Carpio, 2 Aquino officials join SC chief derby

MANILA, Philippines—Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio formally accepted his nomination for the Chief Justice post while four officials of the Aquino administration also officially joined the list of contenders for the country’s top judge.

Carpio submitted his letter to the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) Monday afternoon.

Aside from Carpio, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima has also submitted Monday her letter of acceptance to the JBC. Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza, Presidential Commission on Good Government Chairman Andres Bautista and Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Teresita Herbosa also accepted their nominations for the Chief Justice post.

Carpio, being one of the most senior high court justice, is automatically nominated for the position vacated by Renato Corona last May 29 after he was found guilty of culpable violation of the Constitution by the Senate sitting as impeachment court.

De Lima, on the other hand was nominated by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, Integrated Bar of the Philippines Zambales Chapter, Civil Service Assistant Commissioner Rogelio Limare, San Beda Law Alumni Association, Atty. Reynaldo Bagatsing, former Defense Secretary Avelino “Nonong” Cruz.  Cruz is a former law partner of Carpio.

“With great appreciation for the trust and confidence their nomination implies and entirely mindful of the importance of the role of the Chief Justice as an institution, it is with utmost humility and with the deepest sense of responsibility that I accept their nomination,” De Lima said in her letter.

Aside from De Lima, Jardeleza, Herbosa and Bautista, other officials from the Executive Department who are also nominated are Internal Revenue Chief Kim Henares, Government Chief Negotiator for MILF and former Dean Marvic Leonen, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Labor Secretary Teresita Baldoz, Energy Undersecretary Jose Layug and government negotiator for the New People’s Army Alexander Padilla. Henares, Ochoa and Leonen declined their nominations.

Others who have already accepted their nominations include:

1.     SC Associate Justice Arturo Brion

2.     SC Associate Justice Roberto Abad

3.     Professor Soledad Cagampang De Castro

4.     Atty. Jose Manuel Diokno

5.     Atty. Katrina Legarda

6.     Atty. Rafael Morales

7.     Dean Raul Pangalangan

8.     Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento

9.     Retired Judge Manuel DJ. Siayngco Jr.

10.               Dean Cesar Villanueva

11.               Ex-San Juan Representative Ronaldo Zamora

12.               Ferdinand Jose David Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Pijao Sr.

13.               Atty. Vicente Velasquez

14.               Dean Amado Valdez

15.              Cagayan De Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez

16.              Manila RTC Judge Amelia Tria-Infante

17.              Atty. Vincent Veloso