(Eagle News) – Supreme Court chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno is taking a “wellness leave” starting Thursday, March 1, and Malacanang is advising the chief magistrate to take this as an “opportunity to reflect on her time and legacy at the Supreme Court.”
The decision of Sereno to go on a “wellness leave” was relayed to the media by her spokesperson, Atty. Jojo Lacanilao who said that this leave will be used by the Chief Justice to prepare for the expected impeachment trial at the Senate.
Lacanilao said that Sereno has a scheduled “wellness leave” from March 12 to 23, but that she just decided to advance this on Thursday, March 1. The leave will supposedly last until March 15.
“Meron siyang scheduled na wellness leave sa March. Talagang na-schedule na yun, matagal na. Ina-advance niya lang, February na rin ngayon, para makapag-prepare na rin siya sa Senate trial,” Lacanilao said.
Malacanang, commenting on the “wellness leave” said this was a “personal matter” for the Supreme Court chief justice.
-Time for reflection-
“The decision of Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno to file a wellness leave is a personal matter,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.
“We are confident that there would be no interruption on the day-to-day operations of the High Court and services would continue unhampered,” he said.
Roque said that the Palace hopes Sereno will take opportunity of her leave to “reflect on her time and legacy at the Supreme Court.”
“As the Chief Justice takes her wellness leave, we hope she would take this as an opportunity to reflect on her time and legacy at the Supreme Court and to consider what would be best for the institution which she heads as top magistrate,” he said.
Before the Palace released a statement, there were reports coming from certain sources that Sereno had been prevailed upon by her colleagues at the high tribunal to go on leave.
Some of the justices even allegedly wanted Sereno to go on an indefinite leave, according to the other reports.