Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has reportedly written President Rodrigo Duterte and aired her concern over the naming of government officials, policemen and judges whom he linked to illegal drugs. INQUIRER FILES
Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has opted not to respond to the tirades of President Rodrigo Duterte who went to the extent of threatening to declare martial law after she had told him in a letter that his “premature announcement” has put the judges at risk and made them “veritably useless” in discharging their adjudicative roles.
“Many things have been said. The Chief Justice sees no need to add to what are being said,” Supreme Court Public Information Chief Atty. Theodore Te said.
While she had lauded the President for his zeal in cleaning the judiciary and his campaign against illegal drugs, she reminded the President to follow constitutional order.
“It would matter greatly to our sense of constitutional order, if we were given the chance to administer the appropriate preventive measures without the complications of a premature public announcement,” Sereno said in her letter.
READ: Sereno writes Duterte, airs concern over naming officials, judges
In response, Duterte, in a speech called Sereno “the kingpin in the judiciary.”
“…ikaw ang kingpin sa judiciary. Ako, presidente. Ako may trabaho, ikaw, wala. Walang mga judges na nagpapatrol ng daan… ‘Yan ang mabigat na problema ko, na-inherit ko sa dumaan [na administrasyon], pati ‘yung gobyerno na naglagay sa’yo diyan…If this continues, pigilan mo ako eh ‘di sige. ‘Pag nagwala na…or would you rather that I will declare martial law (You are the kingpin in the judiciary. I’m the president. I have a job, it’s not yours. There are no judges patrolling the streets. That is my job. This is the big problem which I inherited from previous administrations, including the administration that put you in your position. If this continues, go on, stop me. Or would you rather I declare martial law)?” Duterte said.
READ: Duterte warns Sereno: Get out of my way or it’s martial law
He also threatened Sereno that he may order officials of the executive branch not to honor the Supreme Court. IDL
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