Sereno urged to inhibit from Torre de Manila case

MANILA, Philippines - Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno should inhibit herself from the Torre de Manila case pending with the Supreme Court, Kabataan party-list Rep. Terry Ridon appealed yesterday.

“It has come to our attention that Sereno’s husband has worked for DMCI for several years. We would not want this previous professional relationship to interfere in the determination of this landmark case,” Ridon said, referring to the developer and owner of the condominium.

Ridon said he received information that Sereno’s husband, Mario Jose Sereno, previously worked in DMCI’s corporate planning office.

“We thus deem it best to advise that she should just inhibit in this case to dispel all suspicions of favoring DMCI due to this previous professional relationship,” he said.

Ridon said due to the intense public interest on the Torre de Manila, the public expects a fair and full determination of the merits of the case.

The SC last month ordered DMCI to answer the petition filed by the Knights of Rizal seeking to stop the construction of the 46-story condominium for reportedly ruining the iconic sight line of the monument of national hero Jose Rizal.

The high court opted to defer ruling on the prayer for a temporary restraining order (TRO) to prevent DMCI Homes from proceeding with the project.

The petitioners said there is a need to immediately issue the TRO, citing a completion update from DMCI showing that the project is 22.93 percent complete and has reached 19th floors as of Aug. 20. 

The petitioners alleged that by defacing the visual corridors of the monument, DMCI violated several laws mandating the protection and preservation of the Rizal monument.