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Church groups in 10-day vigil for 'democracy's death' for Sereno ouster


In protest of the Supreme Court en banc's vote to oust Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, church groups members are on the 10-day  vigil in front of the SC building along Parde Faura Street in Manila.

A report on Super Radyo dzBB said that members of Gomburza, a cause-oriented group of priests, nuns, and brothers headed by activist "running priest" Fr. Robert Reyes and the National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA), the social action arm of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), placed a coffin symbolizing the  death of democracy at the center of their vigil Friday night.

Edilberto Guyano, a representative from CBCP-NASSA, told GMA News Online that the vigil will last for 10 days.

"The initial plan is, the vigil for the death of democracy with the unconstitutional ouster of Lourdes Sereno as chief justice, will be done for 10 days," Guyano said.

"We agreed in a meeting with Fr. Reyes of Gomburza and NASSA, the vigil will end on Pentecost Sunday," he added.

Likewise he said that the daily highlight of the vigil is a Mass, requiem Mass sort, to be done every 6 p.m.

Gomburza and NASSA believe that Sereno's ouster through the quo warranto petition was unconstitutional as the 1987 Constitution was clear that the chief justice and other impeachable officials can only be removed through impeachment. 

Voting 8-6 on Friday, SC en banc ousted Sereno for granting the quo warranto petition filed against her by Solicitor General Jose Calida.

"This decision is immediately executory," said lawyer Teodore Te, the SC spokesperson, in a press briefing announcing the high court's decision on Calida's petition.

Reading from the ruling, Te said Sereno "is found disqualified from and hereby adjudged guilty of unlawfully holding and exercising the office of the chief justice." —LBG, GMA News

 

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