Press Release
May 2, 2018

SOLIDARITY MESSAGE FOR COALITION FOR JUSTICE

I am one with the Coalition for Justice and fellow advocates of judicial independence, in their appeal to the Senate to file a resolution asking the Supreme Court to suspend its proceedings in relation to the Quo Warranto petition filed against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. Together, we should speak out and stand up for the Constitution and the system of checks and balances in government. Collectively, we should stand against a grave miscarriage of justice.

As enshrined in the Constitution, the SC does not have authority to remove a member of the Court, which can only be done via impeachment. It is the sole prerogative of the Senate to hear and decide impeachment cases. This is the reason why I, along with Sen. Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV, filed an Opposition-in-Intervention against the Quo Warranto case to assert that this is illegal and unconstitutional. As petitioners, we have also filed a manifestation in the form of a special appeal to the members of the High Court to take a second look at the situation, to set aside their emotions, and protect the integrity of the institution.

Sa loob ng halos dalawang taon, malinaw naman kung paano ginagamit ang buong makinarya ng Estado para lang matupad ang kapritso ng Pangulo. Mula sa pagpapapatay sa libu-libong Pilipino, pagpapakulong sa pinakamatinding kritiko, hanggang sa panggigipit sa mga pinuno ng ating independent institutions, dinadaan sa shortcut at pag-abuso. Kahit labag sa batas, nagsasabwatan at kumikilos ang mga galamay ng mga nasa kapangyarihan para tuparin ang kagustuhan ni Duterte.

Nananawagan ako sa aking mga kapwa Senador na manindigan at itaguyod ang isang malayang Senado. Protektahan natin ang nakasaad sa ating Konstitusyon: ang bukal ng kapangyarihan ng Estado ay ang taumbayan, hindi iisang tao lamang. Patunayan natin, bilang mga mambabatas na pinagkalooban ng mandato ng taumbayan, na wala tayong kinikilingan at pinapaboran kundi ang interes ng mga Pilipino at ang diwa ng ating demokrasya.

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