Carpio appointed to Supreme Court

President Arroyo named yesterday former chief pre-sidential legal counsel Antonio Carpio as associate justice of the Supreme Court in place of Minerva Bautista, who retired last Sept. 25.

Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao told reporters that Mrs. Arroyo picked Carpio from among five nominees submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).

"The President based her decision on the recommendations of the JBC and the SC," he said. ""We’ve not been informed about the deliberations or discussions of the SC, but judging by the JBC, Attorney Carpio got 10 out of 13 votes."

The nominees included presidential chief of staff Renato Corona, Court of Appeals Justice Cancio Garcia, Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Francis Garchitorena, and Rogelio Vinluan who is a senior partner in the Angara Abello Concepcion Regala and Cruz law offices, he added.

Tiglao said Carpio’s appointment papers were sent to the High Tribunal yesterday.

Under the Constitution, the President has to name her choice within 90 days after the Supreme Court has declared a vacancy in its ranks, he added.

Before his appointment, Carpio was senior partner in the law firm, Carpio and Villaraza.

Carpio also served as chief presidential legal counsel under the Ramos administration, from 1992 to 1996.

Carpio was executive director of the ASEAN Business Law program at the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Law, where he was also a professorial lecturer from 1983 to 1992, and a member of the Board of Regents, from 1993 to 1996.

After completing elementary and secondary education at Ateneo de Davao, Carpio enrolled at Ateneo de Manila in Quezon City, where he received a bachelor’s degree in economics in 1970.

Carpio graduated cum laude from the UP College of Law in 1975 and placed eighth in the 1976 Bar examinations.