Sen. Francis Pangilinan. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Thursday questioned the Supreme Court decision that Congress could have only one representative to the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), saying the court only wants to maintain its “firm hold” on the multisectoral council.
“I am afraid the majority in the Supreme Court chose to play politics in interpreting the constitutional provisions on the JBC,” said Pangilinan, former Senate representative to the council, in a text message to the Inquirer.
“Jealous of its supervisory powers and prerogatives over the JBC, the Supreme Court clipped the powers of Congress and interpreted the constitutional provision based not on the intent of the framers of the Constitution for a bicameral congress but based rather on ensuring that the court maintains its firm hold on the council,” he added.
Sen. Edgardo Angara held a more moderate view.
“If the Congress cannot get the Supreme Court to change its mind and the ruling stands that only one has to represent the Congress, then the congressmen and the senators should do a rotation. Mag-alternating service na lang (Serve alternately instead),” he said at the weekly Kapihan sa Senado on Thursday.
Angara said the tribunal’s ruling on the JBC means “whoever (between a senator or congressman who) sits (in the JBC) should make a judgment. The other House will accept it.”
Former Solicitor General Frank Chavez was the petitioner in the case that the Court decided in his favor in July 2012. The two JBC members, Sen. Francis Escudero and Rep. Niel Tupas, filed a motion for reconsideration.
Chavez said the high court’s final ruling will reduce the politicization of the screening process for appointments to top posts in the judiciary.
“The Court’s decision is the triumph of basic reading and comprehension skills versus the maneuvers of politicians. The decision effectively curbs political influence in the judiciary,” Chavez said in a text message to the Inquirer.