The crack seems to be getting bigger.
The news that Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno filing an “indefinite
leave” last week, alleging that she will need the time to plan and strategize
for the impeachment complaint filed against her.But news also got out that her
colleagues pressured her to file for a leave, to which the spokesperson of the
Chief Justice denied.
House Justice Committee chair Rey Umali of the House of
Representatives in one instance also told media that he was tipped by several
justices about the “forced leave” of Sereno.
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| Justice Antonio Carpio and Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno (photo credit to CNN Phils.) |
And for the record the acting chief magistrate Antonio
Carpio has come forward in an interview with ANC’s “Headstart” regarding that
controversy.
The justices asked Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno
to go on an indefinite leave to “preserve” the integrity of the judiciary,
acting chief magistrate Antonio Carpio said.
“There’s a discussion on how to best preserve the
integrity of the Supreme Court, how to insulate the Supreme Court from the
trial [and] from all of these political moves,” said Justice Carpio.
Carpio noted that the justices want to prove that the
Supreme Court would not be affected by the impending impeachment trial against the
embattled Sereno.
“The public was saying it’s affecting our work
already. So we wanted to show to the public that no, the Supreme Court is
functioning normally. There will be no problem with the impeachment because the
chief justice is going on leave,” acting CJ Carpio said.
Carpio, the acting chief justice clarified that it was
the consensus of all the justices, including Lourdes Sereno that she goes on
leave.
“Some justices asked the chief justice to go on an
indefinite leave so she can prepare her defense at the Senate. There were a
debate, discussion and the result was the chief justice agreed on indefinite
leave,” Carpio said. *
The move by the colleagues of Sereno gave rise to the
speculations that it was a prelude to ousting the former President Aquino
appointee without impeachment.
Sereno, clarified that she will not be resigning from
her post and even gave a parting shot to her detractors to give her the
opportunity to be heared.
“Give me my day in the Senate impeachment court or
admit that there is no probable cause,” Sereno said.
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