Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) will investigate the alleged leakage of the result of psychiatric and psychological examination of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.
JBC member lawyer Jose Mejia on Monday told reporters that fellow council member retired Justice Aurora Santiago Lagman has requested the investigation.
“There was a pending request by Justice Lagman to investigate the alleged leakage because we have been emphasizing from the start that this is very confidential,” Mejia said.
A newspaper report cited an 11-page psychiatric and psychological report which indicates that Sereno and Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza got the lowest psychological evaluation rating given to JBC candidates.
The psychiatric and psychological report was submitted to the JBC by a group of two medical psychiatrists and two psychologists.
Based on the report, Sereno and Jardeleza got a grade of “four” after the tests, adding copies of the report were distributed to JBC members during their July 19 preliminary meeting.
Under the test, there was a five-point numerical rating system where 1 is the highest or most superior, 3 is the median and five the lowest or a failing mark.
The report claimed Sereno keeps a smiling face to project that she is happy. It also said the report claimed Sereno is “dramatic and emotional,” and that she may tend to “make decisions based on current mood.”
“[The investigation] will start with the [JBC] Secretariat, but of course it will be done on behalf of the JBC,” Mejia said but added that the investigation does not mean they are confirming what was stated in a newspaper report.
One of the candidates for chief justice, Associate Justice Arturo Brion, requested for a result of his psychiatric and psychological report but, Mejia said the request was denied.
He explained that the psychological and psychiatric report is confidential that not even the candidates were given a copy.