Sereno torn between politics, helping NGOs

Former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno is deciding between a Senate run or playing a role in strengthening civil society and nongovernment organizations (NGOs) in the country, according to Sen. Francis Pangilinan.

The opposition Liberal Party, of which Pangilinan is the president, has begun talks with Sereno for the possibility of drafting her into its Senate slate for the 2019 midterm elections.

But Sereno has yet to make up her mind on whether she would make a stab for the legislative department.

“She is still studying it. Her concern is how can she strengthen NGOs or civil society groups. Something like that. Should she focus on politics or strengthen the different NGOs or civil society,” Pangilinan said at the Kapihan sa Senado forum.

Civil society groups

Sereno is thinking of boosting civil society groups after they spoke out against efforts to unseat her from the Supreme Court, he said.

“She is thinking if she should strengthen and help them to make their ranks stronger, or is it elections that she should participate in,” he added.

The Supreme Court ousted Sereno after granting the quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida that questioned her qualification to sit as top magistrate because of her failure to submit several of her statements of assets, liabilities and net worth.

Impeachment

The petition jettisoned the impeachment proceedings against Sereno in the House of Representatives.

Sereno’s ouster followed President Duterte’s declaration of war against her for asking him to explain why he denied having a hand in her impeachment case when the solicitor general made the move to oust her.

The granting of the quo warranto petition was condemned by senators and by legal experts, who said it circumvented the 1987 Constitution that states that justices could only be removed through impeachment.