(Eagle News) — Former President Benigno Aquino III on Friday, May 11, slammed the decision of the Supreme Court to declare the appointment of Maria Lourdes Sereno as Chief Justice nullified.
“Kung ang batas at malinaw na, di na kailangan ipaliwanag pa. Klaro ang nasa Saligang Batas: ang impeachable officer, sa pamamagitan lang ng impeachment maaalis sa puwesto,” Aquino, who appointed Sereno as chief magistrate, said in a statement.
According to Aquino, “kung anuman ang magiging paliwanag ng mayorya, ang makikita lang natin ay isang pilit na pilit na desisyon.”
“Ang tanong ngayon: Gaano kaya kaasim ang desisyong pilit nilang isusubo sa atin?” he said.
The quo warranto petition was filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida.
Calida had argued, among others, that Sereno did not exhibit integrity when she applied for the post in 2012, a requirement for applicants to the chief magistrate post.
For this, Calida argued that Sereno did not submit all her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth when she was teaching at the University of the Philippines.