Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno appreciates the president’s sorry.
Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno replied on Friday (August 12) to President Rodrigo Duterte’s apology after the two officials’ word war.
This is the response of the chief of the judiciary department after Duterte on Thursday night apologized to Sereno for his “harsh words” last Tuesday which strained ties between the executive and the judiciary.
In a press conference in Davao City on Thursday (August 11) night, Duterte said, “I apologize to the Chief Justice for the harsh words which were never intended.”
“But ako kasi, because of the magnitude of the [drug] problem, it was my way of solving the problem within the ambit of my powers as president,” he added.
The chief executive was referring to his threat to declare martial law if the Supreme Court continues to “interfere” in his campaign against illegal drugs and drug syndicates.
On Friday, the chief justice released a statement.
”The Chief Justice appreciates the president’s latest remarks. As previously announced, she will no longer say anything on this matter,” Sereno said in a statement, read by SC spokesperson Theodore Te.
Last Monday, Sereno, expressed her concern about the President’s decision to reveal the names of 159 public servants, including seven judges, who allegedly have links to the illegal drug trade.
In her letter, Sereno told Duterte it is the high court, not the executive, which exercises administrative supervision over all lower courts. She also told the 4 judges still in the service not to surrender to authorities in the executive branch.
Days after, Sereno said she will not engage in word war with the chief executive.
In a statement read to the press by SC Spokesperson Atty. Theodore Te, Sereno said there is no need to add to what has been said about the issue.
“Many things have been said. The Chief Justice sees no need to add to what are being said,” the magistrates’ statement said.