I stand with the current and 24th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines Maria Lourdes Punzalan Aranal Sereno in the impeachment cases filed to her by former Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) Senatorial candidate and Attorney Larry Gadon, the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), and others mainly regarding her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Networth (SALN).
The 24th and current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines - Maria Lourdes Punzalan Aranal Sereno. Photo from SC website.
This impeachment case is nothing but a political vengeance against an appointee of a former President just like what happened to her predecessor, Renato C. Corona when he was ousted into the Supreme Court.
The incumbent Chief Magistrate has been accused of having undeclared assets, not filing of SALN during her stint as University of the Philippines (UP) Law Professor, unpaid taxes including interests and surcharges in practicing her profession as a lawyer, lavish lifestyle, unnecessary expenses, usurpation of authority, and betrayal of public trust, among others.
Despite attacks coming from other personalities, including her colleagues in the Supreme Court who forced her to take an indefinite leave, Sereno remains confident that she will surpass these obstacles in the judiciary and finally to work as the leader of the government's arm of hearing and settling cases involving violation of laws.
The Supreme Court building at Padre Faura, Manila. Photo from Mark Saludes/Rappler.
The Supreme Court of the Philippines Seal. Photo downloaded from Wikipedia.org.
It is also a great opportunity for the current administration to remove her into power as Sereno is set to retire in 2030 - a time when the President Rodrigo Duterte has already stepped down being the one who appoints the Supreme Court's head. So the chance to appoint a Duterte Chief Justice is an impossible thing according to the present Constitution.
The Supreme Court in an En Banc session. Photo courtesy of Rappler.com
It could also be seen as a personal revenge of former Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) now Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary and incumbent Speaker of the House of Representatives Pantaleon Alvarez when he lose the case representing the Philippine International Air Transport Corporation (PIATCO) against the then lawyer and now CJ Sereno. And since the impeachment cases are filed at the House of Representatives (HOR), he can influence his fellow lawmakers to endorse these cases.
I strongly believe that the Chief Justice is INNOCENT of all the issues thrown against her and that she fulfilled the will of the Constitution by serving with utmost responsibility and sense of nationalism as what public servants must do. All of these baseless accusations shall be put into nothing as "truth always prevail over deceit and evil".
That is why I join the Filipino nation in this battle against the autonomy of the Judiciary and to the one and only Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P. A. Sereno.
Chief Justice Sereno in an interview with Rappler. Photo from Rappler.com
So together, let's stand with CJ Sereno! Fight for the independence of the Judiciary!
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