PHNO-HL: DE LIMA GIVES UP FIGHT FOR CHIEF JUSTICE POST

DE LIMA GIVES UP FIGHT FOR CHIEF JUSTICE
POST
[PHOTO - JUSTICE SECRETARY LEILA DE LIMA]
MANILA, AUGUST 18, 2012 (PHILSTAR) By Delon Porcalla and Edu Punay -
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima hinted yesterday she would no longer seek
nomination in case of another vacancy at the Supreme Court (SC).
"If I have any other intentions of applying later? I don't know. Probably no
more, "she told a news briefing in Malacañang.
But De Lima said she could still work with the members of the JBC, despite
what happened.
"To be part of the JBC, definitely. I will go back to the JBC. I will sit
there as an ex-officio member because that is a constitutional mandate on my
part," she said.
De Lima had insinuated that the JBC had conspired with the SC and the
Integrated Bar of the Philippines to foil her bid to become the next chief
justice.
The JBC debunked De Lima's claim, saying they only applied the rule in
disqualifying her because of her two pending disbarment cases.
Meanwhile, if the SC justices were to choose their next head, it would be
anyone among the insiders except Associate Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno.
An insider told The STAR that before the JBC came out with its shortlist, the
eight SC justices who did not vie for the top SC post, voted on their choice
among the 20 aspirants during a full court session last week.
The SC justices chose Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio and Associate
Justices Associate Presbitero Velasco Jr., Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, Arturo
Brion and Roberto Abad.
None of the eight magistrates, including Bienvenido Reyes and Estela
Perlas-Bernabe, who were appointees of President Aquino voted for Sereno, the
source said.
The source, a member of the high court, said he believes that the magistrates
do not want Sereno to become chief justice due to her "lack of ascendancy."
The source said the justices have high regard for the SC tradition of having
the most senior justice appointed as chief justice.
However, the result of the voting was not submitted to the JBC because of the
inclement weather last week.
Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta, who chaired the JBC in the deliberation
for the chief justice post, only reflected the sentiment of SC justices in his
vote. He did not vote for Sereno.
Under the rules, the JBC may consider the recommendation of the SC in coming
up with a shortlist of candidates for a vacancy in the judiciary.
Of the five justices recommended by the high court, four – Carpio, De Castro,
Brion and Abad – made it to the final shortlist. Sereno made it on the list
after getting six votes from other JBC members.
Also in the JBC shortlist, which was submitted to the President, were former
executive secretary and San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora, Solicitor General Francis
Jardeleza and former Ateneo law dean Cesar Villanueva.
When asked about her relationship with other justices during the oral
interview, Sereno admitted "shouting" with fellow justices during some of the SC
deliberations but said they would have a good laugh afterwards.
Sereno was also asked about her ascendancy over other SC justices and her
dissenting opinion on a number of big cases.
She defended herself by citing former chief justice Claudio Teehankee, who
earned the respect of his fellow magistrates despite his dissenting opinion in
cases favoring Marcos, even though he was the latter's appointee.
Sereno was Aquino's first appointee to the high tribunal. She testified in
the impeachment trial of former chief justice Renato Corona.


Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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rights reserved




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