MANILA, Philippines – Senator Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan said on Monday that the non-inclusion of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima in the shortlist of candidates for the next chief justice of Supreme Court only shows that nobody is influencing the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).
”Obviously, it indicates that nobody is influencing the JBC. They are allowing the council based on their rules and regulations,” Pangilinan, former ex-officio member of JBC, said.
The JBC came out on Monday with its shortlist composed of eight nominees for the position vacated by impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona.
The eight nominees are incumbent Supreme Court justices Antonio Carpio, Roberto Abad, Arturo Brion, Teresita Leonardo De Castro and Maria Lourdes Sereno; Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza, ex-Ateneo Law School Dean Cesar Villanueva and former congressman Ronaldo Zamora.
The JBC reportedly decided to exclude De Lima due to her pending disbarment cases before the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. Earlier, IBP junked de Lima’s petition to junk the disbarment cases.
Pangilinan urged the public to respect the decision of the JBC, including the non-inclusion of de Lima.
”We have to respect the rules of JBC and decision. It really happens,” Pangilinan said.
Senator Panfilo Lacson said the JBC had the mandate to recommend to the President a shortlist.
”Now that they have prepared and submitted a short list, let’s give it to them and subsequently let’s give it to the President to choose from the list of recommendees,” Lacson said.
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said all the eight nominees in the shortlist “are all capable.”
Enrile said if an associate justice will be chosen as next chief justice, President Aquino can also appoint for the vacated position of associate justice.
”The President may opt to fill the position of associate justice and then, at the same time, appoint a Chief Justice that my include any of the incumbents,” Enrile said.
Source : InterAksyon.com - The online news portal of TV5
