Скачать или смотреть Ousted Philippines chief justice condemns short-sighted and selfish politicians

(11 May 2018) The Philippine Supreme Court ousted its chief justice in an unprecedented vote by fellow judges on Friday.
Maria Lourdes Sereno is a prominent critic of the country's authoritarian president and she and hundreds of protesters have described the vote unconstitutional and a threat to democracy.
Court spokesman Theodore Te said justices voted 8-6 to grant a petition by the government's solicitor-general to remove Maria Lourdes Sereno from the 15-member tribunal for allegedly failing to file statements of assets and liabilities as required by law.
Sereno denies the allegation and refused to participate in the vote.
Sereno has earned the ire of President Rodrigo Duterte by speaking up for the respect of law and human rights as he has led a brutal crackdown on illegal drugs that has left thousands of suspects dead.
In the nearly two years the brash-talking leader has been in power, an opposition senator has been locked up on drug charges she says were fabricated and other critics have been insulted or threatened.
About 1,800 protesters gathered to support Sereno outside the court in Manila, where anti-riot police blocked an access road with trucks and iron railings to maintain order and separate a smaller group of anti-Sereno demonstrators.
Sereno is facing a separate impeachment bid in the House of Representatives, which is dominated by Duterte's allies.
She has warned that efforts by the Duterte administration to oust her are a threat to democracy, saying the petition that led to Friday's vote violates the constitution, which stipulates that top officials like her can only be removed by impeachment.
The court also ordered Sereno to explain in 10 days why she should not be sanctioned for discussing the complaint against her in public and "for casting aspersions and ill-motive to the members of the Supreme Court."
Duterte's spokesman, Harry Roque, said the court decision must be respected.
One of the justices who opposed the petition, Marvic Leonen, called it "a legal abomination" that should have been dismissed outright.
Sereno had called on six of her colleagues, who testified against her in the House impeachment hearings, to abstain from Friday's vote, citing their bias.
If they had heeded her call, the effort to remove her would have failed, Sereno said.
After the vote, Sereno joined her supporters outside the court, asking them to organise a movement to defend justice and accountability.

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