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Do the right thing, Sereno urges SC justices

MANILA - Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno will continue to perform her function as top magistrate until the decision of the Supreme Court on the validity of her appointment becomes final and executory, her lawyer said Thursday.

Sereno might file a motion for reconsideration as her last recourse in the event that her colleagues rule in favor of Solicitor General Jose Calida in the quo warranto petition, said lawyer Josa Deinla.

"She chooses not to be distracted by these reports that her colleagues are set to oust her with that number of votes. Sabi niya, we’ll see what happens. We’ll cross the bridge when we get there. She will take the proper recourse depending on the decision of her colleagues," Deinla told ANC's Headstart.

"Until hindi final yung decision, siya pa rin ang chief justice," she added.

(Until the decision is not yet final, she remains the chief justice.)

The Supreme Court magistrates are set to hold a special en banc session on Friday morning, where they might tackle the quo warranto petition against Sereno.

Sereno, who returned to work on Wedesday, will preside over the session but will inhibit herself from the discussion of the case.

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Deinla said their camp is hoping that the some associate justices would also inhibit from the case, reiterating Sereno's call to her colleagues who testified against her in the House justice committee hearings.

"To the last moment, we're appealing to them to do the right thing that even if they have been seen to demonstrate manifest bias and prejudice at the House of Representatives' Committee on Justice and even during the oral arguments, the Chief Justice is hoping that they will do the right thing--and that is to inhibit from the deliberations and voting tomorrow," Deinla said.

Associate Justices Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Francis Jardeleza and Noel Tijam earlier rejected Sereno's plea.

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The Chief Justice also asked Associate Justice Samuel Martires to recuse himself from the proceedings, accusing him of "faith-shaming."

• Sereno wants SC Justice Martires to inhibit in quo warranto case

The quo warranto plea, filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida, had cited Sereno's alleged failure to declare her wealth, a requirement when she applied for Chief Justice in 2012.

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It was also among the issues raised in the impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Lorenzo Gadon. Lawmakers at the House justice committee found probable cause in the case, but the chamber was yet to discuss it in the plenary pending the decision by the Supreme Court on the quo warranto.