THE quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida seeking to oust Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno from her post is illegal, an opposition lawmaker said Monday. Rep. Edcel Lagman of Albay, also a lawyer, said that Calida’s petition questioning the validity of the appointment of Sereno as Chief Justice in August 2012 passed the prescriptive period of one year as provided under Rule 66, Section 11 of the Rules of Court. “The quo warranto petition gives the seven justices the opportunity to pursue their scheme in removing the chief magistrate without waiting for the constitutional process of a Senate impeachment trial. The quo warranto petition inveigles the Supreme Court to violate the Constitution by usurping the power of the House of Representatives to impeach the Chief Justice and the jurisdiction of the Senate to try and judge her,” Lagman said in a statement. Lawyer Larry Gadon filed the impeachment complaint against Sereno for alleged corruption, betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution.

Source: Manila Times March 05, 2018 06:11 UTC