NUPL lawyer: Quo warranto petition vs. Sereno undermines constitutional process

A lawyer from the National Union of People's Lawyers (NUPL) on Wednesday said the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG)'s petition for quo warranto against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno "undermines the constitutional process" of the government.

"In principle it undermines the constitutional process. What can stop everybody next time from removing the other impeachable officers? To be very kind, it's noble but to be very candid, it's stretch... It's a stretch. Why? It's a firm principle that impeachable officers can be taken out of office through impeachment," lawyer Edre Olalia told GMA News Online.

Olalia also deemed the move as "orchestrated acts" of individuals who want the top magistrate out of office and power.

"It's a grand design. Sa Supreme Court nag-force ng indefinite leave, sa Congress dinidribble 'yung hearing sa committee bakit di pa ipasa sa Senate? These our not isolated acts but orchestrated acts," Olalia said.

Solicitor General Jose Calida challenged before the High Court Sereno's appointment in 2012 due to her alleged violation of incomplete submission of Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs)

Sereno, who is currently on indefinite leave, has been given by the Supreme Court ten days upon receipt of notice to comment on Calida's petition for quo warranto.

Her camp already called for the pleading's dismissal. — RSJ, GMA News