Carpio, chief justice nominees’ fate known today

Justice Antonio Carpio. Photo by Lyn Rillon

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court will push through with its special en banc (full court) session this Friday to discuss the disbarment complaint against acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio.

This will precede the deliberation and voting of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) for the shortlist of candidates to be submitted to President Benigno Aquino III.

Carpio was slapped with a disbarment complaint by anti-crime crusader Lauro Vizconde who accused him of allegedly using his influence to secure appointments to essential government posts.

Vizconde also accused Carpio of allegedly lobbying for the Supreme Court’s reversal of a lower court decision to convict Hubert Webb and his co-accused over the death of his wife Estrellita and daughters Carmela and Jennifer Vizconde.

Meanwhile, Iloilo Representative and ex-officio JBC member Niel Tupas said they would determine if Justice Secretary Leila DeLima, Presidential Commission on Good Government Andres Bautista, Solicitor-General Francis Jardeleza and Securities and Exchange Commission Chairperson Teresita Herbosa should be disqualified because of pending cases that have been filed against them.

He said the JBC would also await the high court’s ruling on Carpio.

The high court’s special en banc session and JBC deliberation were originally scheduled last Wednesday but were reset due to heavy rains and floods that hit Metro Manila.