Lawmaker suggests De Lima should just continue serving as DoJ secretary

Quezon City Representative Jorge Banal. congress.gov.ph photo

MANILA, Philippines—A lawmaker on Tuesday said that Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, who recently accepted her nomination for the post of Chief Justice, should instead continue her work at the Department of Justice instead of replacing ousted chief magistrate Renato Corona.

Quezon City Representative Jorge “Bolet” Banal, one of the congressmen comprising Movement 188 or the 188 lawmakers who signed the impeachment complaint against Corona last year, said that De Lima was already playing an integral role in the government as secretary of the Department of Justice.

He said that De Lima was “certainly qualified: Proven ang competence, may independence, probity at integrity” but expressed hope that President Benigno Aquino III would choose someone else to fill the post of chief magistrate.

“Ang personal dilemma ko lang kay Secretary De Lima ay importante rin ang papel niya sa administration and she’s also doing a great job. Tough decision.”

Banal said that De Lima could do much more at the DoJ by ensuring high profile cases concerning erring government officials are resolved under her leadership.

De Lima and Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio’s acceptance of their nominations to the controversial post at the Supreme Court has drawn mixed comments from government officials, some of whom think that the two should bow out of the selection process

“At any rate I’m confident that the President’s choice will be based on what will be good for our country,” said Banal.