No tension between senior justices and Sereno, says Carpio

Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio

MANILA, Philippines–Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Monday denied reports that tension is brewing between senior justices and Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno following her unilateral release of a resolution allowing the reopening of the Regional Court Administration Office (RCAO).

“We proceed with our en banc session (full court) the way we always done it, always contentious when issues are controversial. That’s the way it is because we are a collegial body and we are also independent,” Carpio told reporters.

“We have dissenting opinion, we have concurring opinion, discussions are always heated,” he said adding that such discussions are healthy for the Supreme Court.

Although he declined to comment on whether Sereno’s resolution opening the RCAO has been revoked by the en banc, he maintained that the Constitution itself provides that the Supreme Court shall exercise supervision on all courts.

“When the Constitution says the Supreme Court en banc and the en banc acts by majority vote, each one has one vote. So that’s how we act,” Carpio said.

“When it comes to administration matters like appointing an official or transferring gadgets from one place to another, everyone has one vote. We decide on the merit. Don’t expect we will be unanimous all the time, that’s healthy for the SC,” Carpio added.