CJ Sereno shows up before university students in Baguio

March 3, 2018 Headlines

BAGUIO CITY – Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, who went on indefinite leave as the Chief Magistrate, showed up publicly in Baguio City on Friday morning (March 2) saying, “I do not owe anyone the duty to resign. I owe the people the duty to say my story.”
Speaking at a forum on judicial reform at the University of Baguio, Sereno, while hailing the long list of reforms already undertaken by the judicial branch to speed up the country’s wheels of justice, asks to have a day in court at the impeachment trial to prove her accusers wrong.
Sereno asked everyone to respect the impeachment process as prescribed by law.
The House justice committee has ended its proceedings, and it must now be elevated to the Senate for the trial, she challenged, while urging her accusers who had asked her to step down, “that if they have evidence, why not bring it to the Senate for trial”.
She also called on political leaders at the Senate to give her a day in court, or admit the case against her has no probable cause.
Sereno also firmly vowed she will not step down as Chief Justice and continue with the battle for judicial independence at the High Tribunal. “That is also what I have been consistently saying to those who have asked me to resign. No, I will not. I will give an account of my actions as Chief Justice to the people.” ACE ALEGRE / ABN