The Supreme Court symbol in Manila. (File photo LYN RILLON / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
The Liberal Party (LP) warned members of the country’s highest court against starting a “constitutional crisis” by considering a petition that seeks to invalidate the appointment of Chief Justice on-leave Maria Lourdes Sereno, a move seen to bypass the impeachment process.
With five incumbent senators as members, the LP told the Supreme Court justices to “show respect to the Constitution” and allow the impeachment to proceed likely into a trial in the Senate.
“The Supreme Court is courting a constitutional crisis by considering the quo warranto case against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. The 1987 Constitution is very explicit that impeachment is the only means to remove a member of the Supreme Court. Doing it through any other means is unconstitutional,” read a party statement issued Thursday.
“We urge the Supreme Court Justices to adhere to the very Constitution that they are sworn to protect and abide by,” it warned.
“The Supreme Court must show respect for the Constitution and a co-equal branch by allowing Congress to perform its constitutionally mandated duty,” the LP said.
The members of the LP bloc in the Senate are Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Senators Francis Pangilinan, Bam Aquino IV, Risa Hontiveros and Leila de Lima who is detained on drug trading charges.