Photo credit: Hataw Tabloid
Supreme Court to Decide on Quo Warranto on May 11
Supreme Court insiders gave information that the SC Justices agreed to a special en banc meeting on May 11. This is highly unusual given that the SC is in recess and is scheduled to return to work only in June. The only possible reason for them to convene at this time is for them to “go for the kill” and decide on the Quo Warranto petition against CJ Sereno.
They want CJ Sereno out of the SC before Congress reconvenes and decides on the impeachment case, and sends the Articles of impeachment to the Senate. If the SC is able to do that, the House can declare the impeachment case moot and academic and no longer has to act on it. This is tantamount to the SC usurping the power and authority of the Senate, because according to the Constitution, the Chief Justice may be removed only by impeachment in a Senate trial.
By removing CJ Sereno by Quo Warranto, she will be denied her day in court, and she will be denied her right to defend herself against the slanderous accusations hurled against her in the House Committee of Justice hearings.
This is why it is critical that we do everything possible to stop the SC from making the biggest mistake they will ever make by deciding on the Quo Warranto petition. We must demand that Congress finish what it started and bring the impeachment case to the Senate as soon as possible.
Statement on Quo Warranto on PDI
We gathered over 300 names of prominent and influential people in government, arts, civil society and the church in support of a public statement against the Quo Warranto petition against CJ Sereno. The statement was published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer on May 2. (please see attached pdf file of the ad).
Prominent politicians who lent their names to the statement included former VP Teofisto Guingona, former Senator Rene Saguisag, Senator Antonio Trilanes and Senator Kiko Pangilinan, Congressmen from the Makabayan Block, and other former government officials.
Also included were National Artists Bien Lumbera and BenCab, filmmakers Lav Diaz and Mike de Leon, writers Ricky Lee and Krip Yuson, directors Joel Lamangan and Anton Juan, and actors John Arcilla, Jaime Fabfegas and Agot Isidro.
Catholic Church leaders included Archbishop Antonio Ledesma of CDO, six other Catholic Bishops, and dozens of priests and nuns. Evangelical and Protestant church leaders included Bishop Ef Tendero, Bishop Noel Pantoja of PCEC, Padi Rex Reyes of the NCCP, Bishop Dan Balais of IFP and Bishop Leo Alconga of PJM.
In the statement we urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the Quo Warranto petition against CJ Sereno, reminding them that it is illegal and unconstitutional and poses a serious threat to the independence of the judiciary. We also called on them to inhibit the five (5) SC Justices who testified at the House Committee on Justice and showed their bias against CJ Sereno. We called on the five biased justices to inhibit or else they should resign.
The newspaper ad became headline news the next day. Check out the news item on the Inquirer. (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/987257/senate-urged-to-fight-for-right-to-try-cj). We heard from SC insiders that it caught the Justices by surprise. They didn’t realize that CJ Sereno had that kind of public support.
As a follow up, a wealthy donor sponsored the re-publication of the ad in the Philippine Star on Monday May 7. Please watch out for it.
Lobbying at the Senate
A group of over forty prominent people who were signatories to the statement also held a press conference at the Senate. The group urged the Senators to prevent the Supreme Court from usurping their power and authority to discipline the Chief Justice.
The group included Bishop Dan Balais, Bro. Mon Orosa, former Rep. Teddy Casino, and former CHR Commissioner Etta Rosales. They gave the office of the Senators a visit and were met by the chiefs-of-staff of the Senators. The Senators were not available as the Senate is still in recess. The Senate will reconvene on May 15, 2018.
The lobbying effort was covered by the media and even made it to the frontpage headline in Philippine Daily Inquirer on May 3. Check out the PDI acticle: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/987052/senators-urged-to-act-on-sereno-quo-warranto
As a result, we were able to get Sen. Franklin Drilon to state on behalf of the Senate minority that impeachment is the only means by which CJ Sereno may be removed from office. Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto also called on the Supreme Court to stop its Quo Warranto hearings. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/987412/recto-backs-senate-action-vs-sereno-quo-warranto
Dasal at Ayuno
Pastor Jack Hesed Alvarez, an Evangelical pastor from Payatas, along with four Catholic volunteers have started a 10-day fast at Padre Faura near the Supreme Court from May 1-10 to protest the Supreme Court’s actions regarding the Quo Warranto against CJ Sereno. The 10-day fast was dubbed Dasal at Ayuno Laban sa Quo Warranto, Para sa Katotohanan at Katarungan.
https://www.rappler.com/nation/201606-sereno-quo-warranto-manifesto-fasting
Dasal at Ayuno was originally planned to be held from May 12-20 in anticipation of a May 17 SC decision. But when with the move by the SC to meet on May 11, we had to scramble to put the prayer and fasting event by May 1.
Dasal at Ayuno will highlight the impact of a compromised judicial system on the many issues of injustice happening in the country. Each day of the fast is dedicated to prayers for a sector/issue, including a mini-forum on that issue or sector of society.
May 2 (Wed): Human Rights/EJK
May 3 (Thu): Political Persecution
May 4 (Fri): WPS and Threats to Sovereignty
May 5 (Sat): Urban Poor issues-ENDO, TRAIN
May 6 (Sun): Rural Poor Issue – Agrarian Reform, IP Rights
May 7 (Mon): Media Repression and Fake News
May 8 (Tue): Environmental Justice
May 9 (Wed): Women and Peace
May 10 (Thu): Quo Warranto and Judicial Independence
Please check the attached infographic for the daily schedule.
We are calling on Christians from every church in Metro Manila, and even from nearby provinces to take part in Dasal at Ayuno. We need as many people as possible to pray and fast in Padre Faura in solidarity with these courageous men and women of faith who have committed to this 10-day sacrifice.
We also call on people to contribute resources to support the requirements of Pastor Jack and his companion during their fast. They need lots of bottled mineral water (distilled water will not do) and Pocari. They also need strong mosquito repellent during the evenings. We need to borrow stackable chairs and sleeping cots for the duration of the fast as well.
Ptr. Caloy Diño
Lead Convenor, Coalition for Justice
