Calida: SC ruling vs. Sereno a ‘triumph of justice’

Solicitor General Jose C. Calida. (PNA photo)

MANILA — “A triumph of justice.”

This was how Solicitor General Jose Calida described the Supreme Court’s decision affirming the quo warranto petition, which ousted Ma. Lourdes Sereno from the Chief Justice post.

“Well of course, being the Solicitor General I’m happy with the result. To me, This is a triumph of justice. The Supreme Court ruled in our favor to uphold the majesty of law that no one is above the law even if she is a chief justice,” Calida told reporters Tuesday.

Earlier, Calida said the removal of Sereno as top magistrate has maintained the stability and integrity of the judiciary, the decision being an epitome of judicial independence.

Calida also asked the Filipinos to continue the fight against those who intend to undermine the stability and integrity, not only of the judiciary, but the government as a whole.

Sereno: Fight not yet over

Sereno, meanwhile, vowed to continue to be a strong voice in defending the country’s laws and democratic institutions, and in exacting accountability from people in government.

“I stand before you now, stripped of my authority and my position by an unjust decision. But I do not have to be Chief Justice to defend our laws and institutions. I live the law, so do all Filipinos who uphold the dignity of every fellow Filipino,” Sereno told her supporters who gathered at the University of the Philippines shortly after the High Court released its verdict on her plea.

“The Constitution will be our moral compass, and genuine democracy and social justice will be our true north,” she said.

Sought for comment, lawyer Jojo Lacanilao, one of Sereno’s spokespersons, said they are not surprised by the High Court’s decision.

“We were not actually surprised by the final result of the SC decision but we remain convinced that the decision is unjust and will be questioned by the people for a long time to come,” Lacanilao said.

Asked on what will be Sereno’s next step, Lacanilao said she will continue to be the voice of the people against injustice though he declined to comment further on the matter.

“Vacate her office and continue to be the voice for the people,” Lacanilao said.

In a press briefing after the High Court’s en banc session on Tuesday, SC Spokesman Theodore Te said the SC denied with finality the motion for reconsideration filed by Sereno, who is the first top magistrate to be removed from office through quo warranto proceedings.

According to Te, the voting stayed at 8-6 in favor of the quo warranto case against Sereno last May 11.

Those who voted to grant the quo warranto petition against Sereno were Associate Justices Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Francis Jardeleza, Samuel Martires, Andres Reyes Jr., Alexander Gesmundo, and Noel Tijam – who penned the Court’s decision.

Meanwhile, those who dissented were Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco, Mariano Del Castillo, Estela Perlas-Bernabe, Marvic Leonen and Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa.

In its decision, the SC ruled that Sereno’s failure to submit her SALNs as law professor at the University of the Philippines would mean “her integrity was not established at the time of her application,” making her ineligible to hold her position.