The word war between Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and President Rodrigo Duterte continues as the latter slammed the top magistrate anew, now calling her “ignorant” and “dumb.”
The president said it was just right for him to criticize Sereno because her laws are “stupid.”
“You know why I castigated you in public? Because you are ignorant. There was a time we were in the thick of the campaign and you told the public ‘do not submit yourself to an arrest unless there is a warrant for your arrest’ I said I am not going to follow that Madame Justice because your law is stupid,” Duterte said, addressing Sereno upon his arrival in Davao City after his trip to China for the Boao Forum.
Duterte was pertaining to an event in 2016 when Sereno told judges included in the roster of drug suspects not to surrender to cops unless a warrant of arrest is presented. This was a “dumb law”, according to Duterte, because “even an ordinary flunker of law” knows that “there are instances where the military and police and persons in authority and civilians for that matter without a connection in the government can make an arrest, citizen’s arrest.”
Such statements from Sereno only proves why she should be ousted, Duterte said, adding that her stay has been way too long for a “stupid” chief justice.
These remarks were Duterte’s response to Sereno questioning why Solicitor General Jose Calida filed a quo warranto petition against her if Duterte didn’t have a hand in her impeachment proceedings.
Duterte had also declared in public that he is now officially an enemy of Sereno.
(DAILY NEWS ROUND UP FOR 04/ 13 /18)