Supreme Court employees’ groups and a judges’ association are demanding the resignation of Supreme Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno from her post.
The groups wore red during the weekly flag raising ceremony, urging the chief justice to voluntarily hand in her resignation. “Kami po ay nananawagan, para na rin po sa kapakanan ng buong Sambayanang Pilipino, na kayo ay bumaba na sa puwesto bilang Punong Mahistrado o Chief Justice,” the statement of several groups, including the Philippine Judges Association, read.
Supreme Court Employees Association President Erwin Ocson said that the impeachment case against Serene has placed the Judiciary in dispute. He also internal problems in the high court during Sereno’s term of office, including what he called “slow pace of promotions and benefits”.
“Ang puno’t dulo nito ay yung mga policies na ginawa ng ating punong mahistrado na nakaapekto sa ating mga empleyado, noon pa man ay marami na kaming hinaing na hindi naaaddress,” he said.
“Sa usapin ng promotions, once a year lang kami nagkakaroon ng promotions at delibarations so nagkaroon ng demoralization among the ranks dahil hindi nagmomove itong mga emplodo supposed to be matagal na sa serbisyo.”
Ocson added that Sereno had talked to them before in which they opened up their concerns toward the Chief Justice.
Sereno, on Monday, said she will not heed the calls on her resignation, saying that “Out of love for the judiciary, I must continue my course. I will not resign.”
If she resigns, the chief justice said, other high-ranking officials could be the next victims of those in power.
Meanwhile, former Chief Justice Hilario Davide expressed that the employees’ and judges’ call for the resignation of Sereno is “alarming”.
According to Davide, the public call of the groups is “worse than the impeachment and quo warranto” cases against Sereno.
“At least, in the first two [impeachment and quo warranto], constitutional and statutory processes are resorted to and the requirements of fairness and due process may appear to be satisfied with. The call or demand to resign openly disregards these requirements,” his written statement read.
Davide also said that judges should follow due process, instead of trial by publicity.
Main photo credit ABS-CBN
