Carpio inhibits for Calida’s peace of mind: I agree with him, says SolGen

Solicitor General Jose Calida. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / JOAN BONDOC

MANILA, Philippines–“I agree with him,” Solicitor General Jose Calida said when sought for his reaction from Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio’s decision to recuse from the West Philippine Sea case for the “SolGen’s peace of mind.”

“All’s well that ends well,” Calida told reporters prior to the start of the oral argument on the case.

Calida also thanked Carpio for inhibiting from the case.

“We thank him for inhibiting for reasons that he knows already all the facts of the case because of the West Philippine Sea arbitration as part of the legal team… It’s just right he’s inhibiting,” Calida said.

Carpio said he believed that there is no actual grounds for him to inhibit from the case despite claims of Calida. The senior magistrate said his only reason for inhibiting is for Calida’s peace of mind.

“Whatever it is, I was not present during that deliberation so if he voluntarily inhibited, good for him,” Calida said. (Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)

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Carpio inhibits from West PH Sea case ‘for Calida’s peace of mind’