“I don’t owe anyone the duty to resign. I owe the people the duty to tell my story,” she says
(Eagle News) — Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Friday reiterated she would not resign, adding she would “give an account of (her) actions as Chief Justice to the people.”
“I ask only one thing from the political leaders, only one thing—give me my day at the Senate or admit that there is no probable cause,” Sereno said before law students in Baguio.
Sereno made the statement on the second day of her indefinite leave, which her spokespersons said she would use to prepare for her defense in the impeachment trial against her in the Senate.
She also made the pronouncement a day after her spokespersons were rebuked by the Supreme Court after they said her leave that began on March 1 was not an indefinite leave the High Court had forced her to take, but a wellness leave which she had planned earlier.
Sereno’s spokespersons have since apologized, but the SC said their acts would be discussed in a separate hearing.
“Judicial independence can only be realized when we allow our courts to exercise its constitutional mandate free of intimidation,” Sereno said.
“I will give an account of my actions as Chief Justice to the people. I don’t owe anyone the duty to resign. I owe the people the duty to tell my story,” she added.
The House justice panel wrapped up on Tuesday its hearings aimed at determining whether there was probable cause for the impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Larry Gadon against Sereno.
Voting for the same will be done next week, House panel chair Reynaldo Umali said.