Supporters of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno staged a prayer protest on Saturday in front of a house they believe to be owned by Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro.
Members of the Coalition for Justice (CFJ), led by Fr. Robert Reyes, held a 30-minute prayer walk in front of the house in Merville Subdivision in Parañaque City.
In a statement, Reyes said the prayer walk was intended to “enlighten” the high court magistrate on the quo warranto case filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida against Sereno.
Nona Andaya-Castillo, a member of CFJ as well as the University of the Philippines (UP) Samasa Alumni Association, said that independence has to stay in the judiciary.
“Pinagsisigawan ko lang ay manatili ang independent ng judiciary,” Castillo said.
“Ang aming dasal ay sana magkaroon siya [De Castro] ng katinuan ng isip at puso at dinggin niya ang panawagan ng taumbayan na siya ay mag inhibit o mag-resign,” she said.
“Dictatorship will reign once Sereno is ousted from Supreme Court,” she added. “Magkaisa tayo na tigilan ang panggigipit sa SC lalo na kay CJ para maiwasan ang isang anak ng diktador ay maghari at ang madilim na parte ng kasaysayan ng ating bansa ay hindi na dapat maulit.”
According to court insiders, De Castro is currently out of the country. /atm