New Chief Justice must be an outsider—ex-Solicitor General Chavez

MANILA, Philippines—“Wala pang sungay, walang personal agenda (No devils’ horns yet, no hidden agenda).”

This was how former Solicitor General Frank Chavez, in an interview early Wednesday over Radyo Inquirer, described an ideal replacement for impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona.

The new Chief Justice, he said, must therefore come from the outside.

Francisco Chavez. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

Asked what are the basic qualifications to become Chief Justice, he said the candidate must have at least 10 years of law practice and have to be of good moral character.

Beware of hyenas

“If you ask me, there are many candidates from the Court of Appeals and the private sector. The President (Benigno Aquino III) can choose the best, the one without agenda,” he said.

He pointed out the ideal age could be around 64 to 65 years old. “So you have five years to go. By that time, if you’re in the private sector, you’re already made,” he said. The retirement age for a Chief Justice is 70 years old.

Then again, he warned the President of groups lobbying for the position he likened to hyenas.

“May nadaleng carcass kaya pag-aagawan na naman yan. (There’s a carcass in the open, now they’re all after it).

An extremely ugly woman

In the same interview, Chavez also tackled a few highlights in the proceedings on the final day of the trial. He said despite the solemnity and seriousness of the moment, he found some “flaws,” like the reading of the penalties after the verdict was given.

Referring the “immediately executory” decision on Corona’s fall from power, in a light-hearted manner Chavez likened the Senate acting as impeachment court “not only to an ugly woman but to an extremely ugly woman who has no appeal.”

For more, listen to the full interview at the attached audio clip from Radyo Inquirer.  Totel V. de Jesus, INQUIRER.net