OUSTED Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Friday, May 11, rallied her supporters to form a movement that will continue to defend the Constitution against "those in power who believe they are not bound by law".
"Ang araw na ito ay hindi katapusan kundi simula lamang. Sa araw na ito, lipunin natin ang ating tapang at iparinig ang ating nagkakaisang tinig. Hindi na tayo maaaring manatiling tahimik dahil ang nananahimik ay magiging katumbas ng pagiging kasabwat sa kanilang pang-aabuso," she said as she read a prepared speech in Filipino shortly after the country's highest court voted 8-6 to grant the quo warranto petition that sought to invalidate her appointment in 2012 as chief magistrate.
(This is not the end, but just the beginning. Let us join forces and let our unified voices be heard. We can no longer afford to stay silent because staying silent means you support the abuses.)
Read: Supreme Court ousts Sereno
"Isantabi muna natin ang ating mga pagkakaiba dahil may mas malaki at mas malakas na kalabang kailangan nating lahat na harapin," she added. (Let us put aside our differences because we all have to face a bigger and stronger enemy.)
Her speech was met with outrage and cheers by her supporters, who kept screaming "Laban" (fight) and "Galit kami" (we are angry) throughout her speech.
Vice President Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo, for her part, also called for unity in defense of the Constitution and democracy.