Congress pullout won’t stop JBC proceedings

The members of the Judicial and Bar Council.

MANILA, Philippines—The abrupt decision of Congress to pull out its lone representative to the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) will not stop the council from choosing a shortlist of candidates for the next chief justice, JBC member Jose Mejia said Friday.

“Our consensus is to continue proceeding with the voting,” Mejia, a representative of the academe to the JBC, told reporters.

Even if a Congress representative refuses to participate in the selection process, there is still a quorum in the council, he said.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and House Speaker Sonny Belmonte earlier Friday announced that their common representative to JBC—Representative Niel Tupas Jr.—would not participate in the proceedings unless the Supreme Court reverses its decision allowing only a single representation of Congress in the council.

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