SC spokesman chides Palace: ‘Don’t be too arrogant’

MANILA, Philippines—Supreme Court Spokesman Jose Midas Marquez on Wednesday chided Malacañang for announcing that it is already looking for the replacement of Chief Justice Renato Corona, who will be tried by the Senate impeachment court starting mid-January, following his impeachment by the Lower House earlier this month.

“Let’s not be too presumptuous. Let’s not be too arrogant. We should exercise a degree of humility,” Marquez said.

Palace Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said President Aquino is looking for Corona’s potential replacement, who should be a proven person of integrity and probity in the mold of Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

Lacierda said the President has asked his legal advisers to come up with a list of possible nominees for Corona.

Marquez reminded Malacañang that the Chief Justice’s position is not yet vacant.

“The impeachment process is about to start only next month,” Marquez pointed out, adding that Malacañang had no authority to screen possible applicants to the judiciary.

Marquez said that while the President has the power under the Constitution to appoint members of the judiciary, it is the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) that has the authority to screen applicants to the judiciary and the Ombudsman post.

“The authority to screen is with the JBC,” Marquez said.

Under Article 8 Section 8(5) of the Constitution, JBC “shall have the principal function of recommending appointees to the Judiciary.”

The same provision under Section 9 provides that “the members of the Supreme Court and judges of the lower courts shall be appointed by the President from a list of at least three nominees prepared by the Judicial and Bar Council for every vacancy. Such appointments need no confirmation.”

“Let us wait for the impeachment court to rule on the impeachment complaint,” Marquez said.