Lawyers’ groups troop to SC to condemn Sereno ouster

Around 30 members of at least two lawyers' groups on Tuesday trooped to the gates of the Supreme Court (SC) to urge the challenging of the historic decision that ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

Protesters including former Bayan Muna party-list representative Neri Colmenares, National Union of People's Lawyers president Edre Olalia, and Free Legal Assistance Group chairman Jose Manuel Diokno wore black armbands and held up black posters condemning the "unconstitutional" SC verdict.

Mga taga-suporta ni dating Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, nag-rally sa harapan ng Korte Suprema. | via @CecilVillarosa pic.twitter.com/PciZSpKbMC

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) May 15, 2018

Colmenares warned of the consequences of the 8-6 vote that granted Solicitor General Jose Calida's petition for quo warranto, which sought the nullification of Sereno's appointment as chief justice over an alleged lack of integrity.

"Ang unang implikasyon ng decision sa quo warranto, matatanggal nila ang chief justice. Si President Duterte ang mag-a-appoint bagong chief justice na sunod-sunuran kay President Duterte," he said.

As he spoke, actress Mae Paner, better known through her stage name Juana Change, portrayed Lady Justice with a sword driven through her stomach, her white dress stained with blood as she held up the scales of justice.

When it ousted Sereno last Friday, the SC also declared the position of chief justice vacant and ordered the Judicial and Bar Council to commence the application and nomination process for the next top judge.

Colmenares also warned that the SC decision instills "fear" on all impeachable officials across the independent constitutional bodies—the commissions on elections, audit, civil service, and the Office of the Ombudsman.

"Ang pangalawang epekto nito, ang impeachable officials sa buong bansa, lahat ng independent constitutional bodies [ay] takot na takot na ngayon kay President Duterte at sa kanyang SolGen, kasi baka i-quo warranto rin sila," he said.

"Isa sa rare moments sa history natin... bihirang nangyayari ito. Grabe ang control ng isang Presidente sa judiciary," Colmenares added.

The former lawmaker then highlighted the role of the legal community in the aftermath of the historic SC decision, which some say might lead to a "constitutional crisis."

"Napakahalaga rin ng papel ng legal community para hikayatin pa ang ibang abogado, ang ibang law students na tumaya dito sa isyung ito dahil laban ito ng sambayanang Pilipino," he said.

Sereno is expected to appeal the SC decision. —KG, GMA News