{"id":24256,"date":"2014-08-29T16:40:40","date_gmt":"2014-08-29T08:40:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=24256"},"modified":"2014-08-29T19:43:34","modified_gmt":"2014-08-29T11:43:34","slug":"sc-is-an-independent-court-sereno","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2014\/08\/29\/sc-is-an-independent-court-sereno\/","title":{"rendered":"SC is an independent court — Sereno"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Wikipedia<\/a>
Wikipedia Photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

MANILA \u2013 Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno reiterated the Supreme Court\u2019s independence adding that their loyalty lies not in any branch of the government, but in the Constitution.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt should be clear to everybody that the Supreme Court could only be loyal to the Constitution,\u201d she said in a meeting with the media on Thursday.<\/p>\n

The chief justice called on the public to keep their faith in the high court, adding that the court\u2019s strength is rooted in public trust and that \u201cthe judiciary is strong if the people believe in it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is always important for me to uphold the independence of my office on a daily basis,\u201d she said. \u201cIt is important that people see that the Chief Justice has the Constitution first and foremost on her mind, and her devotion to duty and her loyalty to country is always unquestioned.\u201d<\/p>\n

The statement was made by the chief justice several hours after President Aquino made a statement over the radio saying that he is open to amend the constitution to keep the judiciary\u2019s power in check.<\/p>\n

Aquino made the statement following the SC\u2019s declaration of several parts of the administration\u2019s Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) to be unconstitutional.<\/p>\n

Aquino also called on the justices to disclose their statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs), as a move to a greater transparency in the judiciary.<\/p>\n

Despite these statements, Sereno gave no direct response.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have enormous respect for the President and I\u2019m sure he also respects the office of the Chief Justice,\u201d she said. \u201cThe professionalism with which I conduct myself must be consistent. I do not read anything into his (Aquino\u2019s) statements,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I am, what we are is an independent court, and that should remain the way it is,\u201d she said. \u201cWe are going to assure our people that \u2026 that our independence will be maintained to the end,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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