ILOILO City – “Nakapagtataka kasi wala namang dahilan para magmadali.”
This was what Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno said when asked yesterday about reports that the Supreme Court would come out with a decision on Solicitor General Jose Calida’s petition seeking the nullification of her appointment next month.
“Ang Mayo ay buwan kung saan ang oras (of the Supreme Court) ay dapat ginugugol sa pagsusulat ng mga decisions para sa mga ibang nabinbin na kaso. Tutal ang unang end ng session naman ay June 5. Ano ‘yang pagmamadali?” Sereno told reporters.
Sereno was here yesterday. She was the commencement speaker during the graduation of the University of San Agustin’s College of Law at Hotel del Rio.
According to reports, the Supreme Court en banc will hold a special session on May 17 to vote on the quo warranto petition against Sereno.
“Sana naman hindi dahil may koordinasyong nangyayari sa ibang sangay ng pamahalaan. Sana naman bigya ng masusing pag-aaral ito,” said Sereno.
The Chief Justice, currently on indefinitely leave, also expressed concern over reports that a decision on the petition was reached as early as April 1.
“Kung totoo po, e indication po ito na mayroon na po silang conclusion bago pa man marinig ang lahat,” she lamented.
Sereno stressed that she had until yesterday to file her memorandum.
“Indikasyon lang po ito na ang conclusion ay nauna sa reasoning…at kung sino ang nagpropesya ng aking pagpapatalsik, gayun na ang mangyayari kahit ano pa ang maging argumento o ebidensya,” she said.
Sereno warned that the rule of law is being eroded.
In his 81-page memorandum submitted yesterday, Calida maintained his allegation that the Chief Justice was not a person of “proven integrity” and that the determination of her “qualification” was “not a political question.”
“Respondent asserts that she complied with the SALN laws when she was a professor at the UP College of Law. The evidence belies her assertion,” Calida said.
In her 147-page submission, Sereno said she could only be removed from office through impeachment, a position she has held since she first answered Calida’s petition./PN
