More judges call for neutrality among magistrates as Sereno faces impeach bid, quo warranto case

Judges from the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Negros Oriental and Municipal Trial Courts in Dumaguete City on Thursday joined the call for neutrality among magistrates as Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno faces ouster bids and pressure to resign.

"Judges, like any other citizen, are entitled to freedom of expression, belief, association and assembly, but in exercising such rights, they should always conduct themselves in such manner as to preserve the dignity of the judicial office and the impartiality and independence of the judiciary," the statement said, quoting Section Six of Canon Four of the New Code of Judicial Conduct for the Philippine Judiciary.

"We believe that in order to preserve the dignity of the judicial office and the impartiality and independence of the judiciary, we must remain neutral and let legal processes take its proper course," the statement said.

The statement was signed by 14 judges.

On Wednesday, judges from regional trial courts in Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin and Bukidnon adopted an earlier statement from the Negros Occidental RTC Judges Association that called for sobriety and prudence. —NB, GMA News

Some court employee and judge groups on Monday asked Sereno to resign.

Sereno has repeatedly rejected the calls.

She is facing impeachment proceedings at the House of Representatives and a petition for quo warranto, which questions her qualifications at the time she was appointed Chief Justice in 2012.

The top judge has been caught on video accusing "the court administrator" as the one behind the quit calls against her.

The incumbent Court Administrator, Midas Marquez, has yet to comment on the matter. —NB, GMA News