Search for next Chief Justice: JBC Facebook, Twitter accounts get support from three Cebu RTC judges

CEBU, Philippines - At least three judges in Cebu City have lauded the creation of Facebook and Twitter accounts where the public can thrown in questions for the members of the Judicial and Bar Council to ask to the nominees for chief justice.

Former executive judge Mienrado Paredes of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 13 said the creation of the social networking sites was good.

“That is okay… yes transparent and there will be a participation not only of the members of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) but also the common people,” he said.

Paredes said the public are entitled to participate in the process of picking the next chief justice. Creating social networking sites and public interviews are first time in the selection process.

Paredes said that public participation will help enlighten the people of the process in selecting the chief justice.

RTC Branch 8 Judge Macaundas Hadjirasul said that by creating accounts on social networking sites it gives the public an assurance of transparency in the selection process.

“It is very good development everything now is transparent, the public can judge for themselves who are suited for the position,” he said.

In addition to the qualifications specified in the Constitution, Hadjirasul said someone who had a good sense of justice and impartiality deserves to be in the position.

“I think that’s be given more weight than intellectual capacity but after all you passed the bar, you are above intellectual edge,” he said.

Judge Simeon Dumdum of RTC Branch 7 also welcomed the new system in the interview where it is being shown to the public.

“I like it because it’s a democratic activity…of course it’s the JBC that will decide as to who to put on the list of nominees…remember all the things that should be raised as regards to the competence of the applicants…it’s better the public can participate in a way they are part of the getting process,” he said.

Dumdum likewise said that the character is very important in choosing a judge or justice.

The JBC has started Tuesday the interview of the nominees for chief justice. Among the candidates who have faced the members of the JBC for interview were Presidential Commission on Good Government chairperson Andres Bautista; Lawyer Soledad Cagampang-De Castro; Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima; La Salle College of Law dean Jose Manuel Diokno; Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza; and Lawyer Maria Carolina Legarda.

Also appeared before the JBC yesterday were Supreme Court associate justices Roberto Abad and Arturo Brion; Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento; retired judge Manuel Siayngco, Jr.; Lawyer Rafael Morales and former University of the Philippines law dean Raul Pangalangan.

Those who want to ask questions for the nominees can login at “Judicialandbarcouncil Supremecourt,” or in JBC Twitter at “@SupremeCourtJBC.” — (FREEMAN)