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Associate Justice Maria
Lourdes Sereno had been chosen as the 24th new Supreme Court Chief Justice
of the Philippines last Aug. 24, 2012. She was proclaimed into office the
following day. Being only 52, she may hold office for 18 years until she reaches
the mandatory retirement age of 70 by 2030.
Selection
Amidst the nation’s
mourning over Sec. Jesse Robredo’s demise, Pres. Noynoy Aquino had to choose
among five short listed candidates from the Judicial Bar Council of the Philippines
because there was a deadline. He had 90 days to select from the time former CJ
Renato Corona was impeached last May 30. Thus, Sereno was selected. The chosen
five were selected from the original 22 nominees (minus 1 who was not even
interviewed by failing to submit requirements) who were subjected to both
public and JBC scrutiny during the panel interview which was broadcasted over
live television. Some of the strongest contenders were not even included in the
short list. One of which was Sec. Leila de Lima of the Department of Justice.
She was disqualified due to three pending disbarment cases against her.
First Female Chief Justice
Sereno being appointed as
the new SC chief justice is both phenomenal and historical. She is the first
ever female chief justice in the entire history of the Philippines. The
selection process followed was also the first of its kind. The country’s president
did not simply choose from his own constituents and rather opened the door for
nominations. The live panel interview for SC CJ nominees broadcasted over national television is
also something we haven’t seen before.
Sereno is actually one of
the newest associate justices (former now). She was delegated into the Supreme
Court on August 2010 when Corona was appointed by former president Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo into an obviously midnight appointment. This was the same
reason why SC even allowed GMA to leave the country to seek medical assistance
abroad last year.
A Malacanang Ally?
Sereno actually opposed
the SC’s decision to let GMA go but it was Corona who can influence the other
magistrates into siding with him. These factors were used during
the impeachment trial against Corona. In fact, Sereno was invited to take the
witness stand but the impeachment court composed of Philippine senators
refused.
Corona was impeached not due to this though and was removed from his post by virtue of undisclosed statement
of assets and liabilities (SALN) citing the same example of how Delsa Flores, a
court interpreter in Davao del Norte was sacked by not disclosing ownership of
a public market stall. She was deprived of all her benefits including
retirement and was banned from government employment since the court decision
in 1997.
With Sereno’s stand against
Corona’s ruling over GMA’s plight last year, she may not be a direct ally of
Malacanang but her opposition to anything pro-GMA is already an indication that
she won’t be a nemesis of the current government. It’s not even about being
anti or pro-GMA anyway. It’s about whether it is right or not to let the former
president leave the country despite pending cases against her.
De Lima sympathizes with
this thought. She had sent police enforcers at the airport to prevent GMA from departure
despite the Supreme Court’s temporary restraining order, allowing her for a
flight abroad. The same incident had caused a rip between the SC and DOJ. With
Sereno now holding the highest judicial post in the country, the SC’s issue
with the DOJ may soon be resolved knowing that both heads of these offices
agree on the same side of the law.
Final
Thoughts
Despite opposing views on
how the law of the land is interpreted; thus, there’s always two sides, Sereno
hopes to regain people’s trust on judges again, particularly the magistrates of
the Supreme Court. During her interview with the JBC, she points to God as her
inspiration and source of passion in life. She further said on quote "When we try to render justice, we are also trying to
replicate, mimic, copy the work of God."
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