Escudero urges Mindanaoans to lobby for chief justice post

Senator Francis Escudero. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

COTABATO CITY, Philippines—Mindanaoans should band together and nominate a fellow Mindanaoan for the Supreme Court’s top post, Senator Francis Escudero said.

Escudero spoke as guest of honor of the city’s 54th Foundation Anniversary celebration Tuesday.

“History would tell us that no Mindanaon has ever occupied the post of the chief justice,” said Escudero, the Senate’s  representative on the Judicial and Bar Council. But he said this could change if Mindanaoans worked together and nominated one of their own.

“Nominate candidates from Mindanao  who you feel  are fit to occupy the top post of the Supreme Court,” he said.

Escudero said Mindanao does not lack lawyers who are qualified to be the next chief justice.

“I know a lot of Mindanaoans or Cotabateños who are qualified to become the next chief magistrate,” he added.

Escudero reminded his audience that the search for the next Supreme Court chief magistrate was not limited to the current  justices or just confined to either Visayas or Luzon.

A candidate, he said, only has to satisfy the requirements set by the Constitution, namely, that he or she be a Filipino citizen, have proven competence, integrity, probity and independence and should be a member of the Philippine bar, at least 40 years old, and have been a judge or engaged in the practice of law in the country for at least 15 years.

Escudero said applicants may apply or be nominated either by a group, by an individual, by a classmate, by a friend, or even by a relative.

“It doesn’t really matter for as long as after being nominated, the applicant should manifest his or her intent to accept and should manifest before the committee that the applicant is accepting the nomination,” Escudero said.