Philippines Supreme Court expels chief justice

The Philippine Supreme Court voted on Friday to remove Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno for allegedly failing to file statements of assets and liabilities as required by law.

Court spokesman Theodore Te said eight of 14 justices voted to expel Sereno from the 15-member tribunal. Sereno, the country's first woman chief justice, denies the allegation and did not participate in the vote.

Sereno has been at loggerheads with President Rodrigo Duterte, who has called her an "enemy" for voting against many government proposals.

She also has been speaking up for the respect of law and human rights, referring to Duterte's brutal crackdown on illegal drugs that has left thousands of suspects dead.

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Sereno is the first chief justice to be removed by her peers. She is the second top judge to lose the position after her predecessor was impeached for non-disclosure of wealth. The Congress, controlled by Duterte's allies, was due to vote on an impeachment complaint against Sereno next week.

Sereno's position is vacant with immediate effect and the court has ordered the judicial and bar council to begin a new selection process, Te said.

Sereno's spokesman said she would appeal the decision.

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'Let's defend the constitution'

Emerging from the Supreme Court after the decision, Sereno asked hundreds of protesting supporters to organize a movement to defend justice and accountability.

"Let's continue to defend the constitution and fight wrongdoing. Let's continue to spread the message of democracy and reason," she told the crowd.

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Opposition parties denounced Sereno's removal.

Senator Risa Hontiveros called it "a direct stab to the heart of our Constitution", while her Akbayan party said the country was "a heartbeat away" from the death of its democracy.

"After having a lapdog Congress and a seriously wounded Senate, we now have a puppet Supreme Court," the party said in a statement.

Senator Francis Pangilinan, who heads the opposition Liberal party, called Sereno's removal "a mockery of the constitution."

ap/ng (Reuters, AP)

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