Palace belittles Sereno as rallying figure for opposition

Ousted Philippine Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno listens to a question from the media during a news conference following her ouster by the highest court Friday, May 11, 2018 in Manila, Philippines. The Philippine Supreme Court ousted its chief justice, a critic of the country’s authoritarian president, in an unprecedented vote Friday by fellow magistrates that she and hundreds of protesters called unconstitutional and a threat to democracy. AP 

Ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has no one to blame but herself for her predicament, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement on Friday.

“(She) should look in the mirror to see who is behind the Supreme Court ruling … instead of grandstanding, seeking media coverage, (and) pointing an accusing finger at President Duterte for the result of the quo warranto petition filed against her,” Roque said.

Sereno on Thursday called for the President’s resignation should it be proven that the Chief Executive was behind her unceremonious ouster last week.

Roque said Sereno should exercise introspection and realize that “she herself violated the Constitution by not filing her statements of assets, liabilities and net worth, and (that) she herself managed to alienate her own colleagues at the high court.”

Unlike Mr. Duterte, Sereno has a low approval rating, Roque said, “so if she will be the rallying figure of the opposition, (they’re) doomed.”

But government critics see Sereno as a “symbol,” said activist-priest Robert Reyes, “lending her voice to people like us who are (concerned about) the decline of the rule of law, the death of democracy (and) the threat to life.”

University of the Philippines Manila student council chair  Miguel Aljibe said “[Sereno] was just one of the many victims of this administration … We believe that she can rally the people to stand up against Mr. Duterte.”

The ouster of Sereno may not be a gut issue now for most Filipinos, but JP delas Nieves, one of the lead organizers of the Liberal Democratic Caucus who joined the Black Friday rallies warned that the magistrates’ “unconstitutional” decision to boot her out would have a grave impact on people’s lives. —WITH REPORTS FROM KRIXIA SUBINGSUBING AND JOVIC YEE