Philippines: Embattled Supreme Court Leader Ends Leave

The embattled leader of the Philippines’ highest court ended two months of forced leave when she returned to office Wednesday after using the time to prepare for her defense of a possible impeachment trial.

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, who publicly questioned several of President Rodrigo Duterte’s policies, returned to the bench to resume her constitutional duties as head of the judiciary, her spokesman, lawyer Carlo Cruz said.

Sereno also completed preparation for her legal defense against an impeachment complaint which has remained pending a vote in the House of Representatives.

The house justice committee in March voted overwhelmingly to find probable cause to impeach Sereno over allegations of culpable violation of the constitution, betrayal of public trust, corruption and other high crimes. Among others, she is accused of living a lavish lifestyle and of not declaring her real net worth in an alleged violation of court rules.

The allegations were made by a lawyer with known ties to politicians allied with Duterte, who publicly asked the House to speed up Sereno’s impeachment.

Two-thirds of the 292-member house must vote for impeachment to unseat her, but Sereno has said she was expecting to be impeached since majority of the seats were controlled by allies of Duterte. If that occurs, the senate would convene in an impeachment court and try the case.

“She is ready to face her accusers in the senate, sitting as an impeachment court, to defend herself and tell the Filipino people the other side of the story: the truth,” Cruz said.

Sereno is within her rights to end her leave and return to office. Preventing her from doing so would likely result in a constitutional crisis, observers have said.

Sereno returned to the court two days before the 15-member bench decides on a petition filed by a private lawyer questioning her legal right to hold office.

Cruz noted that Sereno would not be involved in those deliberations and she urged the six justices who publicly favored her ouster do the same.

Justice expresses confidence

Sereno began her leave in March after being pressured by her peers. She had said she would take the time to prepare for her impending impeachment trial in the senate, stressing that she was confident of winning.

The first woman to serve as chief justice, she was appointed in 2012 by then-President Benigno Aquino III. She has clashed with Duterte over policy issues, including his campaign against drugs that has left thousands dead since he assumed office in 2016.

The complaint against Sereno was filed after she voted against Duterte when the president decided to transfer the remains of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos to the national Heroes’ Cemetery in 2016 – nearly three decades after his death.

Sereno also dissented when Duterte extended martial law in the south, saying the president had “acted with grave abuse of discretion.”

On Wednesday, Duterte spokesman Harry Roque said the president respected Sereno’s decision to end her leave of absence.

“The executive recognizes judicial independence and respects the separation of powers of the three branches of government, including a functioning judiciary,” Roque said.