(Eagle News) — The Palace on Friday, May 18, lashed out at Maria Lourdes Sereno, following her comments President Rodrigo Duterte was behind the Supreme Court decision nullifying her appointment.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made the scathing comment a day after he refused to dignify her claims.
“..The former top magistrate has been engaged in grandstanding and seeking media coverage, pointing an accusing finger at President Duterte for the result of the quo warranto petition filed against her,” he said, in explaining why he issued the statement.
He said “we consider this unfortunate, for the truth is, four other fingers point to her.”
In the first place, he said “she herself violated the Constitution by not filing her (Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth), and she herself managed to alienate her own colleagues at the High Court,” and not President Duterte, who he said enjoys high satisfaction, approval, performance and trust ratings.
She “should closely look at the mirror to see who is behind the Supreme Court ruling,” he said.
In nullifying Sereno’s appointment as chief magistrate with a vote of 8-6, the Supreme Court dismissed Sereno’s claims she could only be removed via impeachment as an impeachable official.
In its 153-page decision, the High Court said impeachment and quo warranto could proceed “independently and simultaneously,” the former being political in nature, and the latter being judicial in nature.
