IT AIN’T OVER. Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno maintains she did not commit any impeachable offense and has no plans to resign, her spokesperson says. PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER/LYN RILLON
“Give me my day at the Senate.”
This was the fighting stance of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, who made her first public appearance in Baguio City a day after taking an indefinite leave to prepare for her looming impeachment trial.
Speaking before judges, lawyers, and law students at the University of Baguio on the “Road to Judicial Reform,” the country’s top magistrate wondered why there is a need to call for her resignation if the exponents of the impeachment complaint against her are sure that she has committed “a harvest of sins.”
“If they were so sure of their evidence that I have committed a harvest of sins against the people, why not bring it to the Senate?” Sereno asked. “Instead we have this additional terribly injurious spectacle where courts and Judicial and Bar Council officials are being threatened with administrative and criminal cases.”
“I do not hold anyone the duty to resign,” Sereno maintained. “I owe the people the duty to tell my story.”
“I ask only one thing from the political leaders, only one thing, give me my day at the Senate or admit that there is no probable cause,” Sereno dared even as she urged everyone to respect the impeachment process letting it to take the course, as provided for by the Constitution.
Sereno averred she remain steadfast in fighting for judicial independence.
She then encouraged the public to never lose hope and continue the fight.
“It is when hope seems to be at its dimmest that you must be at your bravest,” Sereno said. /kga