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Republic of the Philippines vs. Sereno [SEPARATE CONCURRING OPINION, PERALTA, J.]

REPUBLIC of the PHILIPPINES, represented by SOLICITOR GENERAL JOSE C. CALIDA, Petitioner, vs. MARIA LOURDES P.A. SERENO Respondent. Present: SERENO, C.J.,* CARPIO, VELASCO, JR., LEONARDO-DE CASTRO, PERALTA, BERSAMIN, DEL CASTILLO, PERLAS-BERNABE, LEONEN, JARDELEZA, CAGUIOA, MARTIRES, TIJAM, REYES, JR., and GESMUNDO, JJ.

G.R. No. 237428 | 2018-05-11

SEPARATE CONCURRING OPINION

PERALTA, J.:

Accountability of public officials is an essential attribute of a democratic and republican state, a necessary corollary of the recognition that sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them.[1] And, in a government of laws and not of men, nobody is above the law, no matter how high he or she might be.

Various means and remedies are provided in the Constitution and statutes by which those in the government are field to answer for whatever may be seen as a betrayal of the people's trust, ranging from impeachment to civil, criminal and administrative...