Executive, legislative branches have been respectful of courts — Bersamin

Associate Justice Lucas Bersamin

The Executive and Legislative branches of government have always been respectful toward the courts, Associate Justice Lucas Bersamin said before members of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) Thursday.

The Supreme Court (SC) has been at the receiving end of criticism after it ousted chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. 

Sereno caught the ire of President Rodrigo Duterte after making statements on human rights violations.

Duterte categorically stated that he wants Sereno out of the SC. 

Sereno was eventually ousted via a quo warranto proceeding initiated by Solicitor General Jose Calida.

However, Bersamin said the SC has maintained its independence as reflected by its decisions.

“We have not hesitated to render our decisions…especially at sensitive cases,” Bersamin said.

“There will always be pressure in the sense that we may be concerned about how the other branches of government would react to our decisions, but that is personal on the part of justices,” he added.

He stressed that he has not felt any pressure from any branches of the government.   /vvp