MULTISECTORAL group Movement Against Tyranny held a rally in front of the Supreme Court Tuesday morning, April 17, to protest the quo warranto petition filed against beleaguered Chief Justice-on-leave Maria Lourdes Sereno.
The group burned photographs of the five Associate Justices who testified against Sereno during the impeachment hearing conducted by the House committee on justice.
The justices, who have also been urged to inhibit themselves from the quo warranto case against Sereno, are Teresita de Castro, Noel Tijam, Lucas Bersamin, Diosdado Peralta and Francis Jardeleza.
The Supreme Court heard a week ago oral arguments on the quo warranto petition filed by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG).
At the end of the hearing held in Baguio City, Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio ordered both parties to submit their respective memorandum on or before Friday, April 20, 2018.
The OSG wants the SC to nullify Sereno's appointment as Chief Justice over her alleged failure to file her Statement of Assets Liabilities and Networth (SALN) in compliance with requirements of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) when she applied for the post.
During the hearing, Sereno maintained that she has consistently filed her SALN.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives is expected to act on the impeachment complaint filed against Sereno within the first two weeks of the May 15 resumption of its session.
President Rodrigo Duterte, who has declared Sereno as an enemy who must be removed from office, has urged his partymates in the House to vote for her impeachment. (MVI/SunStar Philippines)