Sereno appeals she be given chance to lead

MANILA, Philippines—Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Wednesday appealed to the public to give her the chance to lead the judiciary.

“I … ask for help from the Filipino people to give the judiciary room to undertake the process of reflection and to allow the Chief Justice to lead in that process,” Sereno said before the Presidents of Law Associations in Asia.

Sereno was appointed last Friday and took her oath a day after. She is the country’s 24th and first female Chief Justice.

Sereno said she will hold dialogue with various stakeholders in the judiciary.

“I think inevitably this dialogue among members of the judiciary will lead to significant changes in governance practices within the judiciary,” Sereno said.