De Lima hugs Sereno, while humorous tweets abound about new CJ's age

After a sportsmanlike hug with her rival, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Saturday insisted she has no rancor against new Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, whom President Benigno Aquino III has chosen to head the judiciary. De Lima, who voiced bitter disappointment over her disqualification from the race for the post, said she was just being honest with her feelings at the time. “I have no rancor whatsoever. When the Judicial and Bar Council decided to disqualify me... I tried to be honest with my feelings. I’ve said my piece, okay lang, no rancor,” she said in an interview in Malacañang, according to a report by radio dzBB’s Tuesday Niu.

Justice Sec. Leila de Lima (right) congratulates newly appointed Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno for landing the top judge post, in the latter's oath taking ceremony in Malacañang Saturday. Jay Morales

De Lima also cited Sereno’s youth and “dynamism” to bring about “a judiciary worthy of the people’s trust.” Meanwhile, Malacañang asked the public not to take against Sereno her dissenting opinion that was used by the prosecution in the trial of impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona earlier this year. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail said it was natural for the prosecution to use whatever piece of information to bolster its case. “Perhaps that was something that cannot be controlled by Chief Justice Sereno. Hindi niya alam 'yan gagamitin siguro ng prosecution. That is something that should not be taken against her," Valte said on government-run dzRB radio. During Corona’s trial, Sereno issued a dissenting opinion when the Supreme Court stopped the Senate impeachment court from opening Corona’s dollar accounts with the Philippine Savings Bank. She also wrote a “partly” dissenting opinion when the high court ruled to give prosecutors in the impeachment court limited access to court documents. On the other hand, Valte declined to comment on a viral hashtag on Twitter that generated humorous references to Sereno’s age, #CJpasiSereno. Sereno at 52 is the second youngest Chief Justice ever elected, and may stay at her post for the next 18 years before reaching the retirement age of 70. “That is also something that should not be taken against her, no comment na lang tayo riyan," she said. Tweeps tweeted their jokes on what could happen in the next 18 years while Sereno is still Chief Justice. Some of the jokes went: — LBG/HS, GMA News