Sereno supporters urge Senate to assert 'power' over impeachable officials

MANILA, Philippines — A multi-sectoral group supporting ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Monday has urged the Senate to assert its “exclusive right to remove impeachable officials.”

The Coalition for Justice, in an open letter to Senators, called on the lawmakers to remind the Supreme Court of its “sole power over impeachable officers must not be impugned by a co-equal branch of government.”

“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,” the CFJ warned.

In an unprecedented ruling on May 11, the members of the high tribunal voted 8-6 to oust Sereno. The historic ruling was met with strong opposition from the legal profession and different advocacy groups. It also saw lawmakers from both sides of the political fence in unity against the high court's taking of jurisdiction over the ouster case.

READ: In rare display of unity, majority, minority lawmakers slam Sereno’s ouster

However, only two senators—Sens. Leila De Lima and Antonio Trillanes IV—manifested their opposition to the case through a petition for intervention.

The SC denied the senators’ petition as it stressed that the impeachment case has yet to reach the Senate. “It bears stressing that the interest contemplated by law must be actual, substantial, material, direct and immediate, and not simply contingent or expectant,” the ruling read.

Among the issues tackled by the justices was whether the quo warranto petition—that essentially challenges the legality of Sereno’s hold over her position—is the proper remedy. This was a matter raised by Sereno in her defense and was also discussed in the oral arguments held last April 10.

Nine justices said that the quo warranto is the “ proper remedy to question the validity”  of Sereno's appointment.

The CFJ noted that the public has already expressed outrage with the landmark decision. The group implored: “Perhaps most grievous of all, and with the severest effect on our democratic system of government the Decision usurps the Senate’s sole right to remove impeachable officers.”

“Please act now to save our democratic institutions from tyranny. Your courageous intervention is the succor our gasping democracy requires,”? the CFJ said.

The camp of Sereno said that they would move for the reversal of the decision.

The SC majority asserted their jurisdiction over the case as they said they were exercising their judicial powers when they ruled on the “legality” of Sereno’s appointment as chief justice. The tribunal held: “It is not legally possible to impeach or remove a person from an office that he/she, in the first place, does not and cannot legally hold or occupy.”