The Philippines’ embattled Supreme Court chief justice on Monday
rejected calls for her to resign ahead of an impending impeachment,
saying that quitting would only expose the judiciary to more
attacks.
Chief Justice Maria Sereno, the first woman to
lead the Supreme Court, said resigning was an “easier option” for
her but she was determined to fight for the independence of the
judiciary from political influences.
“I will not resign,” she told a forum with cheering supporters,
hours after judges and employees of the Supreme Court called for
her resignation.
“Resigning from my post as chief justice will only serve to
erode the independence of the Supreme Court and embolden those who
demand a subservient judiciary,” said Sereno, a critic of President
Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.
“To do so would invite the kind of extraconstitutional
adventurism that treats legal rights and procedures like mere
inconveniences that should be set aside when it suits the powers
that be,” she added.
In calling for Sereno’s resignation, the Supreme Court judges
and employees lamented that the impeachment proceedings at the
House of Representatives had already “put the entire judiciary in
disrepute, thereby affecting the honour and integrity of its
justices.”
“Chief, it is time to let go,” they said in a statement read at
the flag-raising ceremony at the Supreme Court, where many
employees wore red.
“Please let the judiciary move on.”
They noted that since the impeachment complaint was filed
against Sereno at the House in August 2017, “court officials have
been pitted against each other, resulting in a distressing
atmosphere.”
“Its officials and personnel … cannot go through another set of
hearings and go against each other again at the Senate.”
Sereno said she was saddened that some judges and employees
“have succumbed to pressures to enter the political fray.”
She noted that those calling for her resignation only
represented four out of 15 judges associations and employees unions
in the judiciary.
On Thursday, the House Committee on Justice found probable cause
to impeach Sereno.
It was expected to draft articles of impeachment and submit a
report to the House plenary this week to be able to schedule a
vote.
A one-third vote of the more than 200 members of the House will
impeach Sereno, who has gone on leave since March 1 to prepare for
a trial at the Senate.
The impeachment complaint against Sereno alleged she failed to
declare “exorbitant” lawyer’s fees amounting to 37 million pesos
(740,000 dollars) in her statement of assets and liabilities.
It also accused the chief justice of using Supreme Court funds
to purchase a car worth 5.1 million pesos, higher than its market
value of 4.5 million pesos, for her personal use.
Sereno, who has denied the charges against her, has drawn the
ire of Duterte for criticizing his administration’s campaign
against illegal drugs and his declaration of martial law in the
southern region of Mindanao.
The Philippines’ embattled Supreme Court chief justice on Monday
rejected calls for her to resign ahead of an impending impeachment,
saying that quitting would only expose the judiciary to more
attacks.
Chief Justice Maria Sereno, the first woman to
lead the Supreme Court, said resigning was an “easier option” for
her but she was determined to fight for the independence of the
judiciary from political influences.
“I will not resign,” she told a forum with cheering supporters,
hours after judges and employees of the Supreme Court called for
her resignation.
“Resigning from my post as chief justice will only serve to
erode the independence of the Supreme Court and embolden those who
demand a subservient judiciary,” said Sereno, a critic of President
Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.
“To do so would invite the kind of extraconstitutional
adventurism that treats legal rights and procedures like mere
inconveniences that should be set aside when it suits the powers
that be,” she added.
In calling for Sereno’s resignation, the Supreme Court judges
and employees lamented that the impeachment proceedings at the
House of Representatives had already “put the entire judiciary in
disrepute, thereby affecting the honour and integrity of its
justices.”
“Chief, it is time to let go,” they said in a statement read at
the flag-raising ceremony at the Supreme Court, where many
employees wore red.
“Please let the judiciary move on.”
They noted that since the impeachment complaint was filed
against Sereno at the House in August 2017, “court officials have
been pitted against each other, resulting in a distressing
atmosphere.”
“Its officials and personnel … cannot go through another set of
hearings and go against each other again at the Senate.”
Sereno said she was saddened that some judges and employees
“have succumbed to pressures to enter the political fray.”
She noted that those calling for her resignation only
represented four out of 15 judges associations and employees unions
in the judiciary.
On Thursday, the House Committee on Justice found probable cause
to impeach Sereno.
It was expected to draft articles of impeachment and submit a
report to the House plenary this week to be able to schedule a
vote.
A one-third vote of the more than 200 members of the House will
impeach Sereno, who has gone on leave since March 1 to prepare for
a trial at the Senate.
The impeachment complaint against Sereno alleged she failed to
declare “exorbitant” lawyer’s fees amounting to 37 million pesos
(740,000 dollars) in her statement of assets and liabilities.
It also accused the chief justice of using Supreme Court funds
to purchase a car worth 5.1 million pesos, higher than its market
value of 4.5 million pesos, for her personal use.
Sereno, who has denied the charges against her, has drawn the
ire of Duterte for criticizing his administration’s campaign
against illegal drugs and his declaration of martial law in the
southern region of Mindanao.
Read more https://nairalaw.com/philippines-supreme-court-chief-justice-rejects-call-to-quit/