SC reprimands Sereno for remarks vs justices

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court voted to reprimand ousted chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno for her public pronouncements against her former colleagues while the quo warranto case was still pending in court.

“The court, acting on the show-cause order contained in its May 11, 2018 decision, reprimanded the respondent with a stern warning that a repetition of the same act will merit a heavier penalty,” SC spokesperson Theodore Te said in a media briefing Tuesday.

The high tribunal on May 11 issued a show-cause order against Sereno over her alleged violations of the Code of Professional Responsibility and the Code of Judicial Conduct for transgressing the sub judice rule—a prohibition on public discussion of an ongoing case.

It was issued when the SC ordered the former chief magistrate’s removal from office and voided her appointment to the top judicial post.

In her compliance filed last June, Sereno asked the high court not to penalize her as she did not violate any rule. She claimed the statements she made publicly were in response to attacks against her, arguing that she “cannot reasonably be expected to keep her silence despite vigorous assaults on her integrity.”

Sereno added that she was denied her right to be heard by an objective and impartial tribunal when the six justices participated in the proceedings against her.

Sereno, in several of her public remarks, had accused Associate Justices Teresita de Castro, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Francis Jardeleza, Noel Tijam and Samuel Martires of showing bias against her.  — Gaea Katreena Cabico