The camp of ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno welcomed on Saturday the remarks of a United Nations expert, saying that the move to oust Sereno was a “serious threat” to the judiciary. Josa Deinla, Sereno’s spokesperson, tagged UN Special Rapporteur Diego García-Sayán as a “formidable force” speaking up for the judicial independence in the country. ADVERTISEMENT“As we have been saying consistently, this decision favoring the quo warranto petition of the solicitor general will impair judicial independence whether decisionally or institutionally,” she said. In a statement issued on Friday, García-Sayán said the ouster of Sereno is sending a “chilling effect on the Philippine judiciary. READ: Sereno appeals to SC: Do what is right and justADVERTISEMENTThe high tribunal voted 8-6 on May 11, finding Sereno “guilty of unlawfully holding and exercising the Office of the Chief Justice.” /jpvREAD: Sereno kicked out by fellow SC justices in close 8-6 vote

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer June 02, 2018 08:48 UTC