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Republic of the Philippines vs. Sereno [CONCURRING OPINION, BERSAMIN, 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

CONCURRING OPINION

BERSAMIN, J.:

The thorough and scholarly Majority Opinion ably written for the Court by Justice Tijam frontally addresses and resolves the issues that have been raised and joined in this unprecedented case.

I CONCUR.

I would not need to write anything more in order to add to the resolution. Yet, I have to tender this separate opinion to support my concurrence for two compelling reasons. The first is that the respondent has directly challenged my neutrality as a judge to sit and decide on the basis that I have a bias against her. I deplore her challenge, and reject her bases for the challenge. I maintain my ability to sit in...