MANILA — The camp of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno expressed optimism that the Supreme Court en banc would act on her motion for inhibition against her five colleagues whom she accused of showing “actual bias” and “animosity,” in connection with the quo warranto petition filed by the Office of Solicitor General (OSG) seeking to nullify her appointment.
Sereno moved for the inhibition of Associate Justices Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Francis Jardeleza, Noel Tijam and Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, who have testified against her in the impeachment hearings in the House of Representatives.
Lawyer Josa Deinla, Sereno’s spokesperson, said the chief justice would face the en banc even if it fails to act on her plea.
However, she said that if the en banc does not act and decide on her plea, Sereno’s camp would not believe that the requirement of impartiality is served.
“Kung hindi kasi gagawin yung inhibition, hindi masusunod yung mahalagang requirement ng impartiality sa proseso ng pagdesisyon at adjudication na gagawin ng mga mahistrado (If they don’t decide on the inhibition, then the important requirement of impartiality would not be followed), “Deinla said in a radio interview.
Deinla, however, said Sereno still believes in the fairness of her colleagues despite some of them testifying against her in the hearings on the impeachment at the House of Representatives.
She added that Sereno sees her appearance in the oral arguments as a chance to present her side in the allegations raised by Calida in his petition, though Deinla maintained Sereno’s stance that her presence does not mean a change in her position that the en banc has no jurisdiction to hear the case citing that under the 1987 Constitution, she is an impeachable official and can only be removed from office through impeachment.
For his part, lawyer Jojo Lacanilao, another spokesperson of Sereno, said the Chief Justice would definitely attend the proceeding, which would be held in Baguio City where the en banc is holding its annual summer session.
He said Sereno would still attend the proceeding even if the five justices – whom she earlier asked to inhibit themselves from the case – would refuse to heed her manifestation.
“So far tuloy ang plano, a-attend si Chief Justice sa oral arguments (so far, our plans resume. She will attend the oral arguments},” Lacanilao said in a phone interview.
Sereno, who is currently on indefinite leave, earlier said she is ready to face the impeachment proceedings in the Senate anytime soon.
The SC has set the oral arguments in Baguio City on April 10. (PNA)
