On moves to oust Chief Justice Sereno

W(Resolution No. 7, Series of 2018) hereas, the administration has launched systematic and coordinated efforts to remove Ma. Lourdes Sereno as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court;

Whereas, under the Constitution, the Chief Justice maybe removed only by House impeachment and Senate trial for the grounds listed under the fundamental law;

Whereas, the House after more than six months of public hearings, is set to vote on the predetermined articles of impeachment which will then be sent to the Senate for hearing;

Whereas, Solicitor General Jose Calida ostensibly at the behest of Malacañang, recently filed a petition for quo warranto with the Supreme Court, despite his knowledge that the petition is beyond the one-year requirement and the fact that only the Senate can remove a Chief Justice through impeachment; Whereas, the coordinated and well-synchronized effort to remove the Chief Justice deserves the condemnation of all decent Filipinos because it is an assault on our republican system and a betrayal of the Constitution.

Now, therefore, on mass motion of the members of FLAG, and seconded by the same, resolved as it is hereby resolved to condemn in the strongest possible terms, Malacañang’s effort to remove a sitting Chief Justice for being tyrannical and despotic, in gross violation of the Constitution.

Done in the City of Cebu this 7th day of March, in the year of our Lord, 2018.--Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) Region 7