Chief Justice Sereno sworn in

MANILA, Philippines (2nd UPDATE) – Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno took her oath of office before President Benigno Aquino III on Saturday morning, August 25, less than a day after she was appointed to the country’s highest judicial post.

Sereno, the Philippines’ first woman chief justice, took her oath at 10 am in the Rizal Hall of Malacañang. She was accompanied by her husband, Mario Jose, and two children, Maria Sophia and Jose Lorenzo.

Members of the Cabinet, including Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, who vied for the post but was later disqualified, attended the ceremony and congratulated her.

Sereno, 52, will serve for 18 years until she reaches the retirement age of 70. She is the 24th person to head the country’s Supreme Court, replacing Renato Corona who was dismissed on May 29 for failing to disclose P183 million in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth.

“The President is confident that Chief Justice Sereno will lead the judiciary in undertaking much-needed reforms. We believe the judicial branch of government has a historic opportunity to restore our people’s confidence in the judicial system,” said Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda in a statement.

SC ‘in good hands’

De Lima, once a rival in the race for the post, welcomed Sereno’s appointment, saying the SC is now “in good hands.”

“Her youth, her dynamism, and her brilliance would go a long way in ensuring that we can look forward to a judiciary that would be worthy of the people’s trust,” de Lima said in an interview following Sereno’s oath-taking.

Asked how she feels, knowing she could have been the one sitting in the position, de Lima said: “Ganoon naman talaga (That’s just the way it is) I guess I did my best in convincing my colleagues in the JBC (Judicial and Bar Council). It’s just that may balakid nga (there was an obstacle), the disqualification… [which] I did not really anticipate.”

“I have no rancor or whatsoever. I just said my piece when the JBC decided to disqualify me. But that’s it. After saying my piece, it’s okay, no rancor,” she added, noting she has always been “honest” about her feelings.

The JBC, the body that screens applicants and nominees for judicial posts, disqualified de Lima on the day it finalized the shortlist of candidates for chief justice. Her disqualification came after the Integrated Bar of the Philippines stood pat on its decision to probe the disbarment cases against her.

Under JBC rules, nominees with disbarment and administrative cases cannot be appointed to judicial posts.

Independence

Many are hopeful Sereno would be able to bring about change at the SC, whose transparency was questioned due to controversial decisions it made in the past.

Interviewed by the JBC on July 27, Sereno herself said SC insiders like her can reform the high court. “I hope the people see that there are many competent magistrates, reform and strength can come from within,” she said. (Watch more in the video below.)

Sereno’s independence, however, is now put under public scrutiny after she voted in favor of the Aquino administration on key political cases.

The prosecution in Corona’s impeachment trial, for example, initially tapped her as witness until the SC barred her from appearing before the impeachment court. Sereno also dissented in the majority SC opinion that ordered the distribution of Hacienda Luisita to farmers.

The Cojuangco side of the Aquino family owns the controversial sugar estate.

But Sereno, in an interview after she was named, vowed to be independent. “There are great things that we can do as a nation,” she told reporters. “We must just rely on the Almighty God whom the Constitution has actually asked us to continue pleading to.”

Sereno’s term will outlast that of Aquino, with the next three presidents expected to have her as chief justice. Lacierda said this is nonetheless constitutional, and expressed hope that “reforms will take root” in the judiciary with Sereno’s appointment.

Ateneo School of Government Dean Tony La Viña said she was an “excellent choice,” but others warned she would face resistance from SC insiders and may be given a difficult time. – Rappler.com

More in #SCWatch:

• SC must return to ‘dignified days of silence’ – Sereno
• ‘Woman CJ not necessarily pro-woman’
• Next 3 presidents will have Sereno as CJ
• Sereno is 1st female chief justice
• 22 official candidates for Chief Justice
• JBC to interview CJ candidates starting July 24
• 25 accept nominations for chief justice
• Questions for chief justice candidates
• JBC should review process of choosing CJ
• Besides JBC, Palace has judicial search committee
• CONVERSATIONS: How should the JBC choose the next chief justice? #SCWatch