14 senators file resolution urging SC review of Sereno ouster

Signed by 14 senators, a resolution urging the Supreme Court to review its decision to oust  Chief Justice  Maria Lourdes Sereno through a quo warranto petition was finally filed at the Senate on Thursday.

The SC, voting  8-6, earlier granted the quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida against Sereno.

Senate Resolution No. 738 was signed by eight majority members including  Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Senate President Pro Tempore  Ralph Recto, Senators Joel Villanueva, Loren Legarda, Sherwin Gatchalian,  Francis Escudero, Sonny Angara, and Grace Poe.

The remaining six signatories are Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Bam  Aquino, Risa, Hontiveros, Antonio Trillanes IV and Leila de Lima, who has been detained n at Camp Crame in Quezon City over drug charges.

Only seven of 23 senators — all belonging to the majority bloc—did not sign the measure and they are  Majority Leader  Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Senators  Richard Gordon, Manny Pacquiao, Nancy Binay, JV Ejercito, Cynthia Villar and Juan Miguel Zubiri.

In the resolution, the 14 signatories asserted a Constitutional provision that the House of Representatives and the Senate have the exclusive power to initiate and try, respectively, all impeachment cases.

READ: 14 senators ask SC to review Sereno ruling

“The Supreme Court’s decision to grant the quo warranto petition sets a dangerous precedent that transgresses the exclusive powers of the legislative branch to initiate, try and decide all cases of impeachment,” it said.

“Now therefore, be it resolved as it is hereby resolved to express the sense of the Senate of the Philippines to uphold the Constitution on the matter of removing a Chief Justice from office, and respectfully urge the Supreme Court to review its decision to nullify the appointment of Maria Lourdes Sereno as Chief of Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines,” the resolution added. /muf