Lawyer-businessman gets shot at Supreme Court seat

MANILA, Philippines – Lawyer-businessman Rodolfo Robles gets his chance for a seat in the Supreme Court with the scrapping of a rule on age requirement.

Robles was initially disqualified by the Judicial and Bar Council – the body that submits nominations for SC vacancies to the Palace – because of age.

The scrapped JBC rule stated that nominees not from the judiciary should be able to serve in the SC for at least five years before reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.

Robles, who is turning 66 next month, has only four years left to serve in the judiciary if he gets appointed.

In an interview with The STAR, Robles stressed that he is highly qualified for the position of SC justice.

His profile showed that Robles topped the Bar exams in 1967, and that he was the third youngest member of the Constitutional Convention in 1971, and is founding dean of Arellano University law school in 1977.

After completing his master’s degree at Harvard University, Robles practiced law for 25 years with the Robles, Brillante, Ricafrente and Aguirre law firm.

He is also known as author of the Miranda doctrine under Article VI Section 20 of the 1972 Philippine Constitution, as well as the law creating the Office of the Ombudsman during the term of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos in 1978.

Robles, reportedly a friend of President Arroyo’s, was recommended by the SC to the JBC to be one of the replacements of retired Associate Justices Ma. Alicia Austria-Martinez and Dante Tinga.

SC spokesman Jose Midas Marquez said that under Rule 8, Section 1 of the JBC Rules, individuals recommended by SC justices should be given priority in the preparation of the shortlist of candidates for the President’s consideration.  – Edu Punay