Supreme Court to tackle ousted chief justice’s motion for reconsideration

June 4, 2018

The Supreme Court will resolve Tuesday a motion by ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes  Sereno seeking a reversal of the May 11 decision that ousted her.

Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio said Sereno’s motion for reconsideration filed last week is in today’s en banc agenda.

On May 11, the SC, voting 8-6, removed Sereno as chief justice for failing to comply with the Judicial and Bar Council’s (JBC) requirement for filing the 10-year statements of assets, liabilities and networth (SALNs) when she applied for the chief justice post.

The SC ruled that Sereno’s failure to submit her SALNs meant “her integrity was not established at the time of her application”.

“ Respondent Maria Lourdes P. A. Sereno is found disqualified from and his hereby adjudged guilty of unlawfully holding and exercising the office of the Chief Justice.  Accordingly, respondent Maria Lourdes P. A. Sereno is ousted and excluded therefrom,” the SC ruled  in a decision penned by Associate Justice Noel Tijam.

“The position of the Chief Justice is declared vacant and the Judicial and Bar Council is directed to commence the application and nomination process. This decision is immediately executory without need of further action from the Court,” the high court said. DMS