MANILA — Members of the Makabayan bloc at the House of Representatives are seeking the reversal of the Supreme Court’s decision denying their plea to intervene in the quo warranto case against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.
The seven-member bloc composed of Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, ACT Teachers Reps. Antonio Tinio and Frances Castro, Gabriela Reps. Emmi de Jesus and Arlene Brosas, Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao, and Kabataan Rep. Sarah Jane Elago filed a motion for reconsideration on Tuesday.
In a statement, the bloc said the allegations in the quo warranto petition are “clearly the same” as some of the contents in the articles of impeachment, particularly with the issue of Sereno’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth.
“Clearly, this present quo warranto petition is but a form of forum shopping intending to derail and hijack the ongoing impeachment process to the prejudice of all Intervenors. Also, the prayer of this present quo warranto petition is the ouster or removal of Chief Justice Sereno from her post,” the solons said.
They raised the possibility that the quo warranto proceeding would overtake the impeachment process in Congress.
They further noted that if the high court declares Sereno’s appointment as invalid, then the decision would render the impeachment process in Congress moot and academic.
“Clearly, such a scenario is to the prejudice of the legal rights of Intervenors, who as Members of Congress, have the collective and exclusive constitutional right to initiate all cases of impeachment. As such, Intervenors have a clear legal interest in the matter in litigation,” they added.
They said the attempt to shift the arena on the issue of Sereno’s ouster from the impeachment process towards a quo warranto process “deprives the citizens and taxpayers of their participation, since the resolution of the ouster or removal of Sereno will now be under the hands of our Justices, albeit not elected public officials.”
The SC held the oral arguments on the quo warranto petition at the Supreme Court Session Hall in Baguio City on Tuesday. (With reports from Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)
