MANILA, Philippines - There is no shame in being an appointee of President Macapagal-Arroyo in the Supreme Court.

This is according to Makati Rep. Teodoro “Teddy Boy” Locsin, who is among the three dozen aspirants being interviewed by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) for the three vacancies in the high court to be created by retirements this year.

“Of course not, nobody else can appoint to that post. It is an honor to be appointed by a smart person. Do you see anyone smarter on the horizon?” Locsin told the Inquirer when asked if being marked out as an Arroyo appointee in the Supreme Court was a bad thing.

There will be three vacancies in the high court by next month, including the seat vacated last Oct. 5 by Associate Justice Consuelo Ynares-Santiago, which is still empty.

A second seat became vacant Friday with the retirement of Associate Justice Leonardo Quisumbing. Associate Justice Minita Chico-Nazario is scheduled to retire on Dec. 5.

On concerns that a court dominated by Arroyo appointees would not be impartial should a case be filed against her when her term ends in 2010, Locsin said the Supreme Court would ensure its independence on any such case “by respecting due process and respecting the Bill of Rights.”

Locsin would not comment on the odds of him snagging one of the three vacancies. “It is hard enough to predict the past, what more the future,” he said.

The former newspaper publisher has been named among the candidates in former President Joseph Estrada’s senatorial slate but he has stated this was done merely out of friendship and that he was realistic about his chances of moving on to the Upper House.

“I’m informed there is a deafening clamor for me to be senator, which might explain why I can’t hear it. I’m puzzled why many don’t find me charming,” Locsin said.

Brain power

He believed he would be better off aspiring for a high post in another branch of government.

“It’s time to use my brain at its full capacity before I get too old and lose it altogether,” Locsin said.

Quisumbing’s retirement left Chief Justice Reynato Puno as the only magistrate in the current court appointed by a president other than Ms Arroyo.

Then President Fidel Ramos appointed Puno and Quisumbing in 1993 and 1998, respectively. It was Ms Arroyo, however, who named Puno as Chief Justice in 2006.

Ms Arroyo’s appointees included Antonio T. Carpio, Renato Corona, Conchita Carpio-Morales, Presbitero J. Velasco Jr., Antonio Eduardo B. Nachura, Teresita J. Leonardo de Castro, Arturo D. Brion, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Marinao del Castillo and Roberto Abad.

Short list

Malacañang has yet to announce Ms Arroyo’s choice to replace Ynares-Santiago.

The JBC has submitted to Malacañang a short list that included Court of Appeals justices Noel Tijam, Martin Villarama Jr. and Hakim Abdulwahid. It is still conducting interviews for new applicants that could be in the running for the seat Quisumbing has left.

The JBC is the constitutionally mandated body that screens applicants to the Supreme Court. After interviewing applicants and after deliberations, it takes a vote and submits to Malacañang a list of at least three nominees for every vacancy.

Ms Arroyo has 90 days after the retirement of a justice to name his or her replacement.

Watchdogs

Two watchdog groups have been formed to monitor the appointments process at a time when Ms Arroyo’s appointees are expected to dominate the high tribunal. These are the Supreme Court Appointments Watch (Scaw) and the Bantay Katarungan.

“I think there have been some improvements, such as the open voting and the public interviews,” said Transparency and Accountability Network’s Vince Lazatin, a Scaw convenor.

Not even smoke

The JBC has made known to the public how its members voted to produce its short list of nominees. It has also opened to the public its interviews of applicants.

Lazatin said there seemed to be a question on what Ms Arroyo really wanted from nominees before picking the next justice.

“There are candidates that have made the short list numerous times and yet they don’t get appointed,” Lazatin said. “It begs the question, what does the President really want?”

For example, Lazatin raised the frequent inclusion of appellate court justice Villarama on the short list. Villarama was reported to have been picked to replace Ynares-Santiago but this has been denied.

“He has a reputation of being straight and that’s important,” Lazatin said of Villarama.

Lazatin adverted to the saying “when there’s smoke, there’s fire” in describing the reputation of some magistrates who are somehow linked to irregularities.

“With Justice Villarama, there’s even no smoke,” Lazatin said.