SC ruling on Sereno ouster petition

Former Supreme Court spokesperson Theodore Te says there could have been other methods in resolving the matter when asked if the high court made a mistake in removing the chief justice through a quo warranto petition. 

"I think most of the matters that went on... there were some personal animus that was going on between them. Where I'm coming from is that perhaps that personal animus could have been resolved, and that doesn't mean only on one side it meant on all sides, because many of these are family matters in a sense. Internal matters that could have been resolved and it was very difficult for me because I could see that," Te says in an interview over ANC's "Early Edition."

"The decisions of the court become the law of the land that's what we always say. That's a judgment that's there. I don't know if I would call it a mistake but I would definitely say that in creating that precedent, that loophole, even though it is a once in a lifetime loophole, I think the court could have restrained itself," he adds.

Ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno files an appeal on the Supreme Court ruling on May 11 that granted Solicitor General Jose Calida’s quo warranto petition against her.

In a vote of 8-6, her colleagues at the SC voided her appointment as chief justice in 2012.

"Respondent [Sereno] is found disqualified from and is hereby adjudged guilty of unlawfully holding and exercising the Office of the Chief Justice. Accordingly, Sereno is ousted and excluded therefrom," the historic decision reads.

Those who voted in favor of the ouster were Associate Justices Noel Tijam, Teresita De Castro, Lucas Bersamin, Francis Jardeleza, Samuel Martires, Andres Reyes Jr. and Alexander Gesmundo. -

A group of justices and employees of the Supreme Court expresses support for the high court after its decision to oust Sereno as chief justice.

READ: Statement of support from judges, court personnel for Supreme Court after its decision ousting CJ Sereno @PhilippineStar pic.twitter.com/Iqnz4LgtZo

— Edu Punay (@edupunay) May 21, 2018

The Senate will take up today a resolution signed by 14 of its members seeking a review of the high court's decision to remove an impeachable official via a quo warranto.

READ: The cards are stacked against Sereno but she may have an ace up her sleeve

The Coalition for Justice urges the Senate to take a collective stand against the Supreme Court decision ousting Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno by asserting its exclusive right to remove impeachable officials.

“We respectfully ask you to remind the Supreme Court that the Senate's sole power over impeachable officers must not be impugned by a co-equal branch of government,” the CFJ says in an open letter to senators.

“If the Decision remains unchallenged and the Senate's duty is unperformed, the dire fallout on our system and people will lie at the Senate's door,” it warns.

New York-based Human Rights Watch slams the “unprecedented and nefarious” removal of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, whom President Rodrigo Duterte calls his “enemy” that must leave the Supreme Court.

“Sereno’s ouster also kicks open the door for wanton removals of members of other constitutional bodies, such as the Commission on Human Rights,” HRW says in a statement.

“Ultimately, the rejection of constitutional checks and balances concentrates power in the hands of Duterte and his allies, posing the greatest danger to democracy in the Philippines since the Marcos dictatorship,” it adds.

The Supreme Court releases the full text of the decision on the quo warranto petition against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, whose appoinment to her post was deemed invalid earlier today.

Read the full decision here.

Sen. Sonny Angara makes a stand that ousting a chief justice is not a decision for a Supreme Court to make.

"I do not agree with the decision because impeachment is the only constitutional route for removal of a Chief Justice, but we acknowledge that the Court has spoken," Angara says in a statement.

"The ripple effect of the decision may be felt in the coming months and years. I pray that wisdom and sobriety prevail in the future for the good of the country and our people," he adds.

Solicitor General Jose Calida, who filed the quo warranto petition against Sereno, lauds the SC's decision to oust Sereno.

Here's his full statement:
 

.@SolGenCalida’s statement on the SC’s Quo Warranto decision @PhilstarNews pic.twitter.com/RC9gNdATZf

— Rosette Adel (@rosette_adel) May 11, 2018

Sereno's camp is considering to appeal the decision of the Supreme Court to declare her appointment as void.

FULL STORY: Sereno camp to appeal SC ouster

Who voted what? Here are the justices who voted to oust Sereno and those who dissented.

Justices who voted to oust Sereno

Noel Tijam
Teresita De Castro
Lucas Bersamin
Francis Jardeleza
Diosdado Peralta
Samuel Martires
Andres Reyes Jr.
Alexander Gesmundo

Justices who dissented

Antonio Carpio
Presbitero Velasco Jr.
Mariano Del Castillo
Estela Perlas Bernabe
Marvic Leonen
Benjamin Caguioa

An insider tells The STAR that the SC in a historic ruling ousts the 24th chief justice, Maria Lourdes Sereno.?

— with Edu Punay

Those calling for Sereno’s resignation got hold of a tarp from Tindig Pilipinas, a group supporting the chief justice, which they burned.

Those calling for Sereno’s resignation got hold of a tarp from Tindig Pilipinas that they burned. pic.twitter.com/NF5cvFFipY

— Kristine Patag (@kristinepatag) May 11, 2018

Sereno supporters and counterprotesters cross paths as the SC is set to rule on the ouster petition against the chief magistrate today. The special SC en banc session will start at 10 a.m.

Tension arises as supporters of Sereno and those calling for her resignation meet here near the DOJ. pic.twitter.com/xtN1CdNNJW

— Kristine Patag (@kristinepatag) May 11, 2018

Supporters of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Serenoe here at Padre Faura, Manila. The SC will rule on the the quo warranto petition against Sereno today. The SC will start its special en banc session at 10am. @PhilstarNews pic.twitter.com/vbexRkHGYS

— Kristine Patag (@kristinepatag) May 11, 2018

Those calling for the resignation of Sereno are gathered in front of the DOJ. pic.twitter.com/nfzOCxVsMm

— Kristine Patag (@kristinepatag) May 11, 2018

An insider source of The STAR says the decision on Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno's quo warranto was already signed by seven justices ahead of this morning's special en banc session.

Court observers said that based on the April 10 oral arguments on the quo warranto petition against Sereno, it seemed that majority of the justices were inclined to vote for the removal of the head magistrate.

READ: How the quo warranto petition vs Sereno could affect the judiciary

— with Edu Punay