Panelo to Sereno: Duterte naming of judges an ‘advantage’

Atty. Salvador Panelo. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo on Monday spoke against Supreme Court Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno’s response to the naming of judges accused of being involved in the illegal drugs trade.

In a letter, Sereno addressed President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to name a number of personalities, including judges, and asking them to surrender because of their alleged ties to illegal drugs.

“I beg to disagree with the CJ’s comment,” Panelo told media. “The announcement is to the judges’ advantage as it will give them the opportunity to clear their names thru the media rather than when cases are formally filed against them which will give them a short time to file their counter-affidavits, and preclude from discussing their defines in public because it will become subjudice.”

Sereno advised the judges named by Duterte not to surrender to the police if there is no warrant of arrest.

READ: Sereno to judges: Don’t surrender to cops sans arrest warrant

She also questioned the basis of the President’s list, arguing that the seven judges have not handled drug-related cases.

READ: Sereno defends judges tagged in Duterte drug list

“Our judges may have been rendered vulnerable and veritable targets for any of those persons and groups who may consider judges as acceptable collateral damage in the war on drugs,” Sereno pointed out./rga

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