UPDATED: SC junks Lozano petition seeking to declare as void Sereno appointment as Chief Justice

(Eagle News) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday junked the petition filed by lawyer Oliver Lozano seeking to declare void the appointment of Maria Lourdes Sereno as Chief Justice.

In a press conference, SC spokesperson Theodore Te said the dismissal was for failure to “provide substantial allegations to justify a cause of action.”

Lozano had said the high court should nullify Sereno’s appointment “in the paramount interest of public welfare.”

Sereno has been on leave since March 1.

Her spokespersons had said this was an indefinite leave she had planned beforehand, but the SC said it was an indefinite leave she was forced to take following a consensus reached by 13 justices.

Sereno’s spokespersons later apologized.

The House justice panel is slated to vote on whether there is probable cause for the impeachment complaint filed against Sereno by lawyer Larry Gadon on Thursday.