A MALACAÑANG statement describing Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Internal Revenue Comm. Kim Jacinto-Henares as qualified to be the next chief justice drew mixed reactions from state fiscals, judges and Cebu religious leaders.
Regional State Prosecutor Fernando Gubalane said he would welcome de Lima’s appointment because she’s capable of introducing reforms and speeding up the resolution of cases.
But Cebu Regional Trial Court Judge Meinrado Paredes said Aquino shouldn’t appoint De Lima or Henares because they are identified as allies of Aquino’s administration.
He said this may provoke protests from pro-Corona supporters in the Supreme Court.
The judge said choosing either woman would be similar to former president Gloria Arroyo’s appointment of Corona as chief justice due to his loyalty.
Corona had worked under Arroyo as her chief of staff and other positions of high confidence since she was senator, vice president and president.
Paredes said the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) should carefully advise the President on whom to choose as the next chief justice.
Paredes added that both De Lima and Henares are already effective in their current posts.
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said Sen. Franklin Drilon is qualified to serve as chief justice because he has probity and integrity.
Drilon served as justice secretary during the term of president Corazon Aquino.
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma and predecessor Ricardo Cardinal Vidal said they both believe the next chief justice should have no political ties and should not have expressed anti-Corona sentiments in the past.
“When you say alyado (ally), you are with the administration. That means you cannot be independent, you see? That’s something we have to consider because we have to preserve the independence of the judiciary,” Vidal said.
De Lima earlier said she will not apply for the position with the Judicial and Bar Council but neither would she refuse a nomination.
Cardinal Vidal said the President can also appoint from existing members of the judiciary.
The president’s spokesperson Edwin Lacierda was quoted last Tuesday saying that de Lima and Henares are qualified to be Chief Justice.
But he said the decision does come from the president initially but the Judicial and Bar Council.
Aquino has yet to receive an official roster of possible candidates to choose from as Acting Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Antonio Carpio still has to convene the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) today.
De Lima yesterday expressed her support to the suggestion of some groups seeking to broadcast live the public interviews of the aspirants to be the next Chief Justice.
But de Lima, believed to be among President Aquino’s choices to succeed Corona, said the rules of the Judicial and Bar Council should be amended first before it could allow the live telecast of the selection process.
“But you must understand also that it’s not covered by the JBC rules. So the only way is to amend the rules. That’s still being discussed,” she said.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines and the anti-corruption watchdog Transparency and Accountability Network pushed for the live broadcast of the JBC interviews to ensure transparency and public participation in the selection process. With reports from Correspondent Jessa Chrisna Marie J. Agua and Inquirer