Senators welcome Bersamin as new Chief Justice

Senators on Wednesday welcomed the appointment of Lucas P. Bersamin as the next Chief Justice of the Supreme Court with hopes that “timely justice will prevail.”

President Rodrigo Duterte has chosen Bersamin to lead the entire judiciary as the 25th Chief Justice of the High Court.

READ: Duterte appoints Bersamin as 25th Chief Justice

Senator Grace Poe said she believes Bersamin has a “brilliant legal mind” and will help shape the SC as a “beacon of justice” and lead the judiciary in taking reforms to make the justice system of the country beneficial to Filipinos.

“Chief Justice Bersamin is a brilliant legal mind with a dynamic style, an incisive wit and enlightening opinion,” Poe said in a statement.

“He will no doubt profoundly help shape the Supreme Court as a beacon of justice and lead the judiciary in undertaking much-needed reforms to make the system truly beneficial to the Filipino people,” she added.

Poe said that with Bersamin leading the judiciary, she hopes “timely justice will always prevail.”

According to Poe, Bersamin fits as the next Chief Justice because he is excellent, has a good relationship with his colleagues and fair in deciding on cases.

“Sa tingin ko magaling siya, tapos ‘yung kanyang mga kasamahan kasundo rin niya at sa tingin ko naging patas naman siya sa maraming mga kaso na dumaan sa kanya,” she said.

Asked by reporters on the issue that the President did not follow the seniority rule in choosing Bersamin, Poe pointed out it is the prerogative of the President whether he would follow the seniority rule in choosing the next chief justice.

“Siyempre prerogatiba palagi ng Presidente ‘yan. Marami namang magagaling sa Supreme Court pero ako ay masaya rin dahil sa tingin ko si Justice Bersamin ay magiging epektibo,” Poe told reporters in an interview.

In a twitter post, Senator Francis Escudero congratulated Bersamin on his appointment and wished him well.

“My warmest congratulations to Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin! I wish him well!,” Escudero wrote.

My warmest congratulations to Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin! I wish him well!

— Chiz Escudero (@SayChiz) November 28, 2018

When also asked by reporters on the seniority rule in Bersamin’s appointment, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said it’s possible that President Duterte picked Bersamin “with his eyes closed” because all nominees were “very good.”

“I think all the nominees are very good. Excellent nominees. So pwedeng pikit-mata ang pinipili ng President doon dahil lahat ng nominee talagang magagaling,” Sotto said in an interview. /muf