Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday called the country's Chief Justice his "enemy" and urged the Parliament to hasten her impeachment process.
Last week, Maria Lourdes Sereno, known for her opposition to Duterte's war on drugs and other policies, had blamed him for impeachment proceedings against her.
"I am putting you on notice that I am now your enemy and you have to be out of the Supreme Court," Duterte said Monday at a press conference before he left for China to attend the Boao Forum, Efe news reported.
Legislators allied with the government had started impeachment proceedings in the House of Representatives against Sereno, 57, accusing her of not declaring her assets for several years before her appointment.
After denying his involvement in the proceedings, Duterte said that as a "new enemy" of Sereno he would try to speed up her impeachment in the lower house.
In case the House of Representatives decides to impeach Sereno, the decision will need to be ratified by the Senate.
Sereno's supporters claimed this was another case of political vendetta by Duterte like the imprisonment of Senator Leila de Lima.
--IANS
soni/vd
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