Sereno resignation ‘never been an option’ – spokesperson

Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has rejected calls for her to leave her post, as Malacañang urged her to consider resignation “to spare the institution from any further damage.”

Lawyer Carlo Cruz, one of Sereno’s spokesperson, maintained in a text message to reporters that the chief magistrate would not resign and did not do anything to harm the judiciary.

“As previously declared, resignation has never been an option,” Cruz said. “She has done nothing to damage the institution.”

According to Cruz, Sereno would face the impeachment proceedings “precisely to preserve the dignity and independence of both the Supreme Court and the Office of the Chief Justice.”

“She has been doing everything to strengthen it,” he added.

Sereno’s camp is confident that the impeachment complaint will be dismissed.

“We have not lost faith that is why we keep on submitting motions [to the House of Representatives Committee on Justice] and we still have faith in our democratic institutions” said lawyer Josa Deinla, another spokesperson for Sereno.  /kga