Ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Thursday said she was considering running for the Senate in the 2019 elections, a complete turn around from her previous statement that she had no plan to enter politics.
“I am open to running for public office. It’s an option,” Sereno told ANC Headstart.
She made the statement even as Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said Thursday the opposition had started talking with Sereno to join its senatorial slate.
Trillanes, who is part of the selection committee for the opposition Tindig Pilipinas’ senatorial lineup, said he had already talked with Sereno to join their lineup but Sereno had yet to make a decision.
“I talked to her personally but Senator [Francis] Pangilinan, who would eventually become the campaign manager, would also talk to her,” Trillanes said during the weekly breakfast forum at the Senate.
But Sereno said she needed more time to think before making a final decision on running.
Besides, she said, the Liberal Party had yet to formally talk or invite her to join the party and run under its senatorial slate in next year’s elections.
“I am weighing all options now,” Sereno said.
Sereno last month slammed President Rodrigo Duterte and even called for his resignation.
She vowed to lead the fight for respect for the rule of law and accountability in the country.
On June 19, the Supreme Court upheld its previous ruling removing her from her post and nullifying her appointment as chief justice in 2012.
The Judicial and Bar Council has already opened applications for the post she vacated on June 25.
Under the Constitution, Duterte has 90 days to name Sereno’s replacement from a list of nominees submitted by the JBC.
Meanwhile, Sereno accused Duterte of violating the Constitution when he said “God is stupid,” though she said it was unclear if what Duterte had said was actionable.
In the same television interview, Sereno said she agreed with the statement of Jesus is Lord founder Eddie Villanueva that Duterte’s statement may be considered unlawful.
“There is a violation of the spirit of the preamble of the Constitution,” Sereno said.
