Congress should protest President Rodrigo Duterte’s meddling in the impeachment case against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said on Tuesday.
While Speakers Pantaleon Alvarez was quick to say that the House would heed Duterte’s call to fast-track the impeachment complaint against Sereno, Trillanes said senators would try to be objective as much as possible when the complaint reaches the Senate.
“Kung ang perspective ang pinag uusapan natin dun sa being part of the checks and balances system e dapat magrereklamo ang legislature dito sa panghihimasok ni Duterte at pagbu-bully sa legislature,” Trillanes, a staunch critic of the President, said in a press briefing.
Asked if he expects the Senate to protest Duterte’s order, Trillanes said: “No. I am not expecting anything from Senator Koko Pimentel dahil hindi ko alam kung alam nya yung trabaho nya e bilang Senate President.”
On Monday, Duterte said he would ask Alvarez to “kindly fast-track the impeachment” against Sereno, saying the latter is bad for the Philippines.
“I’m putting you (Sereno) on notice that I’m now your enemy and you have to be out of the Supreme Court,” the President said in a speech before flying for China.
“I will ask Speaker (Pantaleon) Alvarez now, kindly fast-track the impeachment. She is bad for the Philippines,” he added. Alvarez said the House would heed the President’s request when Congress resumes its sessions in May.
READ: Duterte to House: Rush Sereno impeachment
Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV. INQUIRER.net PHOTO/CATHY MIRANDA
Trillanes said Duterte’s meddling in Sereno’s impeachment should serve as a challenge to the Supreme Court, which is deliberating the quo warranto petition filed against the Chief Justice.
The petition initiated by Solicitor General Jose Calida also seeks Sereno’s ouster for allegedly violating the constitutional requirements for eligibility when she failed to submit her complete statement of assets, liabilities and net worth before the Judicial bar Council.
READ: SolGen asks SEC: Kick out Sereno
“Challenge ito sa Supreme Court. Ngayon lumabas na ang tunay na nasa likod sa pagpapaalis kay Chief Justice Sereno. So challenge dito sa Supreme Court to show their independence. Pakita nila kasi yung quo warranto na yan illegal yan, bawal yan unconstitutional yan,” Trillanes said.
“Pag tinanggal nila itong si Chief Justice Sereno through the quo warranto mode e hindi natin masisisi ang kababayan natin kung pagsuspetsahan na talagang namaniobra sila ni Duterte,” he said.