Sereno wants some SC justices to inhibit from quo warranto case

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has asked some of her fellow Supreme Court (SC) justices to inhibit from hearing the ouster plea that questions the validity of her appointment to the top judge post.

Lawyer Jojo Lacanilao, one of Sereno's spokespersons, confirmed Wednesday that they have filed motions for inhibition, less than a week before the SC en banc, with Sereno present, holds oral arguments on Solicitor General Jose Calida's petition for quo warranto.

"Yes, we feel that there are enough grounds to file a motion for inhibition on certain justices for the Quo Warranto petition. We have filed such motions today and will file another one tomorrow," he said in a text message to reporters.

He declined to identify the justices, but a report by Cecil Villarosa on Super Radyo dzBB identified them as Associate Justices Noel Tijam, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, and Francis Jardeleza.

The four magistrates testified at the House justice committee's hearings on the impeachment complaint against Sereno. The same panel has approved six articles of impeachment, including one on issues surrounding her wealth disclosures, which will be voted upon by the House plenary.

Calida's petition challenges Sereno's appointment over her alleged incomplete submission of the required number of Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth to the Judicial and Bar Council when she was applying for the chief justice post in 2012.

Sereno has sought the dismissal of this plea but will attend the oral arguments on April 10 to personally answer questions from her fellow justices. —KBK, GMA News