Live coverage on JBC interviews promotes wider public involvement—Mejia

MANILA, Philippines—The granting of live media coverage during the public interviews of the candidates for the next Chief Justice paved the way for wider public involvement on the issue, a representative from the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) said Wednesday.

“Ang pinakamaganda sigurong masasabi ko yung pakikilahok ng publiko. Kasi ngayon lang kami nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na ipakita sa publiko kung ano talaga yung proseso at kung gaano kahalaga ito (The most remarkable that I can say about the issue is the involvement of the public. Only now we have an opportunity to show to the people how the process goes and how important it is),” lawyer Jose Mejia, who represents the academe in the JBC, said in an interview with host John Susi of “Susi ng mga Balita” on Radyo Inquirer 990AM.

Mejia said the public’s participation in terms of sending questions for the interviewees through text messages, and making their own assessment of the interviews, made the process more lively and enriching.

He reiterated the JBC had deferred for Monday, August 7, its deliberations and preparation of a shortlist of nominees for Chief Justice since the Supreme Court set oral arguments Thursday on the contentious issue of congressional representation in the JBC.

The JBC interviewed 20 nominees for the next Chief Justice and must submit a short list of three candidates from which President Benigno Aquino III is to select Corona’s replacement.