Sereno ‘wasted the prestige’ of the chief justice post — Duterte

Ousted chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno “wasted the prestige” of being the country’s top magistrate, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Thursday.

“She wasted the prestige of the chief justice [post]. Not everybody can be appointed as chief justice. It’s a gift from my God as I conceive him to be,” Duterte told reporters after he graced the 25th annual convention of the Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines in Panglao, Bohol.

Sereno was removed from office on May 11 through a quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida.

READ: Peers kick Sereno out via Calida’s QW

Sereno has become the first constitutional officer who was removed from office without an impeachment trial.

Appointed by former President Benigno Aquino III, she earned the ire of President Duterte after he opposed some of his policies such as the inclusion of some judges in the “narcolist,” the administration’s brutal war on drugs, and the burial of former president Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani, among others.

After his ouster, some groups have urged Sereno to for senator.

While she never made any public categorical declaration in the past, Sereno on Thursday said she is now open to run for senator in the 2019 midterm elections.

READ: Sereno now open to run for senator in 2019 polls

Asked to comment on this new development, Duterte said, “That’s good.”

“From being a chief justice to senator, that’s good. Vote for her,” he added.

Next chief justice

When asked about his preference for the next chief justice, he told the media to rephrase the question and instead ask him who he wants to replace Sereno.

Prodded to comment further on whether he will choose acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio as the next chief justice, he reminded reporters that Carpio already said he is not interested in the position.

“He said that he’s not interested and he will not accept. But since it is really the tradition na ipasok mo talaga lahat (that you include everyone), you cannot prevent that siguro (maybe). Because he is there, his name is there,” he said.

“But the guy has already said that he is not interested, that he does not want the position,” he added. “So ano bang magawa ko (What can I do?),” he said.

Carpio, was among the six magistrates who voted not to grant Calida’s quo warranto petition against Sereno, previously stated that he would decline the nomination for the chief justice post as he did not want to benefit from the ouster of Sereno. /ee

READ: Carpio to decline any nomination as next Chief Justice