Sereno takes two-week “wellness leave”: spokesman

February 27, 2018

Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno will take a "wellness leave" while there is pending impeachment proceedings against her in Congress, her spokespersons said Tuesday. Sereno is merely taking "wellness leave" from March 1 to 15, they said, Lawyers Jojo Lacanilao and Josa Deinla said Sereno decided to advance her leave that was supposed to be at a latter date next month to prepare herself for the impeachment trial in the Senate. They denied reports that Sereno was "forced" by her colleagues in the SC to take an indefinite leave. "The Chief Justice is going on a wellness leave, something she has filed for long before. It was supposed to be from March 12 to 23, but it will now be from March 1 to 15," Lacanilao said. "The leave is her personal decision. There's nothing to show based on records that she was forced to take a leave," he added. Sereno's move to take a wellness leave from her office came on the last day of hearing of the House of Representatives on the impeachment complaint filed against her by lawyer Lorenzo Gadon. DMS