Chavez, Locsin in JBC list for chief justice post

MANILA, Philippines - Two top officials during the administration of President Aquino’s late mother, former President Corazon Aquino, were nominated for the position of chief justice yesterday.

Former Makati City congressman Teodoro Locsin Jr., who served as presidential legal counsel and press secretary, and former solicitor general Francisco Chavez were included in the list of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).

Lawyer Brigido Dulay and ABAKADA party-list president Jonathan de la Cruz recommended Locsin while Manuel Baviera, organizer and founding member of the Whistle Blowers’ Association of the Philippines, nominated Chavez.

Locsin was described as “a brilliant and first-rate lawyer whose intellectual prowess, extraordinary work ethic and commitment to the rule of law make him an ideal selection for our nation’s highest court.”

Locsin, who had been nominated as associate justice of the Supreme Court in 2009, finished law at the Ateneo de Manila University and took his master’s degree at Harvard University.

“Mr. Locsin is an extraordinary lawyer and an extraordinary man. His combination of intellect, integrity, probity, independence and vast experience will make him an outstanding Supreme Court chief justice,” Dulay and De la Cruz said.

“An active and fearless trial lawyer for 40 years, Chavez has been consistently in the forefront of fighting injustice, graft and corruption not only in government but also in the private sector,” Baviera said.

Chavez, who graduated with honors at the University of the Philippines College of Law, was the youngest solicitor general.

The nominations of Locsin and Chavez brought the number of candidates for chief justice to 18 with two days left for the filing of applications and nominations with the JBC.

The others nominees are Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares, Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza, former UP Law Dean Raul Pangalangan, Ateneo law school Dean Cesar Villanueva, law professor and women’s rights advocate Katrina Legarda, lawyer Marianito Sadondoncillo, retired Judge Manuel Siayngco Jr., law professor Rafael Morales and Ormoc City, Leyte Vice Mayor Nepmuceno Aparis.

Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio and the four most senior associate justices - Presbitero Velasco Jr., Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, Arturo Brion and Diosdado Peralta - were also automatically nominated for the post under JBC rules.

A nurse named Jocelyn Esquivel was the lone applicant.

De Lima, a member of the JBC who inhibited from the selection process due to her nomination, said Esquivel could be disqualified because she is not a lawyer.

The Constitution also requires the chief justice to have served as judge or had private practice for at least 15 years.

De Lima, in an ambush interview, said she believes that the “insiders” - referring to the justices nominated for the post - have the “real edge.” 

Younger CJ

Sen. Francis Escudero said a younger chief justice may have its own advantages and disadvantages in running the SC.

“It could work for or against them,” said Escudero during a weekly forum at the Senate, when asked to comment on the Palaces statement that the next chief justice need not be old.

“If you’re after stability, predictability of decisions of the court that will last a long time, then perhaps you might want to go for that,” he said.

“If you’re after a new perspective every once in a while and not to tie the hands of the next president and be bound by the choice of this president for the next four to five presidents,” Escudero said an older chief justice who would serve for just a few years would be suitable.

If chosen for the top SC post, the 51-year old Henares can serve as chief justice until the retirement age of 70. - With Christina Mendez