5 SC justices urged to inhibit selves from quo warranto

THIRD TIME. Nuns attending a retreat joined activists, among them senior citizens, who picketed the Supreme Court’s summer courthouse for the third time on Tuesday (April 17). Photo by EV Espiritu INQ

BAGUIO CITY – Nuns and activists stormed the gates of the Supreme Court’s summer courthouse on Tuesday (April 17) to urge five of its justices to inhibit themselves from the quo warranto petition filed to oust Chief Justice-on-leave Maria Lourdes Sereno.

Chanting “resist tyranny, defend democracy, about 60 protesters again asked Justices Teresita de Castro, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Francis Jardeleza and Noel Tijam to recuse themselves, because they testified against Sereno in a House hearing that addressed the impeachment complaint filed against the SC leader.

Most of the protesters wore purple shirts.

The Coalition for Justice scheduled its own picket at the Court’s Manila compound.

It was the third protest action to take place at the Court’s Baguio compound since the Court began its summer sessions here this year. The group first staged a picket on April 3, and followed suit with mass protests on April 10 during the oral arguments set on the quo warranto plea. But the pro-Sereno group was unable to stage a vigil at the Baguio court gates, because of a police line.

No policemen blocked their way on Tuesday.

Jenna Bernardo of the Coalition for Justice said the magistrates would have “turned their backs on justice” if they allowed a quo warranto plea to proceed.

The petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida would nullify the appointment of Sereno for her alleged failure to file her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.