MANILA – Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno will still attend the oral arguments on the quo warranto petition against her even in the presence of colleagues she deems biased, her spokeswoman said.
Sereno called on five associate justices to inhibit from hearing the plea initiated by Solicitor General Jose Calida – Teresita de Castro, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Francis Jardeleza, and Noel Tijam.
The Supreme Court set the oral arguments Tuesday in Baguio City.
Even if these associate justices will not inhibit, Sereno will not back down, Atty. Josa Deinla told a radio interview.
“Tuloy ang pagharap niya sa oral arguments,” Deinla said. “Talagang nagpasya si chief justice na pupunta siya at personal na dadalo sa pagdinig kahit andoon iyong five justices.”
“Kung hindi kasi natin gagawin iyong inhibition, hindi masusunod iyong mahalagang requirement ng impartiality sa lahat ng proseso ng pagdedesisyon at adjudication na ginagawa sa mga mahistrado,” said Deinla.
Sereno believes that, apart from these five, the other Supreme Court associate justices can hear her side, the spokeswoman said.
“Kapag nangyari iyong inhibition na hinihiling ni chief justice, of course meron pa rin namang mga natitirang miyembro ng [Supreme Court] na kuwalipikadong tumalakay sa kaso,” said Deinla.
“Nandoon pa rin naman ang tiwala ni chief justice sa kanyang mga kasamahan na magiging patas iyong kanilang desisyon,” she added. “Nakikita ni chief justice iyong oral argument [as a chance] to air her side.”/PN
