Some magistrates allowed SC system of keeping SALNs sealed – Aquino

President Benigno S. Aquino III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

JARO, Iloilo–Some incumbent justices of the Supreme Court may have hurt their chances of becoming the next Chief Justice when they allowed the high tribunal’s system of keeping their statements of assets, liabilities and net worth under lock and key.

President Benigno Aquino III, who arrived here Friday, said the tradition of appointing Chief Justices from inside the tribunal may be a good consideration but indicated it would mean choosing from among the magistrates who allowed a Supreme Court resolution to keep their SALNs from the public.

“Tradition is a good consideration but it’s important to ensure the efficiency of the institution in serving and addressing our people’s needs,” Aquino told reporters when asked about the tradition of choosing a Chief Justice from incumbent Supreme Court justices.

Aquino said many of those who are now in the Supreme Court had allowed the 1989 resolution, which keeps the justices’ SALNs in locked cabinets.

“They continued the system and yet they are saying that because of tradition (the next Chief Justice) should come from those who maintained the system,” the President said.