JBC TO EVALUATE THE QUALIFICATION OF NINE APPLICANT FOR SC TOP POSITION
Saturday, February 06, 2010
On February 05, 2010, the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) concluded the nomination and application process for the impending vacancy which results with the retirement of Chief Justice Reynato Puno on May 17.
Nine candidates, including five justices of the two officials from the Office of the Ombudsman, a Sandiganbayan justice and dismissed Malabon RTC judge Floro F. Florentino, have been nominated for the country’s top judiciary post, JBC spokesman said.
SC administrator and spokesman Jose Midas Marquez said the JBC would then evaluate qualifications of nominees.
SC Associate Justices Arturo Brion and Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, Sandiganbayan acting Presiding Justice Edilberto Sandoval and Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Victor Fernandez.
Brion was nominated by Court of Appeals (CA) Associate Justice Japar Dimaampao and Philippine Constitution Association president Manuel Lazaro.
De Castro, on the other hand, was nominated for the chief justice post by fellow Associate Justice Minita Chico-Nazario, who described the former as “a unifying leader and effective administrator.”
Both De Castro and Brion accepted the nominations.
Justice Sandoval was nominated by retired Justice Manuel Lazaro while Fernandez applied for the post.
The nominations of Brion, De Castro, Sandoval and Fernandez brought to a total of nine the number of candidates for the chief justice post to be deliberated upon by the JBC.
The four who were earlier nominated for the post are Associate Justice Renato Corona, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales and Ombudsman Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio.
Former ousted Judge Florentino Floro Jr. applied for the post.
Marquez reiterated that the JBC has yet to decide on whether it would submit the shortlist to President Arroyo.
Earlier, Carpio, Morales and Villa-Ignacio accepted their nominations to the chief justice posts but on the condition that the appointment would be made by the next president.
Fernandez also raised the same condition in his application.
They cited Article VII, Section 15 of the Constitution, the provision being insisted by those opposed to a proposal to allow President Arroyo to appoint the successor of Puno.
This prohibitive rule in the Charter provides that: “Two months immediately before the next presidential elections and up to the end of his term, a President or Acting President shall not make appointments, except temporary appointments to executive positions when continued vacancies therein will prejudice public service or endanger public safety.”
Corona, Brion and De Castro accepted their nominations without any condition.
