Ochoa nominated for chief justice

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr.

MANILA, Philippines—Executive Secretary Pacquito Ochoa has been nominated to the chief justice post while another Supreme Court Associate Justice declined his nomination.

Ochoa is the eight official of the Aquino administration who has been nominated for the post vacated by Renato Corona, who was removed from office by an impeachment court. Ochoa was nominated by a certain Egay Bigay through an email sent to the Judicial and Bar Council dated June 21, 2012.

Other officials in the Aquino government nominated are Justice Secretary Leila De Lima, Internal Revenue Chief Kim Henares, Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza, Government Chief Negotiator for MILF and former UP College of Law Dean Marvic Leonen, PCGG Chairman Andres Bautista and SEC Chair Teresita Herbosa and another government negotiator for the New People’s Army Alexander Padilla.

Meanwhile, Associate Justice Jose Catral Mendoza bowed out of the Chief Justice race. Aside from Mendoza, other justices who declined their nomination are high court Associate Justices Mariano Del Castillo, Bienvenido Reyes and Estela Perlas-Bernabe.

Adding to the list of nominees are Court of Appeals Associate Justice Gabriel Ingles and a certain Ferdinand Jose David Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Pijao Sr.