President Rodrigo Digong Duterte reacted to Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno's statement regarding law enforcers must provide warrants of arrest first before the judges allegedly linked in illegal drug trade named by Duterte, would physically surrender to the police officer and Sererno cautioned about constitutional crisis.
The Chief Executive who is in Cagayan de Oro City for the Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division troops said on his speech, "I'm giving you a warning. Don’t create a crisis because I will order everybody in the executive department not to honor you."
“Please wag mo ako..hindi ako…di ako gago. If this continues, pigilin mo ako, sige pag nagwala, would you rather that I declare martial law?”, “Please, don’t order me. I’m not a fool. If this continues, that you’re tying to stop me, I might lose my cool. Or would you rather I declare martial law?” the President warned."
It was on the letter of Sereno where she advised the judges that was linked not to surrender unless there was warrant of arrest.
“Ikaw warningan ko: don’t create crisis because I will order everybody in the executive department not to honor you,” Duterte added, referring to Sereno.
“Pag dumating panahon, we go to crossroads. You decide ako. Di ako sunod diyan and please, please, please, please do not create a confrontation, a constitutional war. Talo tayo lahat,” he said, referring to Sereno.
The president reiterated that he's naming those persons who are allegedly involved in illegal drugs because it was his duty to tell the truth to the Filipinos.
“Please do not, you say, create a constitutional issue. There will be. Don’t order me, I’m telling you. I hope you are listening,” he said. “You want me to be frank? You’re interfering with my job," Duterte stated.
Sereno on his statement said that only the high court was authorized to discipline the members under the judiciary.
Producing a warrant of arrest would take so much time for everyone involved in illegal drugs, Duterte said.
The president said he would reply to the 4 pages letter of Sereno, out of respect and he would explain why he had included the names of the 7 judges in the list of suspected coddlers of drug, during a press conference in Davao on Monday.
The president clarified that he did not order any police officer in arresting any of those judges on his list but to show up at the Supreme Court and to report to PNP Director General Ronald Dela Rosa.
Source: Inquirer