Lawmaker cites why Sereno should inhibit from Torre case

Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—A lawmaker has asked Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno to inhibit herself from the case against the controversial Torre de Manila, the condominium project which critics said would mar the view of the Rizal Monument.

Kabataan Rep. Terry Ridon said Sereno’s impartiality in the case could be questioned because her husband, Mario Jose Sereno, used to be an executive of DMCI Holdings Inc., Torre’s developer.

“It has come to our attention that CJ Sereno’s husband worked for DMCI for several years. We would not want this previous professional relationship to interfere in the determination of this landmark case,” Ridon said in a statement Thursday.

Based on the information he got, Ridon said, Mario Jose Sereno previously worked in DMCI’s corporate planning office. “We thus deem it best to advise that she just inhibit herself from this case to dispel all suspicions of (her) favoring DMCI due to this previous professional relationship,” said Ridon.

But a source in the Supreme Court, who declined to be named for lack of clearance to speak on the matter, maintained that “according to [the Chief Justice], Mr. Sereno was a consultant—not an employee— of DMCI and the consultancy ended more than 20 years ago.”

“You should also look at the grounds for recusation. They apply to the lawyer, not to the spouse,” the source added.

Sereno was in Cebu City and could not be immediately reached for comment.

THE RISING Torre de Manila condo project (encircled) which the Supreme Court is being asked to stop CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Last month, the Knights of Rizal, a group promoting the legacy of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, filed a petition asking the high court to stop the ongoing construction of Torre.

It said the 49-story condo, once complete, would stick out on the horizon like a sore thumb and that no one can take a photo of the Rizal Shrine without also capturing the high-rise structure behind it.

The group accused DMCI of violating Manila’s zoning laws, all in bad faith and disrespect to the Rizal Monument’s stature as a national cultural treasure. The permits for Torre were approved during the term of then Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim. When Mayor Joseph Estrada took over, the project was questioned in the city council but eventually got the body’s approval to proceed. With a report from Tarra Quismundo