Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno is holding “hostage” the appointment of the first Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte. Sereno has refused to release the appointment papers of outgoing Sandiganbayan justice and now incoming SC Associate Justice Samuel Martires. Sammy (Martires’ nickname) does not want her to swear him in],” one the SC justices told The Manila Times. The justices said Sereno wants Martires to “knock at her door” and get his appointment papers from her. Under the procedure in the SC, the appointment papers of justices and judges are transmitted by Malacanang to the Chief Justice.

Source: Manila Times March 08, 2017 13:52 UTC