Sereno leave indefinite; Carpio acting chief justice
SENIOR ASSOCIATE Justice Antonio T. Carpio has taken over Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes P.A. Sereno’s post in an acting capacity, following the full court’s clarification Thursday that Ms. Sereno’s leave is indefinite.
“After extended deliberations last Tuesday Feb. 27, 2018, thirteen (13) of the Justices present arrived at a consensus that the Chief Justice should take an indefinite leave,” Theodore O. Te of the Supreme Court’s (SC) Public Information Office (PIO) said on Thursday, reading a statement by the full court.
“Several reasons were mentioned by the various justices. After consulting with the two most senior justices, the Chief Justice herself announced that she was taking an indefinite leave, with the amendment that she start the leave on Thursday, March 1, 2018.”
Mr. Te said only Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa was unable to sign the statement as he was on leave.
The full court’s statement read further: “The Court En Banc regrets the confusion that the announcements and media releases of the spokespersons of the Chief Justice have caused, which seriously damaged the integrity of the Judiciary in general and the Supreme Court in particular.”
“In the ordinary course of events, the Court expected the Chief Justice to cause the announcement only of what was really agreed upon without any modification or embellishment,” the statement also read, adding:
“This matter shall be dealt with in a separate proceeding.”
“In view of the foregoing, the Court En Banc considers Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno to be on an indefinite leave starting March 1, 2018. Senior Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio shall be the Acting Chief Justice.”
Ms. Sereno’s spokespersons held a press conference Tuesday afternoon, with lawyer Jojo A. Lacanilao saying in part: “In behalf of the spokespersons of the CJ, we would like to apologize to the Supreme Court and the House committee on justice for any confusion over the last few days on the issue of CJ Sereno’s leave.”
Mr. Lacanilao also read Ms. Sereno’s statement which explained in part, “I had agreed to go on an indefinite leave, but I am also bound by the appropriate administrative rules.”
“The rules do not contain any provision on ‘indefinite leave.’ I had to qualify my leave according to the provisions of Rule 7, Section 6(c) of the Internal Rules of the Supreme Court which reads ‘(c) Members who are on wellness leave or who are on vacation or sick leave, for at least fifteen (15) continuous calendar days(,) shall be exempt from raffle...’ and the Resolution dated January 23, 2018 (A.M. No. 07-11-02-SC)...on the matter of my approved wellness leave.”
“It is unfortunate that my plan of making use of an already approved wellness leave in relation to an indefinite leave was inaccurately conveyed for which I apologize.”
Ms. Sereno’s statement concluded thus: “I have not resigned and I will not resign. This indefinite leave is not a resignation. I will devote my time to the preparation of my Senate defense and work on the cases in my docket.”
Sought for comment, University of the Philippines political science professor Aries A. Arugay said in part, “This time, the fissures are not between branches but within the SC itself.”
In his news conference on Thursday, Oriental Mindoro Representative Reynaldo V. Umali said the House committee on justice, which he heads, is set to vote March 8 on establishing probable cause in the impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Lorenzo G. Gadon.
The congressman added that his committee is drawing up a list of possible prosecutors in the impeachment trial in the Senate. — with