SC backtracks: Sereno's apearance not 'recognition' of jurisdiction over ouster petition

MANILA, Philippines — Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno’s appearance on next week’s oral arguments would not mean recognizing the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction over an ouster petition against her, documents sent by the SC Public Information Office showed.

The SC PIO on Friday afternoon released an amended court advisory that deleted the phrase stating that the embattled chief justice is “required” to “testify under oath” to “expressly acknowledge” its jurisdiction over the quo waranto petition.

The SC PIO or en banc did not state any reason for the amendments made on the earlier released advisory sent on Thursday.

Sereno has asserted that, as prescribed by the1987 Constitution, only an impeachment case can oust her as chief justice.

The high court has stressed that the oral arguments scheduled on April 10 does “not necessarily give due course” to the petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida.

The chief justice’s legal team has already confirmed Sereno’s attendance to the oral debates to be held in the SC Session Hall in Baguio City, but they stressed that her appearance “is without the prejudice to our jurisdiction.”

READ: Sereno ‘required’ to recognize SC jurisdiction over ouster petition

The chief government counsel seeks the nullification of Sereno’s appointment as chief justice in 2012, over her alleged failure to meet the Judicial and Bar Council’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth requirement.

Calida said that a quo warranto petition is the “proper remedy” to challenge Sereno’s hold over the chief magistrate position. He added that his appeal runs on a “different” track from the impeachment case against Sereno pending before the Congress.

Sereno’s argument was echoed by the petition for intervention filed by the 40,000-strong Integrated Bar of the Philippines. The IBP said that Sereno was deemed qualified by the JBC and then-President Benigno Aquino III.

READ: IBP urges SC to junk petition for quo warranto vs Sereno

The SC en banc “noted” the IBP’s petition while it junked, due to lack of merit, the petitions praying for the same that were filed by the Makabayan bloc and a group of petitioners led by “running priest” Fr. Robert Reyes.

Sens. Leila De Lima and Antonio Trillanes IV also filed for a petition seeking the dismissal of Calida’s petition, but the SC has yet to act on it.