Court employees not satisfied with Sereno’s flag-raising speech

MANILA, Philippines—Court employees weren’t that satisfied of newly appointed Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno’s speech during the flag-raising ceremony at the Supreme Court Monday, Supreme Court Employees Association president Jojo Guererro said Tuesday.

“Medyo nabibitin kami kasi lahat naman siguro ng mga Chief Justice ganon ang sasabihin (We were not that satisfied because all Chief Justice could have said what she told us) ,” Guerrero said in an interview with John Susi of “Susi ng mga Balita” on Radio Inquirer 990AM.

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno speaks to employees of the Supreme Court during her first flag raising ceremony on Monday. Photo courtesy of SC PIO

He said their group expected that Sereno would say something “concrete” about their judicial independence and fiscal autonomy, but she failed to do so.

“Pero lahat naman ng bago, meron kaming konting pangamba at meron din konting inaasahan (But as with anything new, we have some apprehensions and expectations),” Guerrero said.

Despite that, he added they will always be loyal to the institution just like they’ve always been.

But loyal as they may be to the Supreme Court, Guerrero said they will remain “apprehensive” as long as there are unresolved issues in the judiciary such as of the midnight appointees.

For the full interview, listen to the attached audio clip from Radyo Inquirer 990AM.