By Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos
President Duterte is now done in keeping his silence as he vowed to help in the removal of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno from the Supreme Court.
Duterte made the statement after Sereno, in a speech, asked the President to explain why it was Solicitor General Jose Calida who filed the quo warranto petition against her when Calida was working for him. The Chief Justice said this was unconstitutional.
The President, during his pre-departure speech to China yesterday, said that he has had enough of Sereno placing the blame on him when he already told the Chief Justice that he is not in the habit of going after his political enemies.
“Ikaw Sereno sinabi ko na sa ‘yo hindi ako nakikialam. If you are insisting, then count me in. Count me in and I will egg Calida to do his best. Ako na mismo maglakad din kalaban sa’yo,” Duterte said.
“Now sige ka diyan, daldal ka nang daldal, upakan kita. So I am putting you on notice. I am now you enemy. And you have to be out of the Supreme Court,” he added.
According to Duterte, he will ask Congress to proceed with Sereno’s impeachment trial immediately as she is not good for the country and keeping her any longer would only create crisis.
“I will see to it and after that, I will request the Congress, go into the impeachment right away. Because the two entities can hear it simultaneously. Impeachment is Congress. So I would like to ask Speaker Alvarez now, kindly fast-track the impeachment. She is bad for the Philippines,” the President said.
“Let the world know: Talagang, makialam ako. Ako nagpapasensya lang ako, babae eh. Now this time I will ask the congressmen and the Speaker, do it now. ‘Wag ninyong dramahin. Or else I will do it for you,” he added.
“I am asking Congress, what’s taking you too long? Do not create any crisis in this country,” Duterte said.
According to Duterte, he will not do whatever it takes to get Sereno out of the Supreme Court as her removal would for the country’s best interest. “I will not hesitate to do what is to the best interest of my country. If it calls for your forced removal I will do it,” he said.
