Lone SC outsider did not really intend to pursue top judge post

MANILA, Philippines — The lone outsider from the Supreme Court did not mean to apply for the chief justice post, she told the Judicial and Bar Council panel.

Virginia Tehano-Ang is a judge of Tagum City Regional Trial Court Branch 1. She is vying for the top judge position along with four SC justices.

Facing the panel on Thursday, the trial court judge admitted: “To tell you frankly, I really did not apply for chief justice. It so happened that when I applied for the position, that’s the vacant.”

Ang said she thinks that the best position for her is an associate justice of the SC, but she would go through with her chief justice application.

She said: “Pinaghirapan ko na ito. Nagpa-interview na ako sa inyo. Syempre, pwede na po. Sayang naman po yung effort ko (I worked hard for this. You interviewed me. Of course, it should suffice. It is a shame to put my efforts to waste).”

Sen. Richard Gordon, an ex-officio member of the JBC by virtue of his position at the Senate, commended Ang's "spunk" for applying for the top judge spot.

"We're not here to mock you. We want to encourage the people who think that they have the capability so we can select the best out of the best," Gordon added.

A JBC interview is valid for a year and can be considered if one applies for a different post in the judiciary.

'Duterte is a fair man'

Ang hails from Davao City, like President Rodrigo Duterte who holds the authority to appoint members of the judiciary. She said Duterte does not appoint based on where one hails from.

“You know, [President Duterte] is a fair man. It does not mean that if you are from Davao, he will choose you,” she said in Filipino.

The JBC wrapped up its interview of the five aspirants for the chief justice post on Thursday afternoon.

Following the Constitution, Duterte has until September 16 to fill the vacancy at the Office of the Chief Justice. — Kristine Joy Patag