Calida says Sereno ouster via quo warranto 'preserves' SC integrity
MANILA, Philippines — Quo warranto petitioner Solicitor General Jose Calida lauded the decision of the Supreme Court to unseat Maria Lourdes Sereno as the chief magistrate, saying such a move is good for the country.
Voting 8-6 in a special en banc session Friday, Sereno’s peers in the high court declared as “void” Sereno’s appointment as the 24th chief justice of the Supreme Court. The decision, penned by Associate Justice Noel Tijam, is “immediately executory.”
“The Supreme Court decision ousting Maria Lourdes Sereno augurs well for the country as it preserves the stability of the judiciary. This decision is the epitome of its exercise of judicial independence,” Calida said.
READ: SC votes to oust Sereno
He then expressed gratitude to the “learned” magistrates of the SC.
“Despite the raucous voices of those pretending to champion the Constitution, the magistrates stayed true to their oath and faithfully adhered to the rule of law,” the solicitor general said.
Calida also called on Filipinos to “continue the fights against those intending to undermine the stability and integrity not only of the judiciary but also of the government as a whole.”
It only took the high tribunal two months to rule on Calida’s plea, filed on March 5, which challenged the legality of Sereno’s appointment to the Supreme Court.
Those who voted in favor of the ouster were Associate Justices Tijam, Teresita De Castro, Lucas Bersamin, Francis Jardeleza, Samuel Martires, Diosdado Peralta, Andres Reyes Jr. and Alexander Gesmundo.
The dissenting votes were Associate Justices Estela Bernabe, Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, Presbitero Jose Velasco Jr., Mariano Del Castillo, Marvic Leonen, Antonio Carpio.
Sereno’s supporters and other legal personalities stressed that only the Senate, as impeachment court, can remove her from office.
The camp of the ousted chief justice would appeal the Supreme Court’s ruling.
This is the first time that the high court unseated its colleague on its own. Sereno was the second chief justice to be removed from office after Renato Corona was ousted in 2012 through impeachment.
READ: Sereno camp to appeal SC ouster
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