her accuser face to face in a trial type proceeding," she said. "And I ask you to look at our fellowship and where it has brought us. I ask that we dispel all thoughts and impulses of malice and ill will for they serve no good purpose and bring nothing but shame," Sereno added. Sereno said the quo warranto petition had no basis, which could earn her contempt for violating the sub judice rule. "Indeed, I look at any forum to try me other than the constitutionally-exclusive forum of impeachment as an admission by the complainant and my other detractors that after 15 hearings, they have failed to come up with any evidence with which I can be convicted in the Senate," Sereno said. Sereno’s spokesperson, Jojo Lacanilao, said the decision of the House justice committee was expected. “We actually anticipated that. In fact, it was anti-climactic since many months ago the leadership of the committee was saying it’s a done deal, there’s marking on the wall and they have enough evidence to actually convict the Chief Justice," he said in a statement. DMS

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