Congress pulls out of JBC, says Tupas

Representative Niel Tupas Jr. Photo by Matikas Santos

MANILA, Philippines—Congress will no longer participate in the selection process for the next Chief Justice, Iloilo Representative Niel Tupas Jr. said Friday.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, House Speaker Sonny Belmonte, Senator Francis Escudero and Tupas agreed Friday morning to pull out of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) following a Supreme Court decision allowing only a single representation for JBC, he said.

“A senator cannot represent the House of Representatives and a congressman cannot represent the Senate,” Tupas told INQUIRER.net.

Tupas stressed that the legislative branch of government includes both houses of Congress.

The Supreme Court, acting on a petition filed by former Solicitor General Francisco Chavez, ruled that under the Constitution, Congress should only have one representative in the JBC.

But he said that the pullout could only be temporary depending on the decision of the high tribunal on their motion for reconsideration, asking that both chambers be allowed equal representation.

Tupas said that Congress would resume membership of the JBC once he and Escudero are both allowed to participate in the selection process for the next chief justice.

He said Congress would wait for the high court’s decision on their motion for reconsideration.

“For the meantime, we think it is prudent for the JBC to postpone the voting (for the next chief justice),” Tupas said.