Sereno still undecided on Senate run

MANILA, Philippines — Four months before the start of the filing of certificates of candidacy for the 2019 midterm elections, ousted chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno said she was still undecided on whether she would run for the Senate or be part of civil society.   

“There are a lot of people who are urging me to run but as I have said before, I have to go through a process of finding out what is the best for the country, what is required to enter into the political contest… we have to balance everything,” Sereno said. 

Philippine Council for Evangelical Churches (PCEC) national director Bishop Noel Pantoja said while they have been supportive of Sereno, who is a member of an active evangelical church, and believe in her integrity, she should just accept the final SC ruling that voided her appointment as chief justice.

“If I would get the chance to talk to CJ Sereno… I would advise her to leave it to God. She should instead pray that if this is the end of a chapter in her life, if this is the end of a season, she should pray for the next chapter in her life… Maybe the Lord has something big planned for her and whatever it may be, ask God,” Pantoja said. 

When asked if he would support her bid for a senatorial seat if she decides to run, the PCEC head said that he believes in the competence and character of Sereno, but it is still up to the Lord.

She should also offer prayers and fasting, and ask God humbly what would be her next “divine appointment,” Pantoja said.

Duterte not a God — Sereno

Sereno reminded Filipinos that Duterte is not a god and that they should not completely rely on him to decide the fate of the country and its people.  

In an interview with “The Chiefs” on Cignal TV’s One News Thursday, Sereno admitted that in every civilization, there is a group of people who would blindly follow someone they regard as their leader, but this is not the case with the Filipinos.

Sereno believes Duterte had a hand in her ouster that was made final by the Supreme Court on Tuesday by affirming its decision on the quo warranto case filed by the Office of the Solicitor General against her.

The former chief justice has also been criticizing the President for his policies that she said were violative of human rights as well as his dictatorial tendencies.

Duterte, who is 73, should not be given too much power because if something happens to him, it could lead to civil war, according to Sereno. 

“If you give so much power to one man, (and) he suddenly passes… what happens to the people? The possibility here is civil war or they would craft a law and he will say, ‘this person will be my successor’ without consulting anybody. That’s dangerous,” she said.

Sereno also called on the people to be vigilant against proposals to adopt a federal form of government because it could perpetuate people in power.