Update
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday vowed to take the necessary steps聽 to boot Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno out of the Supreme Court.
With this聽 statement, the President formally declared war against Sereno.
鈥淚鈥檓 putting you on notice that I鈥檓 your enemy and you have to be out of the Supreme Court,鈥� a seething President Duterte said in a press conference in Davao before flying to China聽on Monday.
鈥淚 will see to it and after that, I will request the Congress go into the impeachment right away,鈥� he added.
The President said he would tell Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez to speed up the impeachment process against Sereno.
鈥淚 would ask Speaker Alvarez now, kindly fast-track the impeachment. She is bad for the Philippines,鈥� he said.
鈥淣ow this time, I鈥檓 asking the congressmen and the Speaker, 鈥楧o it now. 鈥榃ag ninyong dramahin (Don鈥檛 add drama to it). Or else, I will do it for you,鈥欌�� he added.
The President erupted in anger after Sereno on Monday said the President should explain why he has repeatedly said that he had no hand in her impeachment, yet Solicitor General Jose Calida initiated the the quo warranto petition against her.
READ: If Duterte doesn鈥檛 know, why is ouster petitioner SolGen? 鈥� Sereno聽
President Duterte said he had been telling Sereno that he had no hand in the impeachment complaint against her but she continued to 鈥渢alk and talk.鈥�
鈥淚kaw Sereno, sinabi ko na sa 鈥榶o hindi ako nakialam (I鈥檓 telling you, Sereno, that I didn鈥檛 meddle). If you are insisting, then count me in. Count me in and I will egg Calida to do his best. Ako na mismo ang maglakad, [ka]kalaban sa鈥檡o (I will be the one to do it, I鈥檒l fight you,),鈥� he said.
鈥淧*t*ng *n* e sinabi nang 鈥榙i ako nakikialam e. Sabihin mo sa kanya, let the world know. Talagang makialam ako. Ako nagpapasensya lang ako, babae,鈥� he added.
(I told you I didn鈥檛 meddle. Tell her now, let the world know, I will now interfere. I鈥檓 just really patient when it comes to women.)
Her statement, the President said, was creating a crisis in the country.
鈥淵ou do not create any crisis in this country (because) 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,鈥� Duterte added.
But with Sereno鈥檚 insistence, Duterte said he would 鈥渂eat鈥� the Chief Justice and would even help investigators against her.
鈥淪inasabi ko na sa 鈥榶o na hindi ako nakikialam. O sige ka diyan, daldal ng daldal, upakan kita (I told you that I don鈥檛 meddle in this. Now that you keep talking, I will beat you up). I will help any investigator,鈥� he said.
The President urged Congress to proceed with the impeachment of Sereno right away.
鈥淚 will see to it and after that, I will request the Congress,聽go into the impeachment right away,鈥� he said.
He said he would now personally meddle in the impeachment of Sereno and forcibly remove her from office.
鈥淣gayon makialam talaga ako (Now, I will really interfere). I am asking Congress, what鈥檚 taking you too long? Do not create any crisis in this country. 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,鈥� he said.
President Duterte said the problem was Sereno wanted to get special treatment.
鈥淲ho is she to get special treatment,鈥� he said.
鈥淎 teacher who failed to file a statement of assets and liabilities was removed but this woman, who earned attorneys fees and from the government (would not file)?鈥� he asked.
He said Sereno had to go and he was 鈥渁sking the congressmen and the Speaker (to) do it.鈥�
鈥淒on鈥檛 put up a show or else I will do it for you,鈥� Duterte said.
Playing god?
Meanwhile, Akbayan Rep. Tomasito Villarin of the opposition Magnificent Seven bloc said President鈥檚 Duterte鈥檚 call 鈥渃learly manifests his totalitarian nature and abhorrence to democratic values.鈥�
鈥淚t is indeed a day full of ironies when a President orders a co-equal branch in Congress to fast-track an impeachment against the Chief Justice whom he declares an enemy,鈥� Villarin said in a statement.
鈥淭he President is playing 鈥榞od鈥� and arrogating unto himself powers over Congress and the Speaker meekly submitting to his whims,鈥� he added. With a report from Vince Nonato, PDI
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