Aquino insists Sereno could be removed only by impeachment

Hours after Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno was ousted by her peers at the Supreme Court, former President Benigno Aquino III who appointed her in 2012 said she can only be removed through impeachment, not through a quo warranto petition.

Voting 8-6, the SC granted the quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida, which questioned Sereno’s qualification to serve as the country’s top magistrate.

“Makailang ulit nang nasabi ng Korte Suprema na kung ang batas ay malinaw na, hindi na kailangan ng paliwanagan pa. Klaro ang nasa Saligang Batas: ang impeachable officer, sa pamamagitan lang ng impeachment pwedeng maalis sa pwesto,” Aquino said in s statement.

The former president likened the decision of the majority of SC justices to an unripe manggo.

“Marahil marami sa inyo, tulad ko, ang paboritong prutas ay mangga. Kung nais natin ang matamis na mangga, hihintayin nating mahinog ito. Alam din natin, pag pinilit itong mahinog, maasim ang kalalabasan nito,” he said.

“Sa aking pananaw, kung anuman ang magiging paliwanag ng mayorya, ang makikita lang natin ay isang pilit na pilit na desisyon,” he added. “Ang tanong ngayon: Gaano kaya kaasim ang desisyong pilit nilang isusubo sa atin?” /vvp

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