Drilon urges De Castro to inhibit from politically related cases

Senator Franklin Drilon
INQUIRER file photo / EDWIN BACASMAS

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon believes there is only one way Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo de Castro could address all questions being raised against her appointment.

She should inhibit from any political case pending before the high tribunal.

Thus, on Tuesday, Drilon urged De Castro to inhibit from “politically charged cases” in order to uphold the integrity of the high tribunal’s decisions during her stint.

“All questions, issues, and doubts surrounding the appointment of Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo de Castro, particularly with regard to her impartiality, can only be addressed if the newly-appointed chief magistrate refrains from participating in any political case pending before the court,” the Minority Leader said in a statement.

“I encourage her to inhibit from politically charged cases in order to uphold the integrity of the decision that the Supreme Court may make during her short tenure,” he added.

Drilon said that for over two decades, he has known De Castro to be a woman of “intelligence and integrity.”

“Whether she can do as much, set a trend, or influence the Supreme Court, during her five weeks tenure as Chief Justice is something that is difficult to expect given such limitation. What else can she do within her term?” the senator asked.

De Castro, who officially assumed her new post on Tuesday, will only serve for 41 days as she will reach the mandatory retirement age of 70 on Oct. 8.

READ: Duterte’s choice: De Castro Chief Justice for 41 days

Her appointment was seen by some critics as a reward for her role in the ouster of former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

But President Rodrigo Duterte himself defended her choice of De Castro, saying there the appointment was based on seniority , and not politically-motivated.

READ: Duterte: No politics in De Castro appointment

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