(Eagle News) – From a 15-day “wellness leave” to an “indefinite leave.”
This is what Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has decided to do, according to her lawyers, so she can prepare for a grueling impeachment trial at the Senate soon.
Sereno’s lawyers Joselee Deinla and Jojo Lacanilao said that the chief magistrate has no intention of resigning, and only opted for a wellness leave and then an indefinite leave.
“We just want to emphasize na si Chief Justice Sereno ay wala pong intensyon to resign at all from her post as Chief Justice,” Lacanilao said.
In a press conference, Deinla also said that Sereno could still sleep peacefully at night, and that her conscience was clear.
They also tried to downplay evaluations done by psychologists and psychiatrists who earlier tested the Chief Justice that she had mental conditions that would not qualify her for the job as the head of the Supreme Court.
Sereno, in her letter to the Office of the Clerk of Court, said she needed to go on an “indefinite leave” to prepare for the Senate impeachment trial.
She said that she herself will “fully set out” her “defenses to the baseless charges” when she faces the Senate during the expected impeachment trial against her.
“On the matter of my leave, please take note that due to the demands of the Senate trial where I intend to fully set out my defenses to the baseless charges, I will take an indefinite leave, until I shall have completed my preparation for the Senate trial, a portion of which will be charged against my wellness leave under A.M. No. 07-11-02-SC (Re: Wellness Program of all justices for 2018),” her letter read.
I will be submitting the requisite forms to the Clerk of Court,” she said in the letter she had signed.
The letter dated February 27, 2018 was addressed to Atty. Anna-Li-Papa Gombio, the Supreme Court’s Deputy Clerk of Court.
Sereno’s spokesperson Atty. Lacanilao said it was only Sereno who knows the “endpoint” of her indefinite leave.
“Kung hanggang kailan po yun, siya po ang magde-decide. It’s indefinite in the sense that hindi natin alam ang endpoint. Pero hindi po yun forever,” Lacanilao explained in a press conference.
Lacanilao earlier said that Sereno would only be having a “wellness leave” that will be advanced on March 1.
He said it was originally scheduled from March 12 to 23, but that Sereno just decided to advance this on Thursday, March 1, and that it was supposed to end on March 15.
“Meron siyang scheduled na wellness leave sa March. Talagang na-schedule na yun, matagal na. Ina-advance niya lang, February na rin ngayon, para makapag-prepare na rin siya sa Senate trial,” Lacanilao said.
Malacanang, commenting earlier on the “wellness leave” said this was a “personal matter” for the Supreme Court chief justice.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that the Palace hopes Sereno will take opportunity of her leave to “reflect on her time and legacy at the Supreme Court.”
“As the Chief Justice takes her wellness leave, we hope she would take this as an opportunity to reflect on her time and legacy at the Supreme Court and to consider what would be best for the institution which she heads as top magistrate,” he said.
Before the Palace released a statement, there were reports coming from certain sources that Sereno had been prevailed upon by her colleagues at the high tribunal to go on an “indefinite leave” because of the compelling evidence that had come out during the Lower House’s impeachment hearings.
The House committee on justice completed its impeachment hearings tackling the impeachment complaint against Sereno on Tuesday, February 27, after an executive session with the psychologists and psychiatrists who had earlier analyzed the mental fitness of the Chief Justice in 2012 when she was still one of the applicants for the post.
“Naniniwala po kami sa impeachment process na nagsimula po sa House hearing at natapos na po sila at hindi naman po kami magkakaila na ina-anticipate po namin na madedesisyunan po ang House na i-impeach si CJ Sereno,” Lacanila said.
Congress is set to vote on the complaint next week. After this, it will be the Senate which will conduct the impeachment trial.
(Eagle News Service, with a report from Meanne Corvera)