Sereno not affected by ‘political noise’ at SC —spokesperson

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno is not affected by the "political noise" at the Supreme Court (SC), her spokesperson said Monday.

Sereno's spokesperson, Jojo Lacanilao, said what they are worried about is the impact on the judiciary of the "high-handed maneuvering" at the high court.

“She knows that, ultimately, such political maneuverings can only erode the judiciary in the long term however gratifying it may be at the moment. She has no interest in feeding her ego,” he said.

Lacanilao issued the statement hours after SC officials and employees, who joined the Monday morning's flag ceremony, wore red in support of the justices who urged Sereno to take a leave of absence.

Ten of the 15 SC justices also joined the flag raising rite, some of them also partly donning red. There was no official explanation for the color coordination.

Some of the justices had given testimonies against her during the House justice panel's hearings on the impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Larry Gadon.

Citing a television interview, Lacanilao said Sereno had talked about discouraging court employees from mounting protests to support her, as what happened during the trial of her impeached predecessor, the late chief justice Renato Corona.

“What you saw were rallies of employees going out of their offices wearing armbands. It was not a measure of anything. It was just that. It was an organized effort of support, that’s all it was,” he quoted the top judge as saying.

He added that Sereno does not count applause or mass support as the measure for how well she performs her job.

“Perhaps it will be a bonus; perhaps it will be a bane. You know why it will be a bane? Perhaps people will think politics is the be all and end all of things. The important thing is that my conscience is correct,” he quoted Sereno as saying.

“Kahit walang palakpak ng tao ... ang justices dapat hindi humihingi ng palakpak. They should render a just decision regardless of applause or criticism,” he said, further quuting Sereno.

Sereno filed an indefinite leave, citing her team's preparations for a Senate impeachment trial.

She has defied many a call to resign, but remains hounded by what she has called "extra-constitutional" efforts seeking her removal from office.

Aside from the impeachment complaint she is facing at the House of Representatives, Solicitor General Jose Calida has filed before the SC a petition for quo warranto against her.

A lawyer of late President Ferdinand Marcos has also sought the SC's nullification of her appointment.

Both pleadings cited her alleged non-compliance with legal requirements, particularly the submission of her Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth, during her application for the position of Chief Justice in 2012. —ALG, GMA News