Groups, former Senator ask SC to junk ouster case vs Sereno

The ouster of Chief Justice on-leave Maria Lourdes Sereno without impeachment proceedings will create “a very dangerous and ruinous precedent.”

This was the assertion of various groups, which filed before the Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday a petition that seeks to dismiss the quo warranto case against Sereno.

Last March 5, the Office of the Solicitor General filed with the SC a quo warranto petition, seeking to remove Sereno from office, alleging that she is unqualified for the Chief Justice position.

“The filing of the quo warranto case againt Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno sets a very dangerous and ruinous precedent that can even be used against any impeachable officer, including other justices of the Supreme Court who go against the wishes of and in the crosshairs of the administration or interest groups,” said Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate.

Among those asking the SC to drop the quo warranto case versus Sereno were lawmakers belonging to the Makabayan bloc in Congress. These legislators were Zarate, Antonio Tinio, Francisca Castro, Emmi De Jesus, Arlene Brosas, Ariel Casilao, and Sarah Jane Elago.

Makabayan bloc consists of party-list groups Bayan Muna, ACT Teachers, Gabriela Women’s Party, Anakpawis, and Kabataan.

Also signing the anti-quo warranto petition were former Senator Rene Saguisag, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) Secretary General Renato Reyes Jr., Bishop Broderick S. Pabillo D.D., National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers Secretary General Atty. Ephraim B. Cortez, and conveners and members of the Movement Against Tyranny (MAT).   /kga