Women condemn impeachment vs CJ Sereno

We, the World March of Women-Pilipinas, oppose the impeachment process being initiated against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

We see this as a political move to further weaken the judiciary, which at the moment is the only remaining branch among the  three coequal branches defending its independence and has in several occasions, stood up against the bullying of the executive and legislative.

As several legal minds, and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines itself, have already warned, the impeachment proceeding is a political tool. As such, it should be handled with caution, much circumspection and wisdom, and as a result of thoroughness.

An impeachment case — because of its political character, its object being the highest officials of the country, and its implications grave — should cover the most serious of offenses as provided for in the Constitution, namely culpable

violation of the Constitution, high crimes such as graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust, and not the petty charges that have been used as bases for the impeachment complaints filed by Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption’s Dante Jimenez, Vanguard of the Philippine Constitution Inc.’s Eligio Mallari, and lawyer Larry Gadon, all avowed supporters of President Duterte.

What is further unfortunate is that a number of members of the House of Representatives allied with the President have already endorsed the complaint/s, opening the way for a proceeding to prosper. An impeachment proceeding against the Chief Justice will further solidify the efforts of the Duterte administration toward authoritarian rule.

We also continue to resist the misogyny and sexism of this administration, which the President himself embodies and has promoted and encouraged. It’s not a coincidence that the first prisoner of conscience of his administration is a woman (Sen. Leila de Lima); that he didn’t support former secretaries Gina Lopez and Judy Taguiwalo; that he and his allies are now going after Chief Justice  Sereno and has threatened to do the

same with Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales.

Women are this administration’s fiercest enemies, as we continue to defend human rights, resist the bloody war on drugs, fight the  culture of impunity and misogyny promoted by this administration,  and oppose authoritarianism and the patriarchal leadership of President Duterte.

We call on the members of Congress who still believe in critical, independent thinking; who are not willing to be political stooges of this administration to not allow the impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice Sereno to prosper.

We call on fellow Filipino women, and men, who still believe in democratic values and ideals, who are against authoritarian and fascist rule to oppose this impeachment process.

JEAN ENRIQUEZ, [email protected], BAGONG KAMALAYAN PROSTITUTION SURVIVORS’ COLLECTIVE, CENTER FOR MIGRANT ADVOCACY, COALITION AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN WOMEN-ASIA PACIFIC, FOUNDATION FOR MEDIA ALTERNATIVES, LILAK (PURPLE ACTION FOR INDIGENOUS WOMEN’S RIGHTS), RESPECT FASTFOOD WORKERS’ ALLIANCE, SENTRO NG MGA PROGRESIBO AT NAGKAKAISANG MANGGAGAWA-WOMEN, WOMEN’S LEGAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS BUREAU, YOUTH AND STUDENTS ADVANCING GENDER EQUALITY, WORLD MARCH OF WOMEN-PILIPINAS