MANILA – Only the impeachment court, which is the Senate, should determine the fate of Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, according to the national president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP).
The Supreme Court cannot rule on questions as regards the integrity or competence of a magistrate, added Atty. Abdiel Dan Elijah Fajardo in an interview on GMA News TV’s Balitanghali yesterday, referring to the quo warranto case filed against Sereno.
“Napagtanto namin na kailangan talaga impeachment ‘yung magpatuloy at hindi quo warranto dahil ang quo warranto pag ang tinatanong ay ang integridad ng mahistrado o ang kanyang competence or ang kanyang independence o kalayaan na magisip sa sarili niya, ‘yun po ay isang question na hindi pwedeng pagpasiyahan mismo ng Korte Suprema,” Fajardo said.
The Office of Solicitor General (OSG) initiated the quo warranto petition against Sereno.
“Meron po kasing danger, medyo delikadong aspeto po ‘yan. Kasi kung ang lahat na lang ng questions of integrity ay pwedeng i-kwestiyon ng Korte Suprema, everytime ma i-raise po ‘yan,” said Fajardo.
The IBP national president also said only the impeachment court could decide whether Sereno is to be removed from her post for allegedly not submitting the required number of Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) when she applied for the post in 2012.
“Importante pong batas ‘yung nagre-require sa mga opisyal ng gobyerno na mag-submit ng SALN. Hindi po natin pwedeng balewalain ‘yun. Ang Chief Justice ba ay nagsinungaling sa kanyang pagsabi na nag-submit siya ng SALN, etc.? ‘Yun po ay pwede sigurong sabihin nila,” said Fajardo.
Solicitor General Jose Calida said Sereno is not qualified to hold her current position.
The quo warranto petition, he said, should be viewed by Sereno as “an act of kindness to a fellow lawyer” since it would spare her from the “indignity” of an impeachment.
A quo warranto proceeding is initiated by the government to remove an unqualified official from his or her position as stated under Rule 66 of the Rules of Court.
According to Fajardo, “Sa aming pananaw po ‘yan ay makaka-apekto sa kalayaang magisip ng isang husgado na ngayon ay pwede na pong sampahan ng maraming kaso on integrity po ng mga litigants na hindi masisiyahan sa kanilang desisyon kasi sa kada desisyon po meron talagang talo.”
Sereno is currently on indefinite leave as Chief Justice as she prepares for the impeachment trial.
“Lahat naman po ng questions sa impeachment, ang sole discretion ay sa impeachment court eh. Doon po ilalatag ‘yung ebidensya kung talaga bang may SALN, o walang SALN. Hindi ‘yun sa Korte Suprema,” Fajardo added./PN
