Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has warned that any moves to impeach her will endanger the country’s democracy, and reminded judges to resist political pressure and uphold judicial independence.
“These are challenging times and it is difficult to keep on saying no to the powers that be, but this is part of the sacred trust for which we have made our vows,” she said during a speech on Monday at the unveiling of the new Regional Trial Courts Building.
Sereno said that it was vital for judges to be independent and to “uphold the Constitution and the rule of law dictated never by political winds, but by our conscience and the power of our convictions.”
She gave the speech as the House of Representatives is about to start impeachment hearings against the chief justice.
“This is getting to be larger than myself. This is no longer just about me. It is about democracy,” Sereno said in an earlier television interview.
She insisted on her right to be represented by her counsels during the impeachment hearing scheduled tomorrow, Wednesday, before the House of Representatives committee on justice.
Sereno had earlier submitted two letters to the House Justice committee insisting on her right to be represented by her lawyers during the impeachment hearing.
The House Justice committee headed by Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo V. Umali had wanted Sereno to attend the hearing set on Wednesday, November 22, on the impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Lorenzo Gadon.
But one of her spokespersons, lawyer Jose Deinia, ruled this out.
Some of Sereno’s lawyers are also against the Chief Justice appearing before the House of Representatives hearing, saying the lawmakers allied with the Duterte administration will just humiliate Sereno.
They insisted that lawyers can represent Sereno during the impeachment hearing, and also to cross-examine alleged witnesses against her.
Another Sereno spokesperson Jojo Lacanilao also cited the chief justices’ constitutional rights to counsel, as well as the right to cross-examine the complainant and the witnesses through her lawyers
He said these are the “same rights that are guaranteed to every citizen of this country to ensure due process.”
“This is what our Constitution clearly says,” Lacanilao said.
(with a report from Agence France Presse)