GMA in no rush to fill SC vacancy

MANILA, Philippines – President Arroyo is in no rush to fill up the vacancy in the Supreme Court, according to Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita.

Ermita said the President may even use the entire 90-day period provided by law to come out with her choice of replacement for associate justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez who retired recently.

Ermita said the President dealt with a similar situation in the case of Justice Ruben Reyes, whose appointment was announced late because of problems surrounding her first choice.

Sandiganbayan Justice Gregory Ong was appointed soon after the retirement of SC associate justice Romeo Callejo Jr. but issues surrounding the citizenship of Ong forced the President to come up with another name.

There are speculations that the next SC justice would have an impact on the case of Commission on Higher Education Chairman Romulo Neri who raised the question of executive privilege to the High Court.

But Ermita said it’s unfair to make judgment on the President’s decision or on the SC’s independence based on rumors.– Marvin Sy