Never in the 117-year history of the Supreme Court has any of its decisions ignited such a widespread and collective condemnation from an aggrieved nation than the 8-6 decision ousting Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno in an improvident and unwarranted quo warranto petition.

The oppressive and unjust decision stabbed deep into and stung the conscience of the Filipino people.

Ordinary citizens, legislators, lawyers, law deans and the clergy have actively denounced the inordinately unconstitutional verdict.

The eight (8) grievously errant justices patently transgressed the Constitution when they seized from the Congress the jurisdiction to remove the Chief Magistrate even as the House of Representatives was on the verge of voting on the Articles of Impeachment.

The Constitution unequivocally mandates that it is only by impeachment instituted by the House of Representatives and conviction by the Senate can an impeachable official be removed from office.

Sections 2, 3(1) and 3(6) of Article XI pertinently provide:

Section 2. The President, the Vice-President, the Members of the Supreme Court, the Members of the Constitutional Commissions, and the Ombudsman may be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, or betrayal of public trust. All other public officers and employees may be removed from office as provided by law, but not by impeachment.”

Section 3(1) The House of Representatives shall have the exclusive power to initiate all cases of impeachment.

Section (6) The Senate shall have the sole power to try and decide all cases of impeachment.

These clear provisions of the Constitution were torn asunder by the eight justices, six of whom had openly expressed animosity against Chief Justice Sereno by testifying for her impeachment in the hearings conducted by the House Committee on Justice.

EDCEL C. LAGMAN