Negros Occidental court workers refuse to join call for Sereno to quit

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno (File photo by LYN RILLON / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

BACOLOD CITY — The Negros Occidental chapter of the Philippine Association of Court Employees (Pace Negros Occidental) refused on Tuesday to join the call of their national counterparts Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno to resign.

“Should the chief justice be removed from office, let it be by impeachment, not by forced resignation,” Pace Negros Occidental said in a statement signed by its officers.

The group said members found it disheartening that some justices of the Supreme Court, as well as judges of lower courts and the national president of Pace were calling for the resignation of Sereno.

“This is a difficult time for us but we should stand our ground and not allow ourselves to be used by others for their own agenda,” it said.

Pace Negros Occidental officers jointly called on their fellow court employees to commit to heart their “Panunumpa sa Katungkulan,” or their oath of office, to uphold the laws of the land.

The Constitution explicitly provides that a chief justice can be removed from office by impeachment, Pace Negros said.

“The Senate, as an impeachment court, will have to do its sacred duty to hear the proceedings with utmost respect for the rule of law,” Pace Negros Occidental pointed out.

“We shall continue to discharge our official functions with dignity and faith in our judicial system. Be courageous to uphold to uphold the Constitution,” PACE Negros added. “We pray for a regime of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality and peace with the aid of Almighty God.” /atm