Sereno Is Not A Puppet Palace

By GENALYN D. KABILING http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/371135/sereno-is-not-a-puppet-

palace
August 26, 2012, 8:36pm
MANILA, Philippines Malacaang is convinced that newly appointed Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes A. Sereno will
remain an independent magistrate despite criticisms she may be a puppet of President Benigno S. Aquino III.

Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Abigail Valte said Serenos past decisions in the High Court have showed that she
has not been beholden to anyone.

Valte also encouraged Serenos critics to take a look at her SC rulings to dispel their concerns of an alleged biased
Chief Justice.

If we will make such conclusion, let us first check the decisions penned by Chief Justice Sereno since she was
appointed as member of the Supreme Court and we can see that she has displayed her independence, Valte said in
Filipino over government radio.

Valte also brushed aside a report claiming Sereno failed a psychological examination submitted to the Judicial and
Bar Council.

She said they would no longer comment on the report which as unverified sources. She maintained that Sereno was
still included in the list recommended by the JBC to the President.

At this point, the President has fulfilled his constitutional duty of appointing the Chief Justice, said Valte, adding that
any other questions about the leader of the judiciary can now be addressed to the SC spokesperson.

Still, the 18-year term of Sereno in the High Court was defended by Valte.

The long period will give her the opportunity to put reforms in place to start, to continue those reforms, and to
make sure that the reforms are institutionalized in the 18 years that she will have in the (Supreme) Court, she said.

Sereno became the countrys first lady Chief Justice following her appointment by the President. The 52-year-old
justice will serve until 2030, when she reaches the mandatory retirement age of 70.

Earlier, militants raised the concern that as an appointee of Aquino to the SC, Sereno may serve as a puppet of the
administration.

In a rebuttal, House leaders threw their support behind Sereno as the countrys 24th Chief Justice with Speaker
Feliciano Sonny Belmonte Jr. saying that the appointment was a good choice.

She maybe a new face, but an insider with a reputation of competence and independence and she will prove to be
an effective leader of the Judiciary. Let us all give our full support for the new Chief Justice, he said.

House Majority Leader and Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali Boyet Gonzales II appealed to various camps to
respect the decision of the President because it is a part of his constitutional mandate to ensure that needed
reforms will be carried in the Judiciary.

Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona agreed that Sereno should be given a chance to overhaul the entire
judiciary. The Judicial Branch of government has now the historic opportunity to restore our peoples confidence in
the judicial system, he said.

Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone said he expects Sereno to infuse new ideas and fresh start for the SC.

All sectors should rally behind her as she embarks on new reform measures and initiatives in the judiciary, he said.

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Joel Villanueva, a former party-list
representative representing Citizens Battles Against Corruption (Cibac), also supported Aquinos choice of Sereno.
It is vital that we stand side-by-side with her, keeping an open mind while being watchful, as she embarks on the
daunting task of steering the Supreme Court towards genuine reforms, Villanueva said.

Hopes for a better judiciary under Sereno also run high in the Makati Business Club (MBC) as members looked
forward to a rebuilding of the peoples trust in the institution through greater transparency and accountability in the
courts.

In a statement, the MBC hailed the selection of Sereno: We believe that the President has chosen a morally upright
person with impeccable integrity, independence of mind, and competence essential for the highest magistrate of the
land.

The MBC cited that impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona divided the country and greatly tested
the faith of the people in our justice system.

We also hope that she (Sereno) drives the long-delayed and necessary reforms towards uncrowding our congested
dockets, the speedy resolution of cases, and the fair and equal application of the law, MBC added.

The National Union of Peoples Lawyers (NUPL) was more conservative in its expectations of Sereno but hoped for
her to have a vision for the SC and work to regain the peoples trust and confidence in the courts.

NUPL Secretary General Edre U. Olalia said their group shall temper down their expectations and let her decisions
and actions speak for themselves.

She (Sereno) should seize this moment and her quite long reign to concretely bring real reforms to the judiciary
especially those who have less in life, Olalia said.

We hope she will have the vision and use her unique position and chance to move the people to seek succor from a
Court that should be fair and just and that will put a powerful and mighty in place. Else, it would be an unspeakable
tragedy of its own, he added.

Meantime, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said she expects a smoother relationship between the Department of
Justice (DOJ) and the SC under Sereno.

De Lima, speaking to reporters after the departure honors for the late Secretary Jesse Robredo in the Palace, said
there must be partnership and cooperation between the two institutions to strengthen the justice system in the
country.

De Lima likewise hailed Sereno as an excellent choice as the countrys new Chief Justice.

Shes brilliant. Shes very efficient. Because she is young, she has 18 years in the Court, she has all the time and all
opportunity to put in the needed reforms in the judiciary, to inject dynamism and vision, she said.

De Lima was excluded in the JBC list of nominees for Chief Justice due to pending disbarment cases against her.
She protested that she was singled out in the unfair selection process but eventually respected the decision of the
council. with reports from Charissa M. Luci, Anna Liza T. Villas, and Francis T. Wakefield

CJ Sereno's SALN set to be released

By Edu Punay (The Philippine Star) Updated August 29, 2012 12:00 AM
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=842912

MANILA, Philippines - Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno started her 18-year term yesterday by allowing the
full disclosure of her statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) for 2011.

The Supreme Court (SC), according to an insider, approved the release of Serenos SALN during a full-court
session over which she presided for the first time as the 24th chief justice and first woman appointed to the
fifth highest post in the land.
The source said it was Sereno herself who sought approval of the release of her SALN during full-court
session, based on new rules on the release of SALNs of justices and judges.

Her SALN, however, was not released in the afternoon due to pressing work demand, the SC public
information office said. The document is expected to be made public today.

Sereno and other aspirants for the chief justice post had submitted their SALNs to the Judicial and Bar
Council during the screening process. They were, however, not made public because of a confidentiality rule.

Earlier this year, she released a summary of her SALN for 2010 that showed a total net worth of more than
P17.8 million.

Her predecessor Renato Corona was removed from the top judicial post by the Senate impeachment court
last May 29 for culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust for failing to declare all his
wealth in his SALN.

SC divisions reshuffled

During closed-door session yesterday, the justices also decided to defer resolution of pending cases until
their next meeting to give way to the reshuffle of members of the different court divisions.

Sereno, as chief justice, becomes the chair of the first division with Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro as
working chair and Justices Lucas Bersamin, Martin Villarama Jr. and Bienvenido Reyes as members.

Senior Justice Antonio Carpio, who was bypassed the second time around with Serenos appointment,
remains as chair of the second division with Justices Arturo Brion, Mariano del Castillo, Jose Perez and Estela
Perlas-Bernabe as members.

The third division is chaired by Justice Presbitero Velasco with Justices Diosdado Peralta, Roberto Abad and
Jose Mendoza as members.

The reorganization was laid down in Serenos special order No. 1298.

Also yesterday, Sereno vowed to bring the judiciary back to its golden days when there was dignified
silence in the halls of the SC.

The new SC chief has declined requests for interviews from media outfits even after promising to institute
reforms and transparency in the high court.

Sereno explained a dignified silence is intended to minimize susceptibility to misinterpretation.

Wisdom seeks me to return the Supreme Court to its days of dignified silence when its justices were
heard when read through their writings, and when actions of the Court were best seen in their collective
resolutions, she stressed.

The chief justice also explained that granting media interviews might distract her from more fundamental
and urgent problems besetting the judiciary.

She stressed the judiciary is not a political branch of government.

She stressed the high tribunals commitment is to be deliberate, accurate, sober and carefully balanced
before arriving at its decisions and in the presentation of such decisions.

We will seek ways on how to best respond to the needs of media for accurate and timely information, she
vowed.

Corona, her predecessor, was more open to media interviews. He personally visited radio and TV programs
to explain his midnight appointment as well as his answers to issues raised against him during his
impeachment trial.

The SC has a spokesperson tasked to deal with the media and who is coterminous with the chief justice.
Sereno has yet to name a new spokesperson as she extended the term of acting spokesperson Ma. Victoria
Gleoresty Guerra until further orders.

In the long history of the high court, there have been only two spokespersons, the first being Ismael Khan,
followed by now Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez.

While SC employees warmly received Sereno, militant groups gathered outside the SC building on Padre
Faura in Manila to protest her appointment. They branded her an Aquino puppet.

The protesters led by Anakpawis echoed the fear of farmers of Hacienda Luisita that the ruling ordering total
distribution of the 4,915.75-hectare hacienda might be reversed under Serenos watch.

Sereno pegged the land valuation based on the fair market value of the property in 2006, or P2.45 million
per hectare. Corona wanted the computation based on the 1989 value or just P40,000 per hectare. His
opinion prevailed after getting the support of the majority of the justices, but he was impeached by allies of
Aquino in the House a month later.

No turning back

There is nothing critics can do to make President Aquino change his mind about appointing Sereno, whom he
wants to carry out reforms in the judiciary over the next 18 years.

I think those attacks are really water under the bridge. The appointment has already been made,
presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.

She has taken her oath and whether its coming from the judiciary or not, they have to deal with the new
chief justice, Lacierda pointed out.

I think any criticism against the Chief Justice are for all intents and purposes irrelevant. Its not going to
sway anyone from removing her from the position of chief justice, Lacierda explained.

The constitutional prerogative of the President in appointing Sereno has been exercised. Now, as to any
further criticism on the Chief Justice, it will be up to the SC public information office to speak on her behalf,
he added.

Lacierda said whats important is the 52-year-old Chief Justices capability to implement reforms in the
judiciary.
 Disenchantment temporary

For Sen. Franklin Drilon, the reported disenchantment within the Supreme Court over the appointment of
Sereno would only be temporary.

Sereno is the countrys first female chief justice and the second youngest. She is also slated to become the
second longest serving chief magistrate next to Cayetano Arellano.

Disenchantment is natural but I think its only temporary. I believe Chief Justice Sereno will be able to
overcome this disenchantment if she is able to implement reforms in the judiciary, Drilon said.

He said Serenos long term in office would help her carry out reforms more effectively.

Reforms take time, this cannot be done overnight. The judicial ship must be turned around slowly because
an abrupt change can cause the judicial ship to capsize, Drilon said.

He said the reforms should include ways to unclog the dockets of the courts and facilitate the hiring of more
judges.

This is a golden opportunity (to reform the judiciary) presented by the President who made a game-
changing appointment, Drilon said.

There is a need for stability in the judiciary, he added.

Sen. Francis Escudero said the newly installed Chief Justice should restore the publics trust in the judicial
system by speeding up the dispensation of justice and hiring more lawyers of integrity.

Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay congratulated Sereno for being the first woman to be appointed to the top
SC post and urged the chief magistrate to prove her critics wrong.

Sereno Is New Chief Justice

By: Chichi Conde and Lira Dalangin-Fernandez, InterAksyon.com

August 24, 2012 4:44 PM http://www.interaksyon.com/article/41323/sereno-is-new-

chief-justice

(UPDATE 3 - 8:44 p.m.) MANILA, Philippines - As speculations swung between "insiders" and
"outsiders", President Aquino has appointed as Chief Magistrate a sitting justice who was as close to
being an outsider within the Supreme Court. Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno was on Friday named the 24th
Chief Justice of the Republic of the Philippines.

Malacaang said appointing a relatively young Chief Justice - the first woman, at that - would encourage
reform in a judicial system perceived as slow, corrupted, and inaccessible to many.

"With someone who will serve for as long as 18 years, reforms will be instituted and take root,"
presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said on Friday.

"That's the advantage of having a Chief Justice who will stay for that long," Lacierda said.
Lacierda said Aquino spoke to Sereno earlier in the day, and the new Chief Justice was "surprised" that
she was chosen from the shortlist of eight nominees.

"The President is confident that Chief Justice Sereno will lead the judiciary in undertaking much-needed
reforms. We believe the judicial branch of government has a historic opportunity to restore our peoples
confidence in the judicial system," Lacierda added.

No Aquino court

Lacierda downplayed concerns that Sereno's appointment will turn the Supreme Court into an Aquino
Court. Lacierda said Aquino's appointees to the High Court are so far only three, including Sereno.

Aquino will eventually have a fourth appointee to the Supreme Court for the post to be vacated by Sereno
as Associate Justice.

"The President has the constitutional prerogative to appoint. And in his valuation, Sereno will best serve
as Chief Justice to push for judicial reforms," Lacierda said when asked if the more senior Associate
Justices would not feel slighted or bypassed with Sereno's appointment.

18 years as chief

Sereno, 52, is the youngest member of the High Court. She was appointed by President Aquino in August
2010. She will potentially occupy the seat of Chief Justice until the mandatory retirement age of 70, giving
her a potential 18-year-term.

Sereno beat out seven other candidates, namely Acting Supreme Court chief justice Antonio Carpio;
associate justices Roberto Abad, Arturo Brion, and Teresita Leonardo De Castro; Solicitor General
Francis Jardeleza, ex-Ateneo Law School Dean Cesar Villanueva and former congressman Ronaldo
Zamora.

Lawmakers welcomed the appointment of Sereno, while a House member from a party-list organization
and a militant group on Friday said they would keep a close watch on her to ensure that reforms are
carried out in the judiciary.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said Sereno speaks of "good reputation for competence and
independence" of the high court.

"We should rally behind the President's choice," he said, stressing that the new chief magistrate is "new,
yet and insider."

Eastern Samar Representative Ben Evardone, an administration ally, said he hopes Sereno can "infuse
new ideas and fresh start for the Supreme Court."

"All sectors should rally behind her as she embarks on new reform measures and initiatives in the
judiciary," Evardone added.

Sen. Francis Chiz Escudero likewise congratulated Sereno, hoping that the new chief magistrate
"succeeds in much needed reforms in the Judiciary."

Meanwhile, Kabataan partylist Representative Raymond Palatino challenged Sereno to start the much-
needed reforms in the judiciary.

We welcome the appointment of Justice Sereno as Chief Justice. The formidable task of reforming the
 judicial system tainted by political bickering and maneuvering now rests in her hands. It is a daunting task,
especially as the high court has been dragged to the mire of political dramaturgy because of her
predecessors impeachment, Palatino said.

Given the expected long tenure she will have in the SC, Sereno will have ample time to enforce genuine
reform in the countrys justice system, Palatino said.

The youth solon challenged Sereno to ensure that past rulings of the high court, especially on the
distribution of Hacienda Luisita and the prosecution of human rights violators including Ret. Major Gen.
Jovito Palparan, would be swiftly enacted.

Vigilance

Renato Reyes Jr. of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan called on the public to exercise continued
vigilance on seeing to it that the new Chief Justice exercise independence from Malacanang.

"While Chief Justice Sereno took a correct position against the SC maneuvers to allow former President
Arroyto to leave the country, her dissent in the Luisita case favored the landowners with bigger
compensation," he said.

"It remains to be seen iaf the new Chief Justice will exercise real independence from President Aquino.
Like (former Chief Justice Renato) Corona, Sereno's voting record will be closely monitored as an
indicator of independence from the Palace," Reyes added.

Sereno was Aquino's first appointee to the Supreme Court and the youngest among the nominees to
replace Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Sereno completed her law degree at the University of the Philippines in 1984 as Class Valedictorian and
cum laude. She took up AB Economics at the Ateneo De Manila University where she graduated in 1980.

Sereno obtained her post-graduate degree at the UP School of Economics and in 1993, she completed
another masteral degree, this time, Master of Laws, at the University of Michigan, Michigan, USA.

Sereno started her career in private practice as a junior associate of the Sycip Salazar Feliciano and
Hernandez law firm in 1986.

Starting in1994 up to 2008, she served as legal counsel of various government offices such as the Office
of the President, Office of the Solicitor General, Manila International Airport Authority, and the Department
of Trade and Industry. She also previously headed the Information and Public Division office of the UP
Law Complex.

ENGLISH

1/2 Index Card Questions

1.) What Do I Want To Read/ To Learn this week / to know this week. 2.) What Are The Specific
Questions that I want to know / Answer 3.) Ask Yourself What Are the things I Already Know
about the topic.

Journal Questions

1.) What attracts you to the article/s 2.) How did you feel

3.) What Did you learn about yourself 4.) how did the reading change your beliefs, convection.

5.) what do you disagree 6.) Suggestions