Sereno camp dismisses SC manifesto calling for Chief Justice resignation

The camp of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Wednesday dismissed the alleged manifesto of Supreme Court (SC) officials calling for her resignation.

The fact that no one, not even the union of SC employees, owned up to the manifesto means it was but a mere part of efforts to besmirch Sereno’s reputation as she faces attempts to impeach her from office, Sereno’s spokesperson Jojo Lacanilao said.

Lacanilao and Josa Deinla, another Sereno spokesperson revealed this during a press conference a day after debates on whether or not Sereno’s fellow justices forced her to take a leave from office surfaced.

“Unang una, ‘yung manifesto walang signature. Walang mga taong humaharap na sila ‘yung naglabas ng manifesto. Walang tumtitindig na tao na behind it,” Lacanilao said.

“Balita namin wala sa union ng SC ang sumusuporta doon at umaamin na sila ’yun. Talagang ‘yung genesis ng manifesto na ‘yun kaduda duda sa amin,” he said.

But if there really was a manifesto from employees of the SC, Deinla said Sereno’s camp would respect their stand.

“Igagalang namin ‘yung karapatan nila na magapahayag na saloobin nila,” Deinla said.

“Pero mananatili kami na matiyagang magpapaliwanag sila at kukumbinsihin sila na nagkakamali sila sa kanilang paniwala,” she added.

In a three-page alleged manifesto of “concerned officials and personnel” of SC, five employees called for Sereno’s resignation.

The five employees were SC’s deputy court administrators Raul Villanueva and Thelma Bahia, deputy clerk of court en banc Anna-Li Papa-Gombio, fiscal management office chief Corazon Ferrer-Flores and office of administrative service assistant chief Carina Cunanan.

“We can and will no longer remain silent as the institution falls deeper into disrepute with each passing day and our officers and personnel pitted against one another, as a consequence of Your Honor’s actions and indiscretions,” they wrote in the manifesto

“We hereby manifest our loss of trust, faith and confidence in Your Honor, Chief Justice Sereno, and call on Your Honor to RESIGN NOW from Your Honor’s position as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court,” the manifesto read.

Although they were “ashamed” to admit, the employees thanked lawyer Lorenzo Gadon for “courageously” revealing the supposed truth on Sereno’s anomalies within the High Tribunal.

“Nakakahiya man pong aminin, ngunit nagpapasalamat din po kami kay Atty. Lorenzo Gadon na siyang mag-isa at buong tapat na nagsisiwalat ng mga kamalian na nagaganap sa Korte Suprema,” the employees said in the manifesto.

The SC has not confirmed the authenticity of the manifesto.   /muf