(Left-Right) Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno; Pres. Rodrigo Duterte
MANILA, Philippines — Supreme Court Chief Justice on leave Maria Lourdes Sereno started early in lambasting her critics after receiving recognition earlier at a commemoration program for the Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor).
“Akala po nila malungkot tayo ano? Akala nila nalulugmok tayo ano ho? Nagsisimula pa lang tayo. Hindi nila alam nag-eenjoy tayo sa laban para sa demokrasya,” Sereno said.
(They think we’re feeling sad. They think we’re going down. We’re just starting. They don’t know that we’re enjoying fighting for democracy.)
For the first time, the chief justice pointed at President Rodrigo Duterte whom she alleged to be behind her ouster bids.
“Kaya’t humihingi po ako ng sagot. Ganoon po ba Pangulong Duterte?” she asked.
(That’s why I’m asking for an answer. Is that how it is President Duterte?)
“Sasabihin na naman po ng kaniyang spokesperson wala ho siyang kinalaman—pero matalino ho ang Pilipino. Nakakaintindi po sila,” said the chief justice.
(His spokesperson will again deny that he [Duterte] had anything to do with it — but the Filipinos are smart. They can understand.)
This has prompted the president to order House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez during a press briefing before leaving for the Boao Forum in China, to fast-track Sereno’s impeachment trial.
“Ikaw Sereno, sinabi ko na sa iyo hindi ako nakialam. If you are insisting then count me in and then I will egg Calida to do his best. Ako na mismo rin kalaban sa iyo,” said the president.
(You Sereno, I have already told you that I did not interfere. If you are insisting then count me in and then I will egg Calida to do his best. I myself will fight you.)
“Alam mo ganito, sinabi ko na kay Chief Justice Sereno, ‘I am not into the habit of maghabol ng kalaban. I have no history of that,'” Duterte said.
(This is what I said to Chief Justice Sereno, ‘I am not into the habit of running after enemies. I have no history of that’.)
The president also threatened the chief justice over the latter’s tirades against him.
“Sige ganyan daldal ng daldal, o sige upakan kita. I will help in the investigation. Talagang upakan kita. So I am putting you on notice that I am now your enemy and you have to be out of the Supreme Court,” said Duterte.
(You keep on yapping, I’m really going to get you. I will help in the investigation and I will really take you down. So I am putting you on notice that I am now your enemy and you have to be out of the Supreme Court.)
The plenary has to tackle and vote for the articles of impeachment before the case can be forwarded to the Senate for the impeachment trial. — Mai Bermudez | UNTV News & Rescue
The post Sereno accuses Duterte of interfering in impeachment case against her appeared first on UNTV News.