CJ overruled too often by associate justices

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has earned the ire of the other members of the Supreme Court for the nth time after she deliberately deleted an important part of the ponencia of her colleague Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro regarding an injunctive relief sought by a party list disqualified by the Commission on Elections from participating in the 2013 midterm polls.

The merits of the issuance of any relief sought is left to the wise judgment of the members of the Court but her colleagues’ evident lack of confidence in her seemingly unilateral decisions is disturbing.

The Philippines is indeed a democracy, as shown by the differences in the opinions of the members of the highest tribunal. Nonetheless, a number of justices of the Court have also shown their dismay at and disapproval of the actions and decisions made by their chief. Early this year, the issue of her appointment of a UP College of Law professor as a member of her legal staff was raised by Justice Antonio Carpio.

In December last year, Sereno was overturned when the Court revoked her order to reopen a Regional Court Administration Office without the approval of the court en banc.

As the chief justice, she deserves the respect of her colleagues. But then, for now, it appears that she has yet to earn that respect. Most people might say that the rest of the justices are ganging up on Sereno. Still it is a fact that she does things that are not within her sole authority, setting aside the views of the other justices. She must remember the phrase primus  inter  pares. She may be the chief justice, but she is a coequal of—not superior to—the rest of the members of the Supreme Court when it comes to deciding cases brought before the Court.

—SUNNY STA MARIA,

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