Sereno camp doubts SC could give ‘fair’ ruling on ouster case

Lawyer Josa Deinla, spokesperson for Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. INQUIRER.net / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

The camp of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has expressed doubts that the Supreme Court (SC) would be fair in its ruling on the quo warranto petition since some justices, who have testified during a House panel’s impeachment proceeding against the top magistrate, refused to inhibit from the case.

Atty. Josa Deinla, one of the spokespersons of Sereno, noted in a forum on Monday that the “bias and prejudice” of certain SC associate justices could possibly reflect on their deliberation of the quo warranto case filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida against the Chief Justice on-leave last March.

“Alam naman natin na yung mayroon siyang mga kasamahan na nagpakita ng bias and prejudice noong sila ay nagsilbing testigo o kaya ay resource persons sa committee on justice,” Deinla stressed during the weekly Kapihan sa Manila Hotel.

“Mayroon kaming pangamba na dahil hindi sila nag-inhibit sa kabila ng respectful motions for inhibitions na finile ni Chief Justice sa Korte Suprema, ay hindi rin magiging patas yung proseso ng deliberasyon na tutungo doon sa magiging pasya ng Korte Suprema,” she added.

According to Deinla, Sereno’s camp is not afraid of the impeachment case since they are confident that truth will prevail during a full-blown impeachment trial at the Senate.

“Ito yung matagal na naming pinananawagan na dalhin niyo na diyan sa Senado para magkaalaman, masiwalat ang katotohanan, dahil kami ay confident na lalabas ang totoo, mabibigyan siya ng pagkakataon patunayan ang kanyang panig,” she said.

On March 5, Calida filed the quo warranto petition against Sereno in the SC. The ouster petition alleged that Sereno is unqualified to the position, and must be removed as Chief Justice of the high tribunal. /kga

READ: Ex-SC justice: Quo warranto a remedy to stop execs from holding on to power