Gonzalez: Keep JBC votes secret
By Tetch Torres
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 16:04:00 11/18/2008
Filed Under: Judiciary (system of justice)
MANILA, Philippines -- Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez opposed calls by several lawyers’ organizations to make public the votes members of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) cast in drawing up the shortlist of candidates to the Supreme Court.
"I am not in favor of that open voting because there is already sufficient transparency in making public the interview of candidates," Gonzalez said.
He added that no matter how the JBC votes, "you cannot satisfy everyone."
Gonzalez, an ex-officio member of the JBC, said they are still discussing if they will grant the proposal of the Supreme Court Appointments Watch (SCAW), Bantay Katarungan [Justice Watch], and fellow JBC member J. Conrado Castro.
Meanwhile, Supreme Court Spokesman Jose Midas Marquez gave assurances that the JBC will issue a ruling after the conduct of public interviews of aspirants to the position to be vacated by Associate Justice Ruben Reyes.
The interviews will be conducted Wednesday and Thursday.
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