Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno
MANILA, Philippines- Newly-appointed Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno passed the psychological test of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) contrary to reports that he flunked it, a JBC member said on Monday.
“Hindi po siya bumagsak kasi kung bumagsak siya hindi siya mahihirang o masho-shortlist. Mali po yung balita na bumagsak siya sa psychological exam, that much I can say,” said Jose Mejia, who represents the academe in the JBC, in an interview over Radyo Inquirer 990AM.
Mejia was reacting to media reports that Sereno and Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza got the lowest psychological evaluation rating given by the JBC to the nominees.
But Mejia refused to further comment on the issue, saying it was a “technical and sensitive matter.”
What was important, he said, was that the JBC followed due process and that people should support Sereno in efforts to reform the judiciary.
Meanwhile, he said the JBC was tentatively set for an en banc meeting in the first week of September to discuss the formal announcement of the JBC’s acceptance of nomination and applications for the vacancy in the Associate Justice post.
The announcement will be published in newspapers, and the public would be given 10 days to nominate any qualified applicant for the vacant post.