WATCH: Martires apologizes to Sereno over 'faith-shaming' issue
MANILA, Philippines — Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Martires apologized to ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Wednesday for allegedly shaming her in his questions pertaining to her faith.
This, after a group of priests, pastors and theological teachers expressed opposition for his bid for the ombudsman post, saying Martires’ questions to Sereno linked her faith to “mental illness” which showed his lack of “respect to faith-based communities and probity.”
FULL STORY: Martires apologizes to Sereno, says he never meant to 'faith-shame' her
The sitting justice, who voted in favor of Sereno’s ouster, said he has never shamed any person for his faith and clarified that his line of questioning was to defend the constitutionality of her appointment as chief justice.
“My intention was to actually defend her that there is nothing wrong to invoke God. [I]t was not meant to shame a person, and if that person is referred to as Sereno, I apologize to her,” Martires said.
Speaking to reporters after the public interview at the Judicial and Bar Council, Martires stressed that everyone has “the right to say that God is the source of all the strength.”
“It is not a sign of mental illness,” he added.
Watch as he explained his intention in the video below:
— by Philstar.com intern Christian de Lano Deiparine
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