JBC may disqualify dwarf-consulting judge’s bid for SC chief – Escudero

Sen. Francis Escudero

MANILA, Philippines — The former regional trial court judge who was dismissed in 2006 for admitting that he consults dwarfs for his cases might be disqualified for his bid for the highest position in the Supreme Court, a member of the Judicial and Bar Council said Tuesday.

In a telephone interview with Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, he said that former Malabon Regional Trial Court Florentino Floro Jr. was earlier disqualified by the JBC for other positions like the Sandiganbayan.

“Walang pwedeng pumigil sa maga-apply o sa nominees e, pero sasalain ng JBC yan. Malamang sa malamang, yung nakaraang ruling ng JBC ia-apply pa rin uli sa kanya (no one can stop anyone from applying or from being nominated but the JBC will screen them. Most likely, the previous ruling of the JBC will be applied to him again),” Escudero said.

“Dahil kung mas mababang pwesto ng ordinaryong justice ng CA, Sandiganbayan o ng Supreme Court, nadisqualify siya, lalo siguro sa usapin ng punong mahistrado (Because if he was disqualified for lower posts like that of an ordinary Justice of the Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan or the Supreme Court, even more so when it comes to the position of Chief Justice),” he added.

Floro filed his 45-page application for Chief Justice to the JBC on Monday.

Meanwhile, Escudero said that they currently have 38 names of nominees and candidates for the Chief Justice and that they will begin screening the nominees after they extended their deadline to July 2.

Likewise, the JBC on Monday announced that they will open the interview of nominees to media coverage.