SC clarifies: Sereno took indefinite leave after en banc consensus

MANILA. The Supreme Court facade. (SunStar file photo)
MANILA. The Supreme Court facade. (SunStar file photo)

MANILA (UPDATED) -- The Associate Justices of the Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday, March 1, clarified that Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has taken an indefinite leave following a consensus reached by the court en banc.

In a statement, the SC en banc said they arrived at a consensus during their session last Tuesday, February 27, that the Chief Justice should take an indefinite leave due to "several reasons."

According to the en banc, after Sereno consulted the two most senior justices, "the Chief Justice herself announced that she was taking an indefinite leave with the amendment that she start the leave on Thursday, March 1, 2018."

It added: "The Chief Justice did not request for the rescheduling of her wellness leave."

The court issued the statement to clarify statement earlier issued by Sereno's spokesperson Jojo Lacanilao, who said the Chief Justice was taking her scheduled "wellness leave" in advance in order to prepare for the expected Senate trial of the impeachment complaint against her.

In its statement, the court en banc said it regrets the confusion that the statements of the spokespersons of Sereno have caused.

The statements, they said, "seriously damaged the integrity of judiciary."

"In the ordinary course of events, the Court expected the Chief Justice to cause the announcement only of what was really agreed upon without any modification or embellishment. This matter shall be dealt with in a separate proceeding," it added.

The justices who signed the statement are Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco, Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Mariano del Castillo, Estela Perlas-Bernabe, Marvic Leonen, Francis Jardaleza, Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, Samuel Martires, Noel Tijam, Andres Reyes Jr. and Alexander Gesmundo.

Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa did not sign the statement. He was on leave.

Carpio will be the acting Chief Justice while Sereno is on leave.

In a separate statement, the Chief Justice confirmed that she had agreed to go on an indefinite leave.

Sereno said had to qualify her leave according to the provisions of Rule 7, Section 6 (c) of the Internal Rules of the Supreme Court as the rules do not contain any provision on indefinite leave.

The said provision states that: "members who are on wellness leave or who are on vacation or sick leave, for at least 15 continuous calendar days shall be exempt from raffle."

Sereno said that although she agreed to go on an indefinite leave, she confirmed that she had requested the Supreme Court to reschedule her wellness leave to study the Rules of Court.

"It is unfortunate that my plan of making use of an already approved wellness leave in relation to an indefinite leave was inaccurately conveyed for which I apologize," Sereno said.

The embattled Chief Justice said she has not resigned and maintained that she will not resign.

"This indefinite leave is not a resignation. I will devote my time to the preparation of my Senate defense and work on the cases in my docket," she ended. (SunStar Philippines)

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