Bacolod bishop calls on faithful to pray rosary after SC ouster of Sereno

BACOLOD CITY — Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon has called on the faithful to join him in praying the rosary on Friday night following the decision of the Supreme Court to oust Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno.

A text message on Buzon’s appeal circulated in Bacolod City after the news on Sereno’s ouster came out.

“In connection with the recent news on CJ Sereno, I am calling on all the faithful to join us in the praying of the Holy Rosary at 6 p.m. tonight in front of the San Sebastian Cathedral, for the upholding and preservation of justice in our country. Please bring your candles and Rosary beads,” the text message.

When reached by Inquirer, Buzon found it “so pathetic” that the Supreme Court justices  who were supposed to be the ultimate interpreter of the Constitution, could not see that the ouster of Sereno was “flagrantly unconstitutional” just because of their internal squabbles and the pettiness of some judges.

“What is even more sad is that by their decision they have allowed themselves to become ready minions of an administration that cannot tolerate any opposition, whether individual or institutional, that stands in the way to its pursuit of absolute power and control,” said the Bishop.

The president of Integrated Bar of the Philippines in Negros Occidental described the ouster of Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno as a “dangerous precedent.”

Although disappointed by the decision of the Supreme Court, lawyer Arnel Lapore said the IBP-Negros Occidental would respect the ruling.

“But it is unprecedented … it might create a very very bad precedent in succeeding similar cases especially for officials who can only be removed by impeachment process,” he said.

Lawyers in Negros Occidental were surprised that the solicitor general filed a quo warranto petition when an impeachment complaint had already been filed against her, he said.

“I hope the decision will not create further divisiveness in our judicial system, our political system and to the nation,” he said.

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