SC justices who voted vs. Sereno must decline chief justice nominations — Lagman

The eight Supreme Court justices who voted to grant the quo warranto petition against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno should decline their nominations for the top magistrate post, Albay Representative Edcel Lagman said Tuesday.

"The Justices who voted for the ouster of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno in the quo warranto petition must decline their respective nominations for the vacant post of Chief Magistrate," Lagman said in a statement.

"They must not profit from their controversial adverse decision against Sereno," he added.

Lagman issued his call as the Judicial and Bar Council has started its search for the next chief justice.

The eight Supreme Court justices who voted to grant of the quo warranto petition are Justices Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Francis Jardeleza, Samuel Martires, Noel Tijam, Andres Reyes Jr. and Alexander Gesmundo.

Three of them — De Castro, Peralta and Bersamin — are automatically nominated for the post for being senior justices of the court.

Members of the House Magnificent 7 bloc are intending file individual impeachment complaints against the eight justices.

Lagman said those justices who will face impeachment complaints should be disqualified from nomination or appointment as Chief Justice.

"The impeachment complaints are akin to pending administrative and/or criminal cases which bar appointment in the judiciary," he said.

Akbayan party-list Representative Tom Villarin shared Lagman's sentiment.

"Dapat mahiya naman sila! This time inhibiting themselves from applying for the Chief Justice post is common sense and basic decency," he said.

Sereno was removed from her position by a majority vote from her colleagues in the Supreme Court last May 11 over her alleged failure to file some mandatory asset declarations.

Last week, the Supreme Court affirmed their decision after it denied Sereno's motion for reconsideration. — RSJ, GMA News