No Senate run for Sereno

MANILA, Philippines — Seeking a seat at the Senate is no longer among the options for ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

Her spokesperson, lawyer Jojo Lacanilao, confirmed in a text message to Philstar.com on Monday that Sereno will “not run for senator in 2019."

“She reflected and prayed on it and consulted many groups, friends and spiritual advisers. She has come to a decision that it would be best for her to pursue her advocacies outside of the Senate,” Lacanilao added.

Sereno was ousted as the country’s top judge last May, through a quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida. She has since been a vocal critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, and has openly dared the chief executive to resign.

Last June 28, Sereno said in an interview with ANC’s “Headstart” that she is “open for to running for public office,” but she “needs more time.”

Sens. Paolo Benigno Aquino and Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan have not made it a secret that they want the former chief justice in the “Resistance Coalition,” an alliance among Liberal Party, Akbayan and Magdalo party-list groups, and Tindig Pilipinas.

READ: Sereno welcome to join Liberal Party Senate slate – Pangilinan

Sereno will help enrich public discourse 

Asked on future plans of Sereno, Lacanilao said that the former chief magistrate “will be active in the public discourse through the growing coalition that has been supporting her since impeachment days.”

Sereno, on September 12, visited Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV—also a vocal critic of Duterte—in his office where the senator has been seeking refuge since  Duterte, through Proclamation 572, voided his amnesty last September 4.

Sereno slammed Duterte for issuing the proclamation and said that he is dragging the military in the issue. Trillanes, meanwhile, has questioned the constitutionality of the proclamation before the Supreme Court.

The former chief justice was also among the personalities who attended the United People’s Action rally at the Luneta Park on September 21.

Last weekend, Pulse Asia released survey results of possible personalities that could land a seat in the senate. The survey covered 66 personalities, but Sereno’s name was not part of the list.

READ: Poe remains in the lead in women-dominated 2019 senatorial poll — Pulse Asia