IN PHOTOS: Students stand in defiance after Sereno ouster

MANILA. Philippines – Students from various universities in Metro Manila and nearby provinces expressed their disappointment after the Supreme Court granted the petition for quo warranto which ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Friday, May 11. 

Law students of Far Eastern University, in a joint statement, condemned this decision of SC. 

“The Constitution is the supreme law of the land; it is the foundation of all laws and must be given the highest respect. But today, the highest court of the land and the supposed defender of the Constitution neglected this basic principle.” the statement reads. (READ: After SC ousts her, what can Sereno do now?)

University of the Phillippines Los Banos’ Buklod emphasized that this decision “is not only a clear violation of Sereno’s constitutional right to an impeachment process but also an infringement on the independence of the judiciary.”

“With the three branches of the government under the clutches of the strongman Duterte, there is a clear absence of a check and balance mechanism,” the political organization added. 

UP Law Student Government also called the Supreme Court justices to reconsider their decision to ouster Sereno.

“As the last bulwark of democracy, we call on the members of the Supreme Court to reconsider their decision and uphold the oath they took. As final arbiter, we call on the institution to remain steadfast in its duty to independence and impartiality and to uphold the rule of law,” the statement said. 

Students of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) also trooped to España to protest the ousting of the chief magistrate. 

UST Central Student Council (CSC) Secretary-elect Robert Dominic Gonzales stated during the protest that the quo warranto petition against Sereno is unconstitutional since it is not an impeachment case.

Meanwhile, for Jeanne Nicole Naval, CSC Public Relations Officer-elect, the removal of Sereno from office is like a return to the Marcos regime, saying that “[i]t’s like we’re going back to our dark days.” She also urged that “it’s high time for us to protect our nation, to protect our people.”

Here are some photos taken during the indignation rallies held in different universities in Metro Manila. 

– with a report from Philip Jamilla / Rappler.com