Diocese of Bacolod lights candles for ousted Sereno

Diocese of Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon leads at least 200 people in lighting candles to show indignation over the ouster of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. The prayer rally was held in front of San Sebastian Cathedral in Bacolod City Friday night. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The Diocese of Bacolod, through a prayer rally, has expressed indignation over the ouster of Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

Bishop Patricio Buzon led at least 200 people in lighting candles in front of San Sebastian Cathedral in Bacolod City Friday night.

Buzon said they are in deep sorrow after the high court granted the quo warranto petition seeking to invalidate Sereno's appointment by 8-6 votes.

"The move was unconstitutional. It was very pathetic and very ironical,” the bishop lamented, adding that the activity is meant to raise their petition to a "power that is greather than earthly political power."

In his speech, Buzon called on the public to do its part by being vigilant and a "steward of this grace."

“I believe in human efforts and prayer, we will prevail,” he also said.

The church leader said his understanding on the current woes hounding the SC is that there is so much internal squabble among its members, especially that Sereno was too young to be made chief justice.

"What is more sad is that the SC made themselves minions of the administration that doesn’t tolerate any opposition, whether individual or institution, that stand its way in the pursuit of a total, absolute power to control," Buzon said.

This is something very scary, he added.

Prior to the prayer rally, some members of progressive groups, meanwhile, also staged a protest activity in front of the Fountain of Justice.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Negros said the granting of the quo warranto petition to remove the chief justice signals another serious regression in the system of checks and balance in the country.

Its secretary general, Michael de la Concepcion, said the ouster is another act of tyranny that only empowers the executive.

De la Concepcion said it further undermined whatever is left for the separation of powers of the three co-equal branches of government.

"Constitutional safeguards have been demolished in favor of those who already wield tremendous power," he said, adding that "the people reject in the strongest terms this unjust decision of the highest hourt." — BAP, GMA News