Sereno shrugs off ‘sharks, bullies’ comment from colleague

CHIEF Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno shrugged off criticisms hurled against her by Supreme Court Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza during a speech at the University of the Philippines (UP) last Monday saying these were important to warrant her comment.

Jardeleza, in his speech, said Sereno and Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio were like “sharks and bullies” when they tried to prevent his appointment to the Supreme Court for his stand in the Philippine claim over the West Philippine Sea.

Jardeleza was then the solicitor general, representing the Philippines in its territorial claim over parts of the South China Sea. In a memorandum he submitted to the United Nations, he ordered the deletion of a portion about the Itu Aba, the largest island in the Spratlys.

“If it’s not helpful to the country to make any comment, then I will not make a comment. And it is not [helpful],” Sereno told reporters in a specially arranged press conference to celebrate her 55th birthday.

Jardeleza told UP law graduates that his nomination to the Supreme Court was “the most difficult two months of [his] life.”

Jardeleza was excluded from the shortlist of candidates despite obtaining a majority vote from the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).

He then took his case to the Supreme Court. Then, with a vote of 7-4, the high court ordered the JBC to include his name on the shortlist. Both Sereno and Carpio took no part in the case.

“You will read most about what happened in Jardeleza v. Sereno. What the case will not tell you, though, is how much pain the vicious untruths hurled my direction caused me and my family. It will also not tell you why I could not talk about the West Philippine Sea arbitration.

“You spend a whole lifetime building a reputation worthy of your parents… You also spend a whole lifetime building a reputation worthy of your family… So when my integrity was attacked, I knew I had to fight back, if only to clear my name,” Jardeleza said.

Jardeleza said “sharks and bullies can be brutal. I cannot guarantee that you will triumph over the bullies and the sharks. In my case, I almost perished. I was bloodied. But I stood my ground. I pushed back. So that’s my advice to you: when faced with a bully, push back. With everything you’ve got.”