Youth leaders hit Duterte over Sereno’s ouster

Leaders of several allied youth groups on Wednesday condemned President Rodrigo Duterte for the ouster of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, which they said further reveals his bid to consolidate government power.

Urging the youth to participate in mobilizations on May 18 and May 23, the first anniversary of the declaration of martial law in Mindanao, the student leaders said booting out "victim" Sereno was a step of Duterte's towards dictatorial rule.

Sparking protests, the Supreme Court (SC), voting 8-6, last Friday granted Solicitor General Jose Calida's petition that sought the nullification of Sereno's appointment as top judge over an alleged lack of integrity.

Critics of the historic decision, which Sereno is expected to appeal, have called it "unconstitutional," arguing that impeachment was the only way allowed by the Charter to remove members of the high tribunal.

"Talagang galit ang mga estudyante natin. Hindi nakakulong sa legal na teknalidad. Malinaw sa kanila na ito ay parte ng pag-konsolida ng kapangyarihan, nung tiraniya ni Duterte," said Kabataan Party-list deputy secretary general Angelica Reyes at a press conference in Quezon City.

Sereno had initially confirmed attendance to the event but canceled at the last minute.

Kara Taggaoa, national spokesperson of the League of Filipino Students, called Duterte "desperate" in fusing government powers.

"Duterte is so desperate to consolidate the powers of the government but let the youth remind Duterte na wala kang mahahawakan na mas malakas na kapangyarihan kasya sa kapangyarihan ng mamamayang Pilipino na tumitindig at lumalaban para sa kanilang mga karapatan," she said.

The SC that ousted Sereno is the same tribunal that affirmed some policies and acts of the Duterte administration, such as the burial of the late former President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, and the year-long extension of the declaration of martial law in Mindanao. —KG, GMA News