Former Chief Justice Hilario Davide, AP photo (left photo). Nine Supreme
Court justices, five of them wearing red neckties, join employees during
Monday’s flag-raising ceremony, an event called “Red Monday” to show
their disapproval of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, INQ
photo—MARIANNE BERMUDEZ (right photo).
e
Pinoys use the phrase “only in the Philippines” to highlight many of the
peculiar things we Filipinos do. While this website mostly refrains from
using that phrase, we believe it is apt this time around.
The
seemingly orchestrated initiatives by groups demanding the resignation
of Philippine Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno have gone from
tolerable, to ridiculous, to “only in the Philippines” can something
like this happen. Malacañang has gone out of its way to distance itself
from impeachment efforts against the chief justice, but it is worth
noting that it was no less than President Rodrigo Duterte’s Solicitor
General, Jose Calida, who filed a case questioning her appointment as
Chief Justice.
In
an article on March 13, 2018, the Philippine Daily Inquirer noted that
among the groups calling for Sereno to step down are: the Philippine
Judges Association (PJA), Supreme Court Employees Association (SCEA),
Supreme Court Assembly of Lawyer Employees, Philippine Association of
Court Employees, and Sandiganbayan Employees Association.
“It
is time to let go. Please let the judiciary move on,” read a statement
by the Philippine Judges Association. Also, during the flag-raising
ceremony inside the High Court’s compound on Monday, March 12, court
employees, including some justices wore red to show they disapproved of
Sereno.
The
Inquirer article also quotes presidential spokesperson Harry Roque who
said in a press briefing “We’ve left the decision to her. No one can
force her to resign if she doesn’t want to. However, I think the
sentiments even of the lower court judges have been made known. We can
only hope the Chief Justice will take these sentiments into
consideration.”
It
took a well-respected former Chief Justice, Hilario Davide, to point out
that what these groups are demanding is wrong. Davide statement read: "I
wish to express my deep and profound concern over the apparent
politization of the Judiciary. I refer particularly to recent calls from
certain judges and court employees for the Chief Justice to resign
immediately. The call is far worse than the impeachment and the quo
warranto." Davide pointed out that the constitutional process of
impeachment should be allowed to run its course. Groups—especially those
made up of lawyers and judges should not call for the circumvention of
the impeachment process by demanding that Sereno step down. Let the
constitutional process proceed as required by law.
Only
in the Philippines will you have judges and
lawyers—legal minds who should know better—making such a demand versus
due process.
So
let us all take a step back and let the legal process run its course.
It will take longer, but if the Senate, convened as an impeachment
court, does its job well, then the verdict will be fair. Then and
only then, can the judiciary, and the rest of the country, move on.
Published 3/14/2018 |