Chief justice of the Philippine Supreme Court Maria Lourdes Sereno. (Photo: Philippine Daily Inquirer)Hanoi (VNA) – Chief justice of the PhilippineSupreme Court Maria Lourdes Sereno will start an indefinite leave on March 1but will not resign, amidst reports that rival justices demanded her to quit ina closed-door meeting.
Sereno’s spokesman Jojo Lacanilao told reporters onFebruary 28 that nobody or institution outside the Senate can force the chiefjustice to resign. He added that any action to force her to step down other thanby convicting her in a Senate trial would be unconstitutional.
Sereno did not do anything that can amount to animpeachable offense, and looks forward to the trial where her defence attorneyscould confront her accusers, he said.
The Senate is expected to summon her in March.
A complaint filed by a lawyer cited 27 grounds forimpeachment, including alleged corruption and culpable violations of theinstitution.
Sereno, who was appointed in 2012 by President Rodrigo Duterte’spredecessor, was accused of not declaring her assets and liabilities asrequired by the law, misusing public funds and deciding without consultingfellow justices. But she dismissed all of the counts.
A committee in the House of Representatives will cast aninitial vote on whether to impeach Sereno next week. The chief justice has beenbacked by opposition groups and politicians while a left-wing group of lawyerssaid fellow justices forcing her to step down undermines the high court’sintegrity and respect for the constitution.-VNA
VNA
