Former CJ Sereno to join anti-Duterte SONA protest

Former Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno (fifth from left) joins the United People’s SONA press conference in Quezon City on July 16, 2019. Joviland Rita

Former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno revealed on Tuesday that she would be joining progressive organizations in their July 22  protest during President Rodrigo Duterte's fourth State of the Nation Address.

“Makikiisa ako doon sa mga lumalaban para sa demokrasya. Maaaring hindi ako dati nakikita ngunit hindi ibig sabihin hindi ako magpapakita,” said Sereno during the anti-Duterte United People’s SONA press conference.

“Kaya yung mga hindi natin nakikita sa ganitong larangan na pagkilos, magpakita na ho kayo,” she added.

On July 22 progressive groups will gather along Commonwealth Avenue to hold their own United People’s SONA, which will last from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m..

Among the matters the progressives were protesting against were Duterte's failure to defend national interests in the West Philippine Sea, the president's alleged strong-arm tactics against his critics, economic policies destroying local agriculture and manufacturing, and the Charter Change push.

Sereno urged Filipinos not to be afraid, but rather to participate in the protest in their own ways.

"Maraming ho tayong paraan. Sa ating social media, sabihing: 'Tama na. Sobra na.' Ibig sabihing ibalik natin ang tama. Iwaksi ang mali," she said.

Sought for comment, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte encourages people to express their grievances against the government.

“Under the Constitution, legitimate grievances against the government can be freely expressed,” he told reporters.

“Ang problema 'pag you perform acts which are seditious, which are defined by law. Like for instance, when you incite people to hate a particular public official like the President, that’s seditious; you incite them to not to follow the laws, that’s seditious.”

Panelo agreed that citizens should fight for democracy.

“Aba eh, sama ako sa kanya kung lumalaban siya sa demokrasya dahil dapat talaga ipagtanggol natin ang demokrasya,” he said.

“But if she refers to those who are critics and detractors of the administration meaning that she has not joined them in the last few months, well I think the opposition will welcome her. We will be amused watching her.”

Also during the press conference, Sereno slammed Duterte for the thousands of deaths from the government's war on drugs.

“Ngayon lang ho na nagkaroon tayo ng pangulo na nagsabing, 'kill, kill, kill.' Pati ang mga obispo isinama na,” Sereno said. “Binago niya ho ang timpla ng ating pananalita, ng ating pananaw, ng ating puso. Hindi ho pwede yun. Kailangan wakasan na.”

As to a possible People Power revolt against Duterte, Sereno said, “Ang sinasabi ko po huwag matakot ang mga Pilipino.”

In May 2018, Sereno was removed from her post as Chief Justice when the Supreme Court voted 8-6 to grant a quo warranto petition filed against her by Solicitor General Jose Calida. — DVM/BM/LDF, GMA News