Sereno to Duterte: Constitution says men and women should be treated the same

Do not let personal issues interfere with work, ousted chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno reminded President Rodrigo Duterte in reaction to his statement that the next Ombudsman should have integrity and should not be a woman.

“Kahapon sinabi pa nya ayaw nya ng babae. Kung ano po ang problema nya, personal niya i-solve yun,” Sereno said during the Quo Vadis, Quo Warranto Forum at the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) in Ortigas.

READ: Duterte: Next Ombudsman should have integrity and not be a woman

Sereno reminded the President that he should respect the Constitution which specifically mentioned that men and women should be treated the same.

The former High Court chief is referring to Article II Section 14 which provides that “the State recognizes the role of women in nation-building, and shall ensure the fundamental equality before the law of women and men.”

“May Constitution po na nagsasabing kailangan i-respeto ang pantay na estado sa buhay ng lalake at babae,” Sereno said.   /muf