Supreme Court Finally Declares Sereno Ouster As Chief Justice
The Supreme Court (SC) has finally declared its May 11 decision to oust Maria Lourdes Sereno as Chief justice.
On Tuesday (June 19, 2018), SC denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Sereno after the voting resulted to 8-6.
The Court ruling declared that no further pleadings from Sereno will be entertained and an entry of judgment will be immediately released.
The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) – the constitutionally mandated office that accepts, screens, and nominates appointments to the judiciary will now also accept qualified applicants for the Chief justice post after the finality of the ruling.
From June 19, 2018, President Duterte has 90 days to appoint new Chief justice from the list of nominees to be submitted by JBC to replace Sereno.
SC’s public information office (PIO) states:
“The Supreme Court En Banc, during its session today (June 19), in the matter of G.R. No. 237428 (Republic of the Philippines, represented by Solicitor General Jose C. Calida v. Maria Lourdes P. A. Sereno), Denied with Finality respondent’s Motion for Reconsideration of the Court’s May 11, 2018 Decision.
“For purposes of Article VIII, Section 4, Para. 1 (of the Constitution), the 90-day period for filling the vacancy in the Office of Chief Justice commences today, 19 June 2018.”
Last May 11, eight of the 14 SC justices voted to oust Sereno as Chief Justice and head of judiciary for her failure to comply with the JBC’s requirement of filing 10-year statements of assets, liabilities and networth (SALNs) when she applied for the Chief Justice post in 2012. Six justices dissented.
The decision stated that Sereno’s failure to submit her SALNs meant “her integrity was not established at the time of her application” and thus she was ineligible to hold her position.
“Wherefore, the petition for quo warranto (filed by Solicitor General Jose C. Calida) is granted. Respondent Maria Lourdes P. A. Sereno is found disqualified from and his hereby adjudged guilty of unlawfully holding and exercising the office of the Chief Justice. Accordingly, respondent Maria Lourdes P. A. Sereno is ousted and excluded therefrom.”
Sereno was also required to show cause within ten days from receipt why she should not be penalized for allegedly violating the Code of Professional Responsibility and the Code of Judicial Conduct for transgressing the sub judice rule and for casting aspersions and ill motives to the members of the Supreme Court.
