‘Sereno should resign now or lose everything’

MANILA, Philippines — It would be better for Chief Justice on leave Maria Lourdes Sereno to resign than wait for her colleagues in the Supreme Court to resolve the petition of the solicitor general seeking her ouster from the top judicial post.

A court insider made the suggestion yesterday, saying a decision granting the quo warranto petition would cost Sereno her name in the high court’s records and the recognition as first female chief justice of the country.

“It’s better for her to resign now while she can still keep her name in the list of chief justices. Otherwise, she’ll lose everything,” the source told The STAR.

The insider, who requested anonymity in view of his role in the resolution of the case, hinted that the SC will “most likely” grant the petition of Solicitor General Jose Calida based on “preliminary discussions” of justices and the oral arguments held last week.

The source explained that should the SC grant the petition and invalidate the appointment of Sereno from the beginning, her name as 24th chief justice would be removed from SC records as if she was never appointed to such post.

“That would also be immediately executory because decisions on quo warranto are not subject to appeal under the rules,” the insider stressed.

It is also not clear whether Sereno would qualify for benefits in case she is ousted from the SC.

After the oral arguments last April 10 where Sereno had heated exchanges with some justices, the parties were given until April 20 to submit their memoranda before the Court rules on the case.

This means the SC may rule on the case on the last summer session of the justices next Tuesday or on Apr. 24 at the earliest – if all concurring and dissenting opinions would be submitted by that time.

Otherwise, the decision would be released in June after the decision-writing break of the court in May.

But Sereno’s camp said the embattled Chief Justice appears to have no plans to resign as she wants the impeachment trial in the Senate to take its course.

“Chief Justice Sereno is determined to fight the impeachment case and the quo warranto petition filed against her with the Supreme Court. This means that all her efforts are focused on the issued at hand,” lawyer Jose Deinla, one of her spokespersons said in a weekly forum in Manila yesterday.

Deinla also denied reports about Sereno’s plan to run for senator next year.

“Any insinuation about her supposed plan in the future is nothing but a distraction to sow intrigue and confuse the public,” she claimed.

What observers saw as a plot twist in this saga was when President Duterte himself publicly pushed for Sereno’s ouster last April 9.

The Chief Executive asked Congress to fast track the impeachment proceedings and called on Calida to make sure that the quo warranto case would succeed.

He made the calls immediately after Sereno publicly accused him of being behind moves to oust her.