Thrice declared a nuisance presidential candidate, lawyer Ely Pamatong on Wednesday initiated a quo warranto proceeding against President Rodrigo Duterte — an apparent attempt to parrot the legal action Solicitor General Jose Calida used to unseat Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on May 11. The suspended lawyer petitioned the high tribunal to annul the victory of the PResident in the May 2016 balloting for his supposed failure to file a certificate of candidacy on time. But Pamatong’s petition against the President may be headed straight to the trash bin. The ruling, which Sereno has challenged through a motion for reconsideration, has proved to be divisive. Lawyers’ groups and lawmakers have condemned the ruling, saying it violated the Constitution because justices and other high officials like the President could only be removed through impeachment.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer June 06, 2018 23:03 UTC