Sereno doing pretty well as SC chief, says associate justice

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. AP

MANILA, Philippines—Newly appointed Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno is doing well, an associate justice of the Supreme Court said Monday amid the reported hidden tension between her and some senior magistrates.

“She [Sereno] is doing pretty well,” Associate Justice Roberto Abad, who himself has also tangled with her on a number of issues, told reporters.

Abad is one of the contenders in the Chief Justice post. He is among the five high court justices included in the shortlist for the Chief Justice post.

During his interview with the Judicial and Bar Council, Abad said “we have a wounded court after the impeachment trial. We were taken aback by this and discouraged.”

On the same JBC interview, Abad said it is time to forgive President Benigno Aquino III and Congress. “And forgive us also,” Abad said addressing his remarks to JBC member and Iloilo Representative Niel Tupas Jr.

In a chance interview Monday, Abad said the Supreme Court should move on from the controversies that haunted it from the impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona to the appointment of one of the most junior justice as Chief Justice. Abad said his view is shared by other high court justices.

“It’s something that you should give credit to the members (Justices) of the Court. We should move on,” Abad said.

Abad, during the JBC interview said the Corona impeachment was healthy for the country but he was saddened by because he lost a friend.