SC junks ex-Marcos lawyer Lozano's petition to void Sereno's appointment

The Supreme Court (SC) has dismissed for failure to provide substantial allegations the petition of a former lawyer of the late ex-president Ferdinand Marcos seeking the nullification of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno's appointment in 2012.

SC Public Information Office chief Theodore Te told reporters at a briefing that the petition was dismissed for lawyer-petitioner Oliver Lozano's "failure to provide substantial allegations to justify a cause of action."

In his petition filed last week, Lozano asked the high tribunal to declare void the top magistrate's appointment in 2012.

"The appointment of Chief Justice Sereno is questioned as void for the non-compliance with mandatory legal requirements for her appointment," he said in his two-page petition.

It also cited the impeachment complaint against Sereno, as well as the "protracted and scandalous controversy" that arose from questions on the validity of her installation to her post.

This alleged controversy and the impeachment proceedings, Lozano said, have caused "deep division and dissension in the Bench and Bar."

While this petition was junked, the quo warranto plea of Solicitor General Jose Calida has hurdled initial en banc (full court) scrutiny.

Sereno has been given 10 days to comment on the chief government lawyer's petition challenging the validity of her appointment over her alleged incomplete submission of declarations of her wealth. —NB, GMA News