SC upholds Sereno’s removal

THE Supreme Court (SC) chief justice post was declared vacant on Tuesday after its justices voted 8-6 to uphold the ouster of Maria Lourdes Sereno by quo warranto last month.

The vote, which was the same as that which granted the quo warranto petition of the solicitor general on May 11, was made in an en banc session addressing her appeal to reconsider her ouster.

The SC Public Information Office released a media briefer announcing the decision on Sereno’s appeal to overturn the May 11 decision.

The media briefer states: The Supreme Court En Banc, during its session today, in the matter of G.R. No. 237428 (Republic of the Philippines, represented by Solicitor General Jose C. Calida v. Maria Lourdes P. A. Sereno), DENIED WITH FINALITY respondent’s Motion for Reconsideration of the Court’s May 11, 2018 Decision. For purposes of Article VIII, section 4, para. 1, the 90-day period for filing the vacancy in the Office of Chief Justice commences today, 19 June 2018.