Senator Francis Pangilinan. INQUIRER.net file photo / CATHY MIRANDA
Senator Francis Pangilinan on Saturday questioned the appointment of new Chief Justice Teresita de Castro whom he said can only have the post for a short-lived period of less than two months.
De Castro was appointed Chief Justice by President Rodrigo Duterte, although she can only serve at the Supreme Court until October 10, 2018, when she reaches the mandatory retirement age of 70 for justices.
“Appointment of endo CJ does not help in the strengthening of the rule of law,” Pangilinan, president of the opposition Liberal Party, said in a statement.
READ: Duterte appoints De Castro as new CJ
“Why appoint someone who will only sit as Chief Justice for less than two months?” the senator asked.
“What public purpose does it serve? What public value does it create?” Pangilinan said, lamenting that the appointment “leaves much to be desired.”
Senator Richard Gordon, meanwhile, said in an interview with DwIZ that De Castro can still do a lot even with just less than two months in office.
“Makakapamili tayo ng bago. Marami namang qualified (We can choose a new one. There are many [justices] qualified),” he said. /jpv
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