But one opposition party said the ouster of Maria Lourdes Sereno, the country's first woman chief justice, removed a shield against abuse of power in government and left behind a "puppet Supreme Court". By a vote of 8-6, the court granted the government's petition to cancel Sereno's appointment on the grounds of alleged violations in the appointment process. "Maria Lourdes Sereno is found disqualified from, and hereby adjudged guilty of unlawfully holding and exercising, the office of the chief justice," said court spokesman Theodore Te, who read out the decision. "The ouster of our chief justice - this foundation of democracy, this shield against abuse of power in government - has crumbled," it said in a statement. "After having a lapdog Congress and a seriously wounded Senate, we now have a puppet Supreme Court."

Source: bd News24 May 11, 2018 05:37 UTC