MANILA, Philippines — Vowing that the fight is not yet over, Vice President Leni Robredo on Friday slammed the decision of the Supreme Court to oust Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno—a move which she said tarnished the country’s Constitution.
In a televised address, Robredo said she is concerned with the landmark ruling of the high court and stressed that the only means to remove an impeachable officer such as Sereno was through impeachment.
“As vice president, I am assuring you: the fight is not yet over especially because the voting was close in a far-reaching decision such as this,” Robredo said in Filipino.
The Supreme Court, voting 8-6 in a special full court session Friday, ousted Sereno supposedly because of her failure to meet the “integrity test” of her position, despite widespread warnings that the move would trigger a constitutional crisis.
Eight of the justices sided with Solicitor General Jose Calida who filed the quo warranto petition questioning the legality of former President Benigno Aquino III’s appointment of Sereno as chief justice in 2012.
The ruling is immediately executory.
Those who voted to oust Sereno were Justices Noel Tijam, who wrote the decision, Teresita De Castro, Lucas Bersamin, Francis Jardeleza, Samuel Martires, Andres Reyes Jr. and Alexander Gesmundo.
Before the ruling, Sereno asked six of these justices to inhibit from her case because of their bias against her. Those asked to inhibit denied the plea of the chief justice.
Justices Antonio Carpio, Estela Bernabe, Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, Presbitero Velasco Jr., Mariano Del Castillo and Marvic Leonen dissented from the ruling.
Robredo said that the decision “compromised” the foundation of the country’s judiciary and asked where Filipinos could turn to if they needed justice and a fair fight.
“Where will we go to if the integrity of the institution we are leaning on has been tarnished?” Robredo said.
She urged the Filipino people to take all the appropriate means to correct what she called a mistake to restore the public’s confidence in the court.
Robredo’s critical statement is expected as she has expressed her support to the chief justice in the past, putting her at odds with the position of President Rodrigo Duterte who has called on his allies to remove Sereno.
According to Dennis Coronacion of the University of Santo Tomas Department of Political Science, Robredo’s support for Sereno can become “politically beneficial” for her as the public will see her stand on many issues.
Coronacion said that Robredo should not be afraid of losing a government position or the threats of impeachment by Duterte’s allies when criticizing government policies.
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