‘NEVER INTENDED’ | Duterte apologizes to Sereno

President Duterte has offered a public apology to Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno after berating her for questioning his list of government officials allegedly involved in illegal drugs.

Despite criticism over his style of crackdown on crimes, Duterte publicly named and shamed several officials in the country alleging their involvement in the drug trade.

Duterte has urged the seven to surrender and report to the Supreme Court (SC). However, she said, that judge was not among the 160 in Duterte’s list of drug personalities.

Sereno said the high court has an administrative mechanism in investigating, suspending or disciplining judges. Lourdes Sereno yesterday accepted the apology of President Duterte.

In a letter to the President, Sereno said the judiciary shares Duterte’s concern over the proliferation of illegal drugs in the country, noting the tribunal is investigating a judge for alleged involvement in the illicit activity.

Sereno cautioned government against a premature disclosure of an investigation, saying it will have “the unwarranted effect of rendering the judge veritably useless in discharging his adjudicative role”. “It would matter greatly to our sense of constitutional order if we were given the chance to administer the appropriate preventive measures without the complications of a premature public announcement”, she wrote.

“Thus this Court has been careful, all too aware that more often than not, a good reputation is the primary badge of credibility and the only legacy that many of our judges can leave behind”.

“He is working very hard to deal with the drug menace head-on, by removing fear from among the civilians and bringing it back to the hearts of drug protectors, criminals and corrupt officials”, he said.

“It would be helpful to know the specifics on how judges without jurisdiction over drugs cases influence the drug trade in their localities”, Sereno said.

“We are now investigating a report on a judge who may be so involved”.

“We believe the Chief Justice is cooperating with the government”.

He added that Duterte did not create a constitutional crisis when he named the judges on his narco-list.

“Di nakuha ni Sereno gusto ko sabihin (Sereno misunderstood what I said)”, Duterte said in a speech at the 1st Infantry Division in Zamboanga del Sur.

“Reyes” is Antonio Reyes of Branch 61 of the Baguio City Regional Trial Court (RTC) who is presiding over designated drugs court.

Duterte complained a warrant would take months and would affect his anti-drug campaign.

“Naming and shaming can not be substitute to probable cause under our due process system”, CHR chief Chito Gascon told journalists yesterday.

An arrest warrant is issued by a court only after the filing of a case.

Duterte’s name-and-shame campaign has been criticized even by global communities. “It quickly erased worries of a conflict between the Executive and the Judiciary”, De Lima said in a text message to reporters.

CHR lawyers are planning to file a writ of amparo to stop the listing of drug suspects in barangays.

If he is able to suppress the drug problem, the President said he was willing to cut short his term.

“Otherwise people may think that extrajudicial killing is justice in itself”, he said.