Negros Occidental RTC judges refuse to join call for Sereno to resign

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno maintains she did not commit any impeachable offense and has no plans to resign, her spokesperson says. (File photo by LYN RILLON / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

BACOLOD CITY – The Negros Occidental Regional Trial Court Judges Association (NORTCJA) officers and members are not joining calls for the resignation of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

They have opted to remain neutral in wake of in an official statement issued on Monday said they were not joining the call for Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno to resign.

In a statement, the NORTCJA officers and members on Monday said they were saddened by the recent pronouncements of some court personnel, employees’ associations and unions, calling for Sereno’s resignation.

“As an organization, we value consensus-building and this matter has been discussed among our members. The consensus is clear: We are and should be neutral,” the Negros judges said.

The judges said they did not wish to be part of the issues besetting the Supreme Court and its personnel as their priority was to keep the courts open and to serve our people.

“We are not politicians,” they said. “We do not have the luxury of publicly expressing our sentiments, unless prompted by the situation. This is one of those times that our voices need to be heard.”

“We call for sobriety and prudence,” NORTCJA said. “We ask our fellow judges to remember our oath to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law; to be impartial and reserve judgment until all evidence have been presented; to be non-partisan and let due process take its course. We stand for an independent judiciary.” /atm