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Activist priest, advocates formally oppose ouster plea vs. Sereno


A six-person group on Thursday filed an intervention with the Supreme Court questioning the legality of the ouster plea filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

The group was composed of activist priest Robert Reyes and farmer leader Noland Peñas, former Pag-IBIG fund chief executive officer Mel Alonzo, master's student Rey Anne Librado, urban poor advocate Alice Gentolia Murphy and peace and human rights advocate Mardi Suplido.

 

Former Akbayan Rep. Barry Gutierrez and Fr. Robert Reyes (back) lead a group of 'concerned citizens' in filing an intervention suit before the Supreme Court on Thursday, March 22, 2018. The group is expressing its grave doubts on the legality of the quo warranto plea filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida concerning Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. Danny Pata

 

Intervention is a remedy by which a non-party in a case may participate in its litigation in order to protect a right that may be affected by the decision on the case. Whether or not a party can intervene is the discretion of the court.

Like Sereno herself, the group opposed Calida's petition for quo warranto as they maintained that impeachment is the only way provided by the Constitution to remove an impeachable official from office.

They also raised the lapsing of the one-year period from assumption of office within which a quo warranto plea can be filed, and stood by the validity of Sereno's appointment.

"The use of quo warranto to unseat a public officer who has been functioning for a long time would certainly disrupt public service," the group said in a statement.

"Any other charges, such as the incomplete submission of Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, and her psychological tests, can best be explained in the course of a full-blown impeachment trial now at the doorsteps of the Senate," the group said in a statement.

They contended that as Filipino citizens, they "have the duty to defend and protect the Constitution specially preserving the checks and balances" of the government and the independence of the judiciary.

The group is legally represented by former Akbayan congressman Ibarra Gutierrez.

 

 

Calida's petition questions the validity of Sereno's appointment in 2012 over her alleged incomplete submission of her SALNs for her application for the post.

The chief justice has submitted her comment to the petition, and Calida has been directed by the tribunal to reply to her pleading.

Meanwhile, the House justice committee has approved six articles of impeachment against the top magistrate. If these clear the House plenary when Congress resumes session in May, they would be transmitted to the Senate, where Sereno would be tried.

Sereno is on indefinite leave as she prepares for her legal defense for a Senate trial. She has repeatedly asked to be given her day at the impeachment court. —KG, GMA News

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