Sereno: Duterte can’t wash his hands of quo warranto petition

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno answers questions at a forum held at the University of the Philippines on Saturday, May 5, 2018. (Photo from an INQUIRER.net livestream)

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, who is currently on leave, believes that President Rodrigo Duterte could not wash his hands of the quo warranto petition filed against her by Solicitor General Jose Calida.

In a forum caled “The Mumshie on Fire: Speak Truth To Power”at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, on Saturday, Sereno stressed that Calida, being the chief lawyer of the government, reports directly to the chief executive.

“Hindi pwede maghugas kamay ang Presidente kasi nagre-report sa kanya ang Solicitor General na nag-file ng quo warranto,” Sereno pointed out.

If Duterte was not at all involved in the quo warranto case, Sereno said that it should be withdrawn before the Supreme Court.

“Kung walang kinalaman ang Presidente, dapat i-withdraw ang petition,” she said.

[If the President has nothing to do with it, the petition should be withdrawn.]

“Bakit kailangan tayo yanigin ng ganito katindi?” Sereno asked. “Nasa panganib ang bayan natin kung ang quo warranto ay manaig.”

[Why should be shaken so intensely? The country is in danger if the quo warranto petition prospers.] /atm