Alvarez to heed Duterte’s order to remove Sereno

Published: 2:37 p.m., April 9, 2018 | Updated: 4:29 p.m., April 9, 2018

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez is bound to heed the order of President Rodrigo Duterte to fast-track the impeachment process against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

“It will be done once we resume sessions,” Alvarez told INQUIRER.net in a text message on Monday, moments after the President said he would ask the House of Representatives to impeach Sereno right away.

Pressed if he was confident that the chief justice, who is currently  on leave, would be ousted through impeachment, Alvarez said: “Yes, we have a very strong case to impeach her.”

During Monday’s press conference in Davao City, shortly before he flew off to China, Duterte told Sereno: “I’m putting you on notice that I’m your enemy and you have to be out of the Supreme Court.”

“I will see to it. And after that, I will request Congress go to the impeachment right away,” he added.

Duterte also said he would ask Alvarez to expedite the impeachment proceedings against the top magistrate, saying she was “bad for the Philippines.”

READ: Duterte tells Sereno: You have to be out of the Supreme Court

Congress is currently on a break and will resume its session on May 14.

The articles of impeachment against Sereno are currently pending before the House, as it awaits its deliberations and approval by the plenary.    /kga /atm

RELATED VIDEO