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Sereno can’t be removed through quo warranto plea, Hilbay says

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<figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Video_Widget_1_Container"><ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Video_Widget_1" allow="autoplay" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-wid="f5fb7bd1-3880"></ivs-player><script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script></div></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="~//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="~//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>MANILA—Former solicitor general Florin Hilbay on Saturday said Chief Justice Maria Loudes Sereno cannot be removed through a quo warranto petition.</p><p>According to Hilbay, Sereno meets the requirements of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) for the position of Chief Justice which are: age (must be 40 years old), citizenship (must be a natural-born Filipino) and experience (must have 15 years of experience practicing law).</p><p>Hilbay said the submission of the Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) is not a requirement for the position.</p><p>&quot;Kaya po &#x27;yung pagfa-file ng SALN dati or kakulangan sa pag-file ng SALN, &#x27;yung pagsisinungaling, pag-iimbento ng resolution, those may be grounds for removing her through impeachment process pero hindi siya ground para tanggalin through quo warranto,&quot; Hilbay told radio DZMM.</p><p>&quot;In fact &#x27;yung JBC, pwede silang hindi mag-require ng filing ng SALN, hindi sila required na mag-conduct ng psychological examination. Ang required lang sila ay humingi ng mga papeles showing age, citizenship, years in practice of law. Pwede sila mag-conduct ng hearings to test &#x27;yung competence, integrity, probity and independence dahil &#x27;yun &#x27;yung discretion nila.&quot;</p><p>Solicitor General Jose Calida, in his quo warranto petition, argued that Sereno is &quot;unlawfully holding&quot; her post due to her alleged failure to fully disclose her wealth. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/05/18/solgen-seeks-nullification-of-serenos-appointment">SolGen seeks nullification of Sereno&#x27;s appointment</a></li></ul><p>For failing to meet the SALN requirements, Sereno failed to meet the constitutional requirement of &quot;competence, integrity, probity, and independence&quot; for officials of the judiciary, Calida said.</p><p>Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, meanwhile, said that an impeachment proceeding could be used against appointed public officials who are qualified.</p><p>&quot;Sa aking pananaw d&#x27;yan, &#x27;yung impeachment, applicable lang &#x27;yun du&#x27;n sa mga qualified na na-appoint ng kanilang posisyon. &#x27;Yun namang quo warranto kung hindi ka qualified,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Tinitingnan ko &#x27;yung Saligang Batas kaugnay dun sa impeachment, di naman exclusive. Sinasabi nila na exclusive, pero kung mapapansin mo ang ginamit na phrase du&#x27;n permissive. &#x27;Maybe impeached&#x27; hindi naman &#x27;shall.&#x27; &quot;</p><p>Hilbay argued that the phrase only means that it allows public officials such as the president, vice president, members of the Supreme Court, constitutional commissions, and the Ombudsman to be removed from their posts only through impeachment.</p><p>&quot;Kaya nga sinabi ng ating konstitusyon na &#x27;may&#x27; dahil ibig sabihin hindi mo na siya pwedeng tanggalin but kung gusto mo siyang tanggalin, the only way to do that is through impeachment,&quot; Hilbay said.</p><p>&quot;Kaya if you want to remove that person, it can be done through an impeachment kaya sinabi na &#x27;may be removed&#x27;.&quot;</p>

<p>According to the former solicitor general, Sereno meets the requirements of the Judicial and Bar Council for the position of Chief Justice.</p>

According to the former solicitor general, Sereno meets the requirements of the Judicial and Bar Council for the position of Chief Justice.