‘Sereno still undecided on Senate run despite meeting Robredo’

MANILA, Philippines — Ousted chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has not yet decided on whether or not to run for senator in next year’s midterm elections, her camp said yesterday.

Lawyer Jojo Lacanilao, one of Sereno’s spokespersons, revealed that Sereno is still undecided on calls for her to join the elections even after meeting with Vice President Leni Robredo and with about three months left before the filing of certificate of candidacy in October.

“There is no decision yet whether she will run in the senatorial election or not,” Lacanilao said in a text message.

He would not reveal what Sereno and Robredo discussed during their recent meeting.

Last week, Robredo said she met with the ousted chief justice and discussed for the first time the latter’s possible Senate bid.

The Vice President bared that Sereno was nominated to the slate of the united opposition that she will lead “but there was no decision yet from (Sereno).”

Robredo said Sereno raised several concerns and sought more time to decide.

The Vice President, however, said the ousted chief justice vowed to continue to fight the dictatorship, a creeping authoritarianism and judicial reforms. 

To recall, Sereno was removed from the top judicial post last June 19 after the Supreme Court decided with finality to grant the quo warranto petition filed by the solicitor general and invalidate her appointment in 2012. 

The Judicial and Bar Council has started the selection process for the chief justice post last June 25, but no aspirant has since shown interest in applying for the post – not even the five most senior justices of SC who are automatically nominated for the post under JBC rules.