Bersamin on Sereno ouster: A moment in SC history we'll never forget 

MANILA, Philippines — While court watchers observed how ouster of former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno through a quo warranto plea rocked the SC as an institution, Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin said he found the unforgettable moment as merely an "in-flight" turbulence.

In a rare moment for the chief justice, Bersamin has recalled candidly his experiences at the court in a testimonial dinner hosted by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines on Friday night at the Manila Hotel.

The chief justice, before his colleagues at the SC, Judicial and Bar Council and the lower courts, referred to the time of the government's quo warranto petition "as a moment in the history of the Supreme Court we will never forget." 

The SC, when it voted to grant Solicitor General Jose Calida's quo warranto petition against Sereno in May last year, received criticisms from several sectors, including the IBP. They expressed their fear that the ruling which booted Sereno–labeled by President Rodrigo Duterte as his enemy–made a dent on the SC's judicial independence.

Bersamin furthered: "Those of you who are outside of the Supreme Court will never get to appreciate very well the impact of that period of turbulence."

But the turbulence, the head magistrate remarked, "will only hit for two seconds and then it is done."

"This was something that was bigger than any of us," the chief justice also said, but did not further explain.

Bersamin also told his colleagues that if they would be called to counsel a president, they should caution the chief executive "not to be appointing one who will last on that bench for more than five years." 

Sereno was a junior justice when former President Benigno Aquino III chose her to lead the Judiciary. Her stint was supposed to last for 18 years, but was cut short when Solicitor General Jose Calida challenged her hold over the position over missing wealth declaration documents.

President Rodrigo Duterte appointed former Chief Justice Teresita de Castro to lead the helm of the SC, but her stint only lasted for less than two months. The president defended his choice, saying he was honoring the tradition of seniority at the SC.

Leonen as future chief justice?

During the testimonial dinner, Bersamin was also hailed for ushering in collegiality at the high court, a sore point during Sereno's stint as chief justice.

While Associate Justice Marvic Leonen had a different view on the quo warranto petition, he recognized that Bersamin do not lack the "temperament, professional skills and wisdom to discharge the duties of his office well."

"He has our respect; he deserves the recognition of the appointing power," Leonen also said.

Bersamin, in his speech, referred to Leonen as a "frequent dissenter" among the SC bench. He said that he had tried to persuade Leonen to join them in the majority "but he would not budge."

The chief justice said that he hopes Leonen, while has a long way to go, would follow his footsteps to become the next chief justice from the Cordillera.

In his speech, Bersamin thanks Leonen for his testimonial and says he hopes Leonen would follow his footsteps to become the second chief justice from the Cordillera. @PhilstarNews pic.twitter.com/AFC9TeyjL3

— Kristine Patag (@kristinepatag) March 8, 2019

According to a report from Sunstar, Leonen hails from Baguio City. He is currently the sixth most senior justice at the SC. He would reach the mandatory age of retirement in 2032. 

Fajardo: Bersamin restored collegiality

IBP President Abdiel Dan Fajardo, in his testimonial, noted how Bersamin "pushed for the restoration of true collegiality in the highest court."

IBP President Abdiel Dan Fajardo also gives his testimonial and says Bersamin pushed for “true collegiality in the highest court.” @PhilstarNews pic.twitter.com/J6qEym94QY

— Kristine Patag (@kristinepatag) March 8, 2019

"We need that today, especially in the context of the legal profession facing existential challenges from several fronts," Fajardo added, noting how their colleagues face bullets in the enactment of their duties.

Bersamin's appointment, Fajardo said, attested that "recognizing tradition and hierarchy will bring us to renewed optimism in the legal profession."

"Political imagery may somehow blur the lines, but a proven track record and years of experience will never lie," the IBP president added.

The IBP was one of the groups that issued a strongly-worded statement on the quo warranto ruling.

Bersamin said that while he does not know Fajardo personally, he remembers the IBP head as someone who was "very noisy" during the "hullabaloo" of former Chief Justice Sereno.

"You know, there is value to that noise.. We need a man like him to stand up for somebody," the chief justice said.