JBC starts interviews

Justice Secretary Leila De Lima. INQUIRER/Niño Jesus Orbeta

MANILA, Philippines—The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) on Tuesday started the first live interview for Chief Justice candidates.

For the morning session, nominees interviewed were Presidential Commission on Good Government Chair Andres Bautista and law professor Soledad Cagampang De Castro. Interview with Justice Secretary Leila De Lima is ongoing.

In the afternoon, the JBC will interview human rights lawyer Jose Manuel Diokno, Solicitor-General Francis Jardeleza and Maria Carolina Legarda.

Only seven JBC members are present on Tuesday, minus Senator Francis Escudero following the high court’s ruling that there should only be one representative from Congress.

Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. said he and Escudero have agreed that he (Tupas) should attend Tuesday’s interview.

Aside from Tupas, other members of the JBC are Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta, Justice Regino Hermosisima (representing retired justices of the Supreme Court), retired Court of Appeals Justice Aurora Lagman (private sector), Atty. Milagros Fernan-Cayosa (Integrated Bar of the Philippines) and Atty. Jose Mejia (academe).

JBC members are expected to take turns asking questions to the candidates about several topics which include their Judicial philosophy, what reforms they would implement if appointed and the oppositions filed against them.