Sereno-led opposition ‘doomed,’ Palace says

- Malacañang on Friday, May 18, shrugged off observations that Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has become a rallying figure for the opposition, saying this is “doomed.”

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. described the move as “desperate.”

“I think the opposition is really desperate (to vilify the government). They are looking for a rallying figure, and they chose (the ousted) Chief Justice. They made a wrong move because if we believe all the surveys, Chief Justice is not trusted by the public and has low approval rating,” Roque told reporters in an interview.

“So if she will be the rallying figure for the opposition, you’re doomed,” he added.

Roque’s statement came after Sereno, an appointee of former president Benigno Aquino III who was unseated under Duterte’s watch, urged the President to resign.

On Thursday, May 17, Sereno called for Duterte to step down from office, since it “came from his mouth” that he was the brains behind her ouster.

Sereno’s call was made a day after the President promised to resign, if someone could prove that he was behind Sereno’s ouster.

“He said, if it is proven that it was his act, he will sign. President, resign already,” Sereno said. “It came from his mouth, an admission that he was the one who initiated and pursued my ouster.”

Sereno was removed from office after the Supreme Court voted 8-6 on

May 11 to grant the quo warranto petition that nullified her appointment as the country’s chief magistrate.

The quo warranto petition lodged by Solicitor General Jose Calida argued that she failed to comply with all the requirements for her appointment when she failed to file her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN).

In a statement issued earlier Friday, Roque criticized Sereno for political grandstanding and said she was ultimately responsible for her ouster.

“We have earlier refrained from commenting on the former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno’s call for the President to resign,” Roque said in a statement.

“However, the former top magistrate has been engaged in grandstanding and seeking media coverage, pointing an accusing finger at President Duterte for the result of the quo warranto petition filed against her,” he added.

Sereno is also facing an impeachment complaint at the House of Representatives, but the legislators has deferred action on the articles of impeachment pending the finality of the Supreme Court ruling on the quo warranto petition. Ruth Abbey Gita/SunStar Philippines