Palace: Let Sereno declare plans, then let people decide

Ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno delivers her speech during the Coalition for Justice event at the UP Bahay ng Alumni on June 19, 2018. Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net

Malacañang is leaving it to the people to decide in next year’s midterm elections if they want ousted Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno in the Senate.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said only Sereno could say what her political plans were.

“[Her] plans are personal. Let her declare and let the people decide,” Roque said in a press briefing on Thursday.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan, president of the opposition Liberal Party, earlier said Sereno would be a welcome addition to their lineup should she decide to run for senator in the 2019 midterm elections.

Open to seek public office

Although Sereno has not yet decided on the issue, her spokesperson, lawyer Josalee Deinla, said the ex-Chief Justice was open to seeking public office.

Roque said the former top magistrate seemed to have “accepted her fate” following her ouster from the Supreme Court in May, which was upheld by the high court on Tuesday.

“I have said it over and over again that the court is the final arbiter of all legal controversies. Love the decision, hate the decision, we need to accept the decision. Sereno appears to have accepted her fate,” he said. —JULIE M. AURELIO