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Republic of the Philippines vs. Sereno [DISSENTING OPINION, DEL CASTILLO, 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

DISSENTING OPINION

DEL CASTILLO, J.:

With all due respect to the ponencia, I dissent and vote for the dismissal of the quo warranto petition against the respondent, Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes P. Sereno. I express strong reservations against the Court's assumption of jurisdiction over a quo warranto petition against an impeachable officer, particularly when the ground for removal constitutes an impeachable offense.

My position is anchored on a holistic reading of the Constitution, which leads me to no other conclusion but that the intent of the framers is to ensure that the principles of separation of powers...