On SC’s rejection of Sereno ouster appeal, Umali says, ‘I expected it’
House justice committee chair Rep. Reynaldo Umali on Tuesday said he was “relieved” that the Supreme Court (SC) has junked former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno’s motion to reverse its May 11 decision that led to her ouster.
“Actually expected ko naman ‘yun ano, actually I was interviewed earlier and I said I don’t think the SC will change its position. I feel so relieved that I need not to prepare anymore on the Senate trial,” Umali told reporters.
Umali was referring to the impeachment case filed at the lower House which they need to defend at the supposed Senate trial.
The high court, with a vote of 8-6, denied Sereno’s motion for reconsideration, according to a Court insider.
The May 11 decision granted the quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida and invalidated the appointment of Sereno in 2012.
READ: SC denies Sereno motion for reconsideration of ouster order
Umali also said he is glad that the country has been spared of “this very divisive issue.”
Meanwhile, the justice committee report containing the articles of impeachment against Sereno, will most likely be presented to the House plenary, “and the plenary can just declare it as moot and academic,” he added.
Stricter screening
The lawmaker, who is also a ex-officio member of the seven-man Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), also said the JBC would now work on the nomination and selection of the next chief justice to replace Sereno.
Umali has vowed that the JBC would be stricter this time around in screening and selecting its recommended appointees to the judiciary. He emphasized the need for appplicatnts’ complete declaration of their statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs).
Sereno was disqualified for lack of proven integrity due to her failure to file all her SALNs when she was still teaching law in the University of the Philippines.
“Ngayon siguradong maghihigpit na, in fact as early as now, pinopoint-out na agad certain matters that will probably cause disqualification or categorizing them on 2nd or 3rd preference,” Umali said, noting that three posts in the SC would be vacated– Sereno’s and Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco, Jr. and Teresita de Castro’s posts.
“Malinaw na malinaw sa decision ‘yun that it (SALN) is not only a simple requirement, it is even constitutional duty. Dapat lang maging strict na tayo run especially for positions in the SC and the judiciary in particular because they will be there until age 70,” he added.
Umali also called on President Rodrigo Duterte, who may appoint anyone included in the list of the JBC, to respect the tradition of seniority among the SC justices.
“A lot of them are senior, many nearing retirement. I just hope the president will do the right thing in terms of ‘yung tradition dahil pag may na-bypass nangyayari talaga yung conflicts within certain organizations,” he explained. /vvp
