Sereno camp fears unfair deliberations on quo warranto case

A spokesperson for Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Monday expressed doubt that the Supreme Court will fairly reach a verdict on the petition that wants to invalidate Sereno's appointment as top judge.

Lawyer Josa Deinla made this statement nearly a week after the tribunal denied Sereno's motion for five associate justices to inhibit from hearing and deciding on Solicitor General Jose Calida's petition for quo warranto after they testified at the House panel that heard impeachment charges against her.

"Mayroon kaming pangamba na dahil hindi sila nag-inhibit sa kabila ng respectful motions for inhibition na finile ni chief justice sa Korte Suprema ay hindi rin magiging patas 'yung proseso ng deliberasyon na tutungo doon sa magiging pasya ng Korte Supreme," Deinla said at a news forum at the Manila Hotel.

According to Sereno's motions for inhibition, Associate Justices Teresita De Castro, Noel Tijam, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, and Francis Jardeleza exhibited "bias" against and "animosity" toward her for the statements they made at the House justice committee's hearings.

On April 10, shortly before the SC heard oral arguments on Calida's petition, Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio announced all the said motions were denied for lack of merit.

Meanwhile, Deinla said Sereno's team is not worried about impeachment proceedings against the chief justice.

"Ito 'yung matagal na naming pinananawagan na dalhin niyo na diyan sa Senado para magkaalaman, masiwalat ang katotohanan, dahil kami ay confident na lalabas ang totoo, mabibigyan siya ng pagkakataon patunayan ang kanyang panig," Deinla said.

Calida's petition challenges the validity of Sereno's appointment as top magistrate for alleged lack of integrity when she supposedly failed to completely file her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.

Invoking jurisprudence, Sereno countered that she has consistently filed such documents, which are required for all public officials.

On the other hand, the House justice committee has approved six articles of impeachment against Sereno, which may or may not hurdle the House plenary and be transmitted to the Senate.

Sereno has repeatedly expressed her preference for a Senate trial. —KBK, GMA News