Roque tells IBP: Respect SC ruling ousting Sereno

Presidential Spokesperson Atty. Harry Roque. YANCY LIM/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Wednesday urged the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) to respect the decision of the Supreme Court to oust then Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

“Ang aking panawagan sa mga kapatid sa hanapbuhay, respetuhin talaga natin ang desisyon ng Korte Suprema,” Roque said in an interview with state-run Radyo Pilipinas.

(I call on my brothers in the industry to respect the decision of the Supreme Court.)

The IBP on Tuesday filed a motion for reconsideration before the Supreme Court to reverse its May 11 decision granting the quo warranto petition against Sereno, saying it “has taints of political consideration and personal biases.”

READ: IBP urges SC to reverse its decision to oust Sereno

While Roque respected their decision to file a motion for reconsideration, he believed the high court will not reverse its ruling.

“Pero sa tingin ko po kung ang desisyon ay hindi mababago, dapat ang mga abogado bilang officers of the court, tayo po iyong unang-una na mag-eengganyo sa ating taumbayan na respetuhin at huwag kuwestiyunin ang mga desisyon ng ating Kataas-taasang Hukuman,” he said.

(In my opinion, the decision will not change. Lawyers as officers of the court should be the first to urge the public to respect and not question the decision of the Supreme Court.)

Sereno was unseated by her colleagues on May 11 after it granted the quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida.

Sereno has said that President Rodrigo Duterte had a hand in her ouster and has called for his resignation.

But Duterte, who called Sereno his “enemy,” has repeatedly denied this accusation. /je

READ: Duterte declares war vs Sereno