Duterte hits out at Sereno anew, calls her ‘lost cause’

President Rodrigo Duterte has renewed his attack on Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, calling her “a lost cause” who has resorted to mere gimmickry.

In an interview in Lapu-Lapu City on Thursday, the President said Sereno “had it coming,” referring to her ouster from the high court last month.

“Now that she is out, she is full of adjectives and gimmickry. Justices have brains. A lawyer like you [Sereno] only resorting to gimmickry?” he said.

The President made the remarks after inaugurating the P17.5-billion Terminal 2 of Mactan-Cebu International Airport on Thursday night.

While Mr. Duterte has denied orchestrating Sereno’s removal from the high court, he  previously called on his allies in the House of Representatives to fast-track her impeachment.

‘Like she owned SC’

In his latest tirade against Sereno, the President claimed that she acted like she “owned” the Supreme Court.

“We are always here working, while they are always there criticizing. What is their significant contribution in governance? What is Sereno’s significant decision, or these critics’ [contributions]?” he said. —JULIE M. AURELIO