De Lima pooh-poohs critics, won’t quit SC chief race

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima

MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said she will not withdraw from the Chief Justice race.

On Monday, House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II said De Lima and acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio should reconsider their acceptance of their nominations for the sake of “delicadeza (sense of propriety).”

Gonzalez said De Lima testified against former Chief Justice Renato Corona and her appointment could put President Benigno Aquino III in a bad light while Carpio has been accused by Corona of being part of a conspiracy to remove him from office

But De Lima said, “I always believe that independence is in the person, how independent he or she is.”

“I was able to prove my independence when I was in an independent body and I can do that again and make positive results for my independence,” De Lima told reporters Tuesday.

De Lima said accepting the nomination “is our individual decision, both me and Justice Carpio. I am just offering myself as an alternative to the insiders.”

She stressed that she is already prepared to submit herself to the selection process of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).

She, however, admitted still feeling “ambivalent” about her decision.

“[Even] now I have mixed feelings, I’m still ambivalent about it — my going for it — but I made the decision… let’s see [if I can convince the JBC that I deserve it],” she said.

As many as 71 individuals were nominated for the top judicial post, with two applying. The JBC will make public the names of those who have complied with the minimum requirements and publish the list for at least 10 days. The public interviews will follow and this will be carried live on TV and radio for the first time.

Aquino has to appoint a new Chief Justice on or before August 27, which coincidentally falls on De Lima’s 53^rd birthday.