MANILA, Philippines – A week before the Supreme Court (SC) is rumored to decide on her removal, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno warned that granting the quo warranto petition filed against her could lead to the erosion of judicial independence.

“Wala pong safe sa atin kasi saan tayo pupunta kung ang mga matatapang na huwes, lahat sila pwede lang ipatanggal?” she said in a forum organized by supporters’ group #AkoyIsangSereno on Saturday, May 5

“Wala na korte at mawawalan kayo ng matatakbuhan kasi lahat ng judges ay tatakutin ng Solicitor General,” Sereno added.

(No one is safe anymore because the courageous judges can easily be removed. There will be no courts and all the judges will be threatened by the Solicitor General.)

The SC en banc is expected to vote on the quo warranto petition this May.

Many groups have opposed the petition, with some even publishing a manifesto and holding a fast near the SC. Several law groups, including the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, highlighted the petition’s grave effect on the Constitution if granted. 

Sereno also said that granting the petiton could lessen the avenues Filipinos can count on when facing injustice.

“Kung manalo ang quo warranto, mapupunta tayo sa diktaturya,” she said. “Talagang wawasakin completely ng quo warranto na ito ang judiciary.”

(If the quo warranto is granted, we will go into dictatorship. This will completely destroy the judiciary.)

Bring case to Senate

Instead of the quo warranto petition, Sereno said that the impeachment case against her should be brought to the Senate instead.

“Simulan ninyo na po ang paglilitis ko sa Senado,” she said. “Kung hindi, umamin ang House committee on justice na walang basehan ang mga gastos na ginawa sa buwan-buwang paglilitis,” Sereno said. 

(Start my trial at the Senate already. If not, the House committee on justice should just admit that the expenses they incurred during the months that they deliberated on the case have no basis.)

She added: “Aminin na nila na wala talaga silang kaso.” 

(They should just admit that there’s no really case at all.)

Senate President Aquilino “Kiko” Pimentel III had said that in the event that the SC decides to remove Sereno just as the Senate has convened as an impeachment court, the upper chamber of Congress can decide on the validity of the High Court’s action.

House leaders, however, earlier said they are inclined to follow whatever the SC does.

Inhibit for fairness

Without naming names, the Chief Justice also hit the “unfairness” that SC justices who have previously voiced out their opinion against her at the House are still allowed to participate in the voting. (READ: As quo warranto decision nears, Sereno hits SC for ‘unfairness’)

She has so far sought the inhibition of 6 justices: Associate Justices Samuel Martires, Teresita Leonardo de Castro, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Francis Jardeleza, and Noel Tijam.

Five petitions were dismissed by the SC. The petition for Martires’ inhibition was just filed on Friday, May 4. – Rappler.com