(Eagle News) — Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo on Saturday, May 12, said it was “out of character” for President Rodrigo Duterte to intervene in the affairs of a separate branch of government.
Panelo made the pronouncement in a radio interview following insinuations by some Duterte had a hand in the Supreme Court decision that nullified Maria Lourdes Sereno’s appointment as Chief Justice.
“Unang-una, ni hindi nga siya nakikialam sa kaniyang mga departamento, sa kaniyang mga Cabinet members, eh lalo na sa ibang sangay ng gobyerno. Walang kinalaman si Presidente diyan,” he said.
In a landmark decision, the SC, voting 8-6, granted the quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida against Sereno.
Calida had argued Sereno lacked integrity, and was thus not qualified to apply for the position of Chief Justice in 2012 in the first place.
Sereno has dismissed the allegations.
She is also facing an impeachment complaint in Congress.
House justice panel chair Rey Umali has said that the impeachment complaint would be processed regardless of the outcome of the petition.
If the committee report and the Articles of Impeachment get a one thirds vote of the plenary, they would be transmitted to the Senate, which will convene as an impeachment court.
But Senate President Koko Pimentel has said senators would probably vote to determine if the impeachment trial, if any, should push through.
