Excerpts on Quo Warranto ruling

June 02, 2018

2 June 2018

Memo to : The University Community

Subject : Excerpts on Quo Warranto ruling

On 11 May 2018, Maria Lourdes Sereno was removed as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Eight justices voted to allow the Quo Warranto petition initiated by the Solicitor General. These were Justices Lucas Bersamin, Teresita de Castro, Alexander Gesmundo, Francis Jardaleza, Samuel Martires, Diosdado Peralta, Andres Reyes and Noel Tijam. The petition was based on the allegation that the Chief Justice failed to submit the required number of Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth before she applied for the highest position in the Supreme Court.

Six justices voted to dismiss the petition: Justices Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, Antonio Carpio, Mariano Del Castillo, Estela Perlas- Bernabe, Marvic Leonen and Presbitero Velasco.

This is a landmark ruling and as such, the Ateneo Law School has prepared an excerpt of the decision as well as excerpts of each of the dissenting and concurring opinions. It is intended that these materials will enable us to reflect on how these decisions and actions have affected the very core of justice and democracy.

The excerpts may be viewed and downloaded at the following links:

Supreme Court Decision on Quo Warranto Case against CJ Sereno
Separate Opinion of J. Peralta
Separate Opinion of J. Leonardo – De Castro
Separate Opinion of J. Martires
Separate Opinion of J. Jardaleza on the Motion to Inhibit
Concurring Opinion of J. Bersamin
Separate Opinion of J. Perlas – Bernabe
Dissenting Opinion of J. Leonen
Dissenting Opinion of J. del Castillo
Dissenting Opinion of J. Caguioa
Dissenting Opinion of J. Carpio
Concurring and Dissenting Opinion of J. Velasco, Jr.

We repeat our call to the Supreme Court to discern what is right for the future of the nation, uphold the ideals of justice and democracy, and to act always with judicial independence.